This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ANKARA 001782
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS MARR TU
SUBJECT: TURKS REPLY ON SEEBRIG ASSURANCES
REF: 02 STATE 201017
1. This is an action message. Please see paragraph 3.
2. On March 17 polmiloff received a call from Oya Ergin of
the MFA NATO Department. She informed that the GOT had
almost completed its review of the Reftel text we had
provided on October 16, 2002. When the review is complete,
Post expects that there may be other issues for which we will
request Department guidance. In the meantime, the Turks are
concerned that if the USG insists on their using the word
"agreement" in the MFA's response to the USG (as suggested in
Reftel paragraph 7), Turkish law and practice will require
that it be sent to the Prime Ministry for vetting and
approval. Ergin predicted that going this route would take a
"long time."
3. Action Request: At polmiloff's request, MFA provided its
preferred text for our review. In lieu of "shall constitute
an agreement," the GOT proposes that it use "will be
considered as a political commitment." Post requests the
Department's guidance on whether the GOT's choice of words is
acceptable to the USG. End Action Request.
PEARSON