Cablegate: Commission On Narcotics Drugs: Request for Us

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

140812Z Apr 05

UNCLAS ANKARA 002126

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PREL AORC TU
SUBJECT: COMMISSION ON NARCOTICS DRUGS: REQUEST FOR US
SUPPORT FOR TURKEY'S RE-ELECTION

This is an action request.

1. (SBU) Summary: Turkey has requested US support for its
candidacy for re-election to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs
(CND) at ECOSOC. Post recommends favorable consideration,
given Turkey's critical location along a main route for drug
flows from Afghanistan. Turkey is also one of only two
countries in the world authorized legal opiate production.
U.S. support would also help reinforce bilateral
counternarcotics cooperation. End Summary.

2. (SBU) In a March 28 diplomatic note, the Foreign Ministry
requested U.S. support for Turkey's candidacy for re-election
to ECOSOC's Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) for the
2006-09 term. In addition to sending the note, Ambassador
Hayati Guven, MFA Director General for Security Affairs,
raised the issue with the DCM. The MFA offices that handle
international organizations and narcotics have also made a
point of requesting U.S. support. The MFA officials told us
they are concerned that, with six candidates from the WEOG
group (Australia, Canada, England, Belgium, Spain and Turkey)
but only five spots, Turkey is in danger of losing its place
on the commission.

3. (SBU) The GOT argues that it is a strong candidate for
several reasons:

--location along the principal route for egress of drugs from
Afghanistan;

--status as one of two countries authorized to produce
opiates legally;

--commitment to counter-narcotics demonstrated by its new
status as a "Major Donor" at UNODC, having given $500,000 in
each of the last two years;

--decision to join the Paris Pact and host a conference later
this year;

--substantial resources devoted to TADOC, the regional
training center located in Ankara at which over 1,000 foreign
students have received training.

4. (SBU) Post suggests that Washington favorably consider
Turkey's request. With the recent surge of drugs from
Afghanistan, it would send a bad message if Turkey were not
to be re-elected to the CND, and particularly so if it is
replaced by a country with a less central role in global
narcotics issues. US support for Turkey would also reinforce
our excellent cooperation in counternarcotics. The timing
would be particularly good given the GOT's recent frustration
of its candidacy for the Directorship of the Southeast
European Cooperation Initiative (SECI).
EDELMAN

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