US embassy cable - 05ANKARA6805

S E C R E T ANKARA 006805 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, MASS, TU, IZ 
SUBJECT: ASD FLORY AND MOD GONUL DISCUSS US-TU DEENSE 
RELATIONS 
 
 
Classified By: Charge Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1. (C) Summary:  Visiting ASD Flory thanked Defense Minister 
Gonul for his record of public support for the US-Turkey 
relationship when they met on November 10.  In response to 
Gonul's complaint about US inaction against the PKK in 
northern Iraq, the ASD pointed out concrete steps the USG is 
taking against the terrorist group.  He urged Turkey to play 
an even more positive role in Iraq, and asked Ankara to 
reassure Moscow that the USG's intentions in Central Asia are 
positive.  Gonul expressed support for eventual Ukrainian 
membership in NATO.  He and SSM Undersecretary Bayar made a 
pitch for greater Turkish work-share in the Joint Strike 
Fighter program.  DSCA Director LtGen Kohler suggested that 
Turkey reengage the US on excess F-16s in six to eight 
months.  End summary. 
 
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Defending the Bilateral Relationship 
------------------------------------ 
 
2. (C) Assistant Secretary of Defense for International 
Security Policy Peter Flory told Minister of National Defense 
Vecdi Gonul during their November 10 meeting that the High 
Level Defense Group (HLDG) meeting that had concluded earlier 
in the day (septel) was "extremely successful," having 
addressed both strategic issues and practical matters.  Mr. 
Flory noted that this had been his first HLDG meeting as well 
as his first bilateral defense talks as ASD, noting that he 
joined Advisor to the President for National Security Hadley 
and the Secretary in making Turkey one of their first stops 
after assuming office.  Recalling that the President had made 
the US-Turkey relationship a priority, ASD Flory noted how 
important it had been to hold the HLDG as quickly as possible 
after its two-year hiatus.  He expressed appreciation for 
Gonul's record of speaking out in support of our bilateral 
relations. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Only Bilateral Problem -- the PKK 
--------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Gonul averred that the US was "very important for the 
Turkish people," not just the government or the state.  This 
was due to Turkey's entry into NATO and the Alliance's 
importance in defending the border with the USSR.  Now, there 
was only one point of disagreement between Turkey and the US 
-- the "very urgent, critical and crucial" issue of the PKK. 
The Turkish public is growing impatient as the death toll 
rises.  They believe that the US could take action against 
the PKK in northern Iraq if it wanted.  Gonul agreed with ASD 
Flory that popular perceptions can differ from reality. 
 
4. (S) Gonul recalled that Secretary Rumsfeld had assured him 
that he and others in Washington were well aware of the 
situation.  ASD Flory recalled that the HLDG had discussed a 
broad agenda that included the PKK.  EUCOM Chief of Staff LTG 
Broadwater and CENTCOM Deputy J5 BG Kimmit's attendance 
demonstrated that the US was ready to address the PKK issue 
seriously with the Turks even if we were not yet in a 
position to take all the actions the Ankara desired.  Still, 
a number of steps are being taken:  intelligence exchanges 
are producing results, and the US may be able to surge 
intelligence resources for a limited period again; 
intelligence and law enforcement officials have had 
productive trilateral discussions; and, we are pressing the 
Europeans to do more.  Friends talk about difficult issues, 
which was why the US side had requested the PKK be on the 
HLDG agenda. 
 
---- 
Iraq 
---- 
 
5. (C) Gonul reiterated Turkish support for a stable, 
unified, and prosperous Iraq, but expressed concern about 
Kurdish aspirations in Iraq and the Iraqi Kurd's desire to 
keep the PKK in their region.  ASD Flory argued strongly 
that, while Iraq was still a work in progress, the Iraqis 
were continuing to make progress.  While acknowledging all 
Turkey has done to support the process in Iraq, he urged the 
GOT to be an even greater positive influence there.  One 
 
possible area where Turkey could help, he said, was sharing 
with Iraq Turkey's industrial know-how, showing the Iraqis 
how to add value to products rather than simply exporting raw 
material. 
 
6. (C) Mr. Flory reassured Gonul that the US would remain in 
Iraq until the job was done, observing that success in Iraq 
would benefit Turkey.  Gonul accepted that the US road map in 
Iraq was the right one, and that Turkey and Iraq need each 
other. 
 
----------------------- 
Russia and Central Asia 
----------------------- 
 
7. (C) ASD Flory asked Gonul for his view on Russia's 
approach to Central Asia where the Russians have been 
unhelpful (e.g., in Uzbekistan) and viewed the US with 
suspicion.  Since Turkey and Russia enjoy good relations, he 
asked the GOT to reassure Moscow that the US plays a positive 
role in the region.  Gonul responded that the good relations 
were only on trade.  He saw a large part of Central Asia's 
problems due largely to the region's leaders.  They were all 
educated in Russia; felt a sense of superiority when they 
were Soviet officials representing a superpower; and, are now 
trying to use nationalism.  Gonul was confident that the 
region's prospects would improve and Russian influence wane 
with the next generation.  Other factors included the 
detachment of leaders from their publics and the countries' 
conservative, Soviet-style bureaucracies.  The latter point 
he compared to Syria, where Asad must contend with the 
bureaucracy he inherited from his father.  With Syria, "we 
have to be patient," he said.  ASD Flory noted that Syria's 
problems arose from the undemocratic nature of the regime, 
not the structure of the government. 
 
---------------- 
Ukraine and NATO 
---------------- 
 
8. (C) ASD Flory inquired about Gonul's thoughts on how to 
encourage reform in Ukraine, opining that many Europeans view 
it the same as they view Turkey -- too big and too hard. 
Gonul said Turkey supports Ukraine's eventual membership in 
NATO.  Compared to its neighbors, Ukraine was well advanced, 
although concerns about corruption persist.  Mr. Flory 
agreed, noting that the concerns were serious but expressing 
optimism that problems would be resolved in time. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Acquisition Issues: JSF, excess F-16s 
------------------------------------- 
 
9. (C) Gonul recalled that Turkey has a number of defense 
projects with the US: 
 
-- JSF:  While Turkey is generally happy with the Joint 
Strike Fighter, he complained about Turkey's "insufficient" 
work-share in the program.  After Turkey's successful work on 
F-16s, he was confident that Turkish industry -- which had 
improved since the time of the F-16 project -- could (and 
should) have a bigger role in the program.  ASD Flory assured 
Gonul that Turkey's participation in JSF was still desired. 
Defense Security Cooperation Agency Director LtGen Jeffery 
Kohler recalled Turkey's relatively late participation in the 
JSF project and the program's principle of best value for the 
best price.  He observed that Turkey was investing $175 
million in the project and Turkish firms had already won $180 
million in contracts.  He nonetheless offered to discuss 
Turkey's concerns with Lockheed Martin, noting that 
significant work was still required before the aircraft would 
begin production.  Gonul and Defense Industry (SSM) 
Undersecretary Murad Bayar believed the Turkish parliament 
would look closely at work-share when considering the budget 
for JSF next year. 
 
-- Peace Onyx:  Gonul noted with approval the $1 billion-plus 
FMS F-16 upgrade program begun this year. 
 
-- Excess F-16s:  Gonul asked about the status of Turkey's 
request for excess F-16s which he assumed would become 
available as a result of the BRAC process.  General Kohler 
 
explained that force structure was addressed in the QDR, and 
that would not be ready for release until early next year. 
He suggested that in 6-8 months the USAF might have a better 
idea of what excess aircraft it might have. 
 
------------ 
Participants 
------------ 
 
10. (C) ASD Flory and LtGen Kohler were accompanied by the 
Charge, OSD/ISP DASD Dan Fata, ODC-Turkey Chief MajGen Peter 
Sutton, DATT Col Roman Hrycaj, OSD/ISP Turkey Director LtCol 
Joe Collins and POLMILCOUNS.  In addition to Minister Gonul 
and U/S Bayar, MND Policy Director RADM(L) Serdar Dulger 
participated in the meeting. 
MCELDOWNEY