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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000273 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2021 
TAGS: PREL MARR PARM TU IR ZJ ZL
SUBJECT: EUCOM DCDR DISCUSSES IRAN, CAUCASUS, BLACK SEA 
WITH TGS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  EUCOM Deputy Commander Gen Charles Wald 
emphasized the risk to Turkey of Iran's WMD program on 
January 17 in separate sessions with Turkey's CHOD and Deputy 
CHOD as well as at a roundtable with TGS staff chaired by 
DCHOD GEN Isik Kosaner.  In all meetings, TGS officials 
acknowledged real concerns with Iran's nuclear aspirations 
but, as with Syria, continued to call for engagement, not 
isolation.  During a roundtable exchange on the Black Sea, 
the US side emphasized that NATO should have a role there, 
while J-5 Chief LTG Zorlu defended Turkey's position on 
littoral-only participation in Black Sea operations, warned 
against any steps that might threaten Russia and reiterated 
its request for the US to persuade Bulgaria and Romania to 
join Operation Black Sea Harmony (OBSH).  Gen Wald and DASD 
James MacDougall looked to Turkey for greater assistance to 
Georgia and support for the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations, 
and TGS underscored its continuing concerns in Iraq and 
pressed for US action against the PKK presence there. 
However, TGS's treatment of the PKK problem was relatively 
light and perfunctory.  End Summary. 
 
------------------------ 
Iran and Missile Defense 
------------------------ 
 
¶2. (C) Gen Wald told Kosaner that stopping Iran's WMD program 
was an example of a common strategic interest shared by 
Turkey and the US.  This raised questions about how best to 
move forward on missile defense, especially since unlike any 
other nuclear power, Iran has threatened the very existence 
of another state.  A Shahab 3 could hit most of Europe, he 
observed.  But a bigger worry than a direct missile attack by 
Iran was the possibility Tehran would provide radiological 
material to terrorists like Hizbollah.  During an address at 
TGS headquarters to several dozen officers from J-2, J-3 and 
J-5, Gen Wald noted the need for a coordinated, multilateral 
missile defense effort that takes into account both Iran's 
nuclear capability and its willingness to use nuclear 
missiles.  TGS used the subsequent roundtable discussion to 
underscore that an Iranian nuclear capability is a threat to 
both regional and global peace and security and that Turkey 
looks to the IAEA as the forum for resolution of the issue. 
 
¶3. (C) Kosaner agreed that Turkey shared the USG's concern 
about Iran's nuclear ambitions and acknowledged that the EU-3 
process had failed.  Nonetheless, he defined the problem as 
Iran's feeling isolated and insecure.  Turkey believes 
persuasion and diplomacy would work better than pressure and 
the use of force.  Ahmedinejad's statements were aimed at 
domestic audiences, but he can be persuaded, Kosaner opined. 
The West might increase its sports and cultural exchanges, he 
suggested, to reduce Iran's sense of isolation.  The region 
could be destabilized if the international community tries to 
force Iran to stop.  He held out hope the EU-3 negotiations 
might be restarted; Gen Wald thought the Russian proposal to 
host recycling facilities on its territory held more promise 
but doubted that more incentives dangled before Tehran would 
induce a change in behavior.  The Ambassador added that 
diplomacy will work if the international community speaks 
with one voice; we need Turkey to join the chorus in sending 
the message that Iran's nuclear weapons program is 
unacceptable.  Kosaner stated that Ankara was doing so. 
 
¶4. (C) CHOD GEN Hilmi Ozkok suggested improved 
nonproliferation efforts were needed to cut Iran's supply of 
technology to develop WMD.  Regarding missile defense, he saw 
the benefit of early warning, but expressed concern about how 
to defeat a missile that could be carrying either a 
conventional, chemical or nuclear warhead.  Gen Wald noted 
that it was important to focus on capabilities independent of 
an assessment of intent.  Intentions can change quickly, 
especially in authoritarian countries. 
 
-------- 
Caucasus 
-------- 
 
 
ANKARA 00000273  002 OF 003 
 
 
¶5. (C) Gen Wald expressed concern about increased arms 
purchases by Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the hard line 
attitude of the Azeri Defense Minister.  He described EUCOM's 
analysis of how renewed conflict between Armenia and 
Azerbaijan would go (the Azeri forces would be destroyed) and 
suggested this reinforced the need for negotiations to 
resolve Nagorno-Karabakh.  He also suggested that Turkey and 
the US needed to work on the Georgians to convince them to 
take a more patient attitude towards Abkhazia and South 
Osetia.  At the roundtable, the Turkish side identified 
Chechnya, religious extremism and Nagorno-Karabakh as the 
primary sources of instability in the region and emphasized 
the importance of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and 
Georgia.  Turkey's efforts to share its pipeline security 
experience with Azerbaijan and to offer training to Georgia 
were also noted.  Gen Wald noted that the Georgians could use 
help to develop their Special Operations capacity.  He 
suggested sending a joint EUCOM/Turkey team to the region to 
evaluate concrete projects on which the US and Turkey might 
collaborate. 
 
¶6. (C) DASD MacDougall mentioned during the roundtable that 
Georgia is considering a contribution to ISAF.  He offered 
that Turkey might encourage the Georgians and even consider 
supporting them in Afghanistan. 
 
¶7. (C) On Nagorno-Karabakh, Gen Wald expressed hope for 
positive movement in the Minsk Group process and noted his 
appreciation for Turkey's efforts to support the 
negotiations. 
 
--------- 
Black Sea 
--------- 
 
¶8. (C) Gen Wald stated that the arch encompassing the 
Balkans, the Black Sea, the Caspian and Central Asia was a 
major thoroughfare for not only energy, but trafficking in 
persons, drugs, WMD, etc.  NATO -- and Turkey in particular 
-- needed to exercise leadership in this region.  He welcomed 
Turkey's efforts in the Black Sea and stated that NATO will 
have a role there in the future.  TGS J-5 Chief LTG Zorlu 
responded that BLACKSEAFOR and Operation Black Sea Harmony 
(OBSH) can contain the security risks inherent to the Black 
Sea and are conducted in close relationship to NATO.  He 
defended Turkey's position for littoral-only participation in 
Black Sea operations, asserting that Turkey has no hidden 
agenda there but must deal with the "sensitive realities." 
 
¶9. (C) Zorlu laid blame with Moscow, saying that Russia is 
threatened by the idea of a NATO presence in the Black Sea 
and opposes non-littoral activity there.  Given this, he 
said, any NATO involvement could cause a problem with Russia 
and create military tensions in the region.  Any steps taken 
should be gradual.  Zorlu also suggested that both Bulgaria 
and Romania had been more supportive of OBSH before they 
joined NATO, and noted his disappointment at not hearing 
stronger US support for Turkey's Black Sea programs.  The 
Turkish side repeated a request first made during the Nov. 
2005 High Level Defense Group (HLDG) meeting for US 
assistance to encourage Romania and Bulgaria to fully support 
Black Sea Harmony.  DASD MacDougall countered that the Black 
Sea is an important security area.  The US acknowledges and 
supports Turkey's leadership role in the Black Sea.  However, 
he underscored, the US does not accept Russia's desire to 
keep the Black Sea, Central Asia or the Caucasus "closed" to 
outside participation. 
 
------------ 
Other Issues 
------------ 
 
¶10. (C) Other issues to come up during Gen Wald's discussions 
included: 
 
-- PKK:  While none of the Turkish generals raised the PKK 
with Gen Wald, he found opportunities to remind them about US 
assistance against the terrorist group -- in Europe and with 
robust intelligence sharing.  In response, Ozkok noted that 
 
ANKARA 00000273  003 OF 003 
 
 
we cannot let one issue define the relationship, but the 
Turkish public believe there should not be discrimination 
among terrorist groups.  That is why TGS urges the USG to 
make more high-level statements condemning the PKK, take some 
action that can be shown to the public, and apply political 
pressure on Iraqis on this issue.  Wald agreed that terrorist 
groups are interrelated and should be opposed, citing 
examples from north Africa. 
 
-- Iraq: Kosaner noted Iraq was a critical issue.  Gen Wald 
responded that Iraq will require patience, just like Bosnia, 
but the problems were well understood and therefore could be 
addressed.  At the roundtable, TGS laid out all of its 
concerns in Iraq, from the territorial integrity of the 
country and the status of Kirkuk to the control of natural 
resources and the elimination of the PKK.  On the PKK, the 
Turkish side said the US has an important responsibility to 
eliminate the PKK presence in northern Iraq, suggesting that 
"political demands are prevailing over legal ones" and 
emphasizing that there should be no discrimination among 
terrorists.  TGS also suggested that PKK financial supporters 
should be categorized as criminal terrorists. 
 
-- Syria: According to Kosaner Syria is more difficult than 
Iraq because it is more opaque.  During the roundtable, TGS 
defended its engagement with Syria and praised Syria's 
withdrawal of forces from Lebanon, as well as its 
"unconditional consent" for the UN to interrogate five 
suspects. 
 
-- Anti-Americanism within the ranks: Kosaner denied that 
anti-Americanism was widespread within the Turkish military, 
saying there may be "some individuals" with this view but 
that was not prevalent.  Gen Wald observed that younger 
officers needed to be "properly" influenced.  (Comment: In 
response to our request that Gen Wald be given an opportunity 
to address younger Turkish officers, TGS summoned its senior 
staff -- at least 24 generals with a larger number of 
field-grade officers.  While this wasn't what we had in mind, 
it was a start to getting more Turkish officers direct 
exposure to senior American military leaders.  End comment.) 
 
-- NATO critical infrastructure conference:  Gen Wald pointed 
to the recent stand-off between Ukraine and Russia over gas 
to underscore the importance of the February NATO critical 
infrastructure conference in Prague.  Ozkok agreed, adding 
that Turkey should diversify its sources of supply. 
 
-- Balkans: Gen Wald said the international community needed 
to consider the Balkans as a whole.  He urged Turkey, which 
remains active in the region, to identify possible 
initiatives to help cement democracy there. 
 
-- Caspian Guard: Touting the Caspian Guard as a 
counter-proliferation, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, 
resource- security initiative for Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, 
Gen Wald urged that both NATO and Turkey take an interest in 
the program. 
 
WILSON