Cablegate: Turkey: On Board with Us Approach to Broaden

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DE RUEHAK #1223 2311435
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 191435Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0592
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS IMMEDIATE 0262
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA IMMEDIATE 6745
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 3976
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS ANKARA 001223

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE, PM FOR COUNTRYMAN/HOPKINS/FORAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT MARR PGOV PHSA PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: TURKEY: ON BOARD WITH US APPROACH TO BROADEN
PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTACT GROUP FOR PIRACY

REF: A. SECSTATE 85758
B. JULY 30 LEE-HOPKINS E-MAIL

1. (SBU) MFA Maritime Affairs Section Head Haldun Tekneci
confirmed on August 19 that the GOT fully supports the
proposal to shift from the concept of "membership" in the
Contact Group for Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) to
one of participation, in line with ref a and the presentation
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
Political-Military Affairs Thomas Countryman provided to MFA
Deputy U/S Haydar Berk during a July 30 meeting in Ankara
(ref b). Haldun subsequently provided a non-paper to
summarize Turkey's understanding regarding this issue (see
full text in para. 3).

2. (SBU) Comment: Patience, a willingness to take GOT
concerns into account and PDAS Countryman's personal
engagement were critical in turning around Turkey's erstwhile
rigid position of blocking the inclusion of Cyprus in CGPCS.
End Comment.

3. (SBU) Begin Text of Non-Paper:

18 August, 2009

ENLARGEMENT OF CGSP

-- Turkey maintains its views and sensitivities regarding the
membership to the Contact Group on Somali Piracy (CGSP).

-- Notwithstanding the foregoing, our consideration of the
United States' latest proposal for the enlargement of the
CGSP to encompass all UN members is favorable. (Comment:
Tekneci clarified verbally that Turkey supports the caveat
that would exclude DPRK and Iran, but supports the inclusion
of Somalia in CGPCS meetings given the important role it must
play in this effort. End Comment).

-- This inclusive approach, we expect, will render possible
for the international community to ever more effectively
coordinate and closely cooperate in the efforts aimed at
suppression of armed robbery at sea/piracy acts off the coast
of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.

-- Contributing to CTF-151 and NATO operation SNMG-2 with two
frigates, Turkey will continue to actively participate in the
work and deliberations of the CGSP and its Working Groups.

-- It is our wish that the new proposal for the CGSP
enlargement will enjoy support from the current members of
the Contact Group. We trust the United States and Japanese
Governments' persuasive representations (sic) in this regard
and hope the new format of "participants" for the CGSP will
be introduced with general acclaim at the CGSP meeting to be
held in New York on September 10, 2009.

End Text of Non-Paper.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey

Silliman

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