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

UNCLAS BUCHAREST 001432 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/NCE WSILKWORTH 
ALSO FOR INL/AAE, EUR/ACE, EUR/SCE, EUR/SE, INR/EUR 
INR/REA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC PREL ECON EU RO MD NATO
SUBJECT: TURKISH ADMIRAL REAFFIRMS GO IT ALONE POLICY IN 
THE BLACK SEA 
 
REF: BUCHAREST IIR 6 883 0153 05 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  During a June 7-10 Black Sea Security 
Conference held in Chisinau, Moldova, the Turkish delegate 
repeated previous GOT comments that Turkey alone has the 
capacity to ensure security within the Black Sea region. 
Regarding future NATO activities in the region, he stated 
that with the assistance of Russia, Black Sea security has 
been and will continue to be ensured without further NATO 
involvement.  Embassy Bucharest officer participated in the 
conference and cleared this message with Embassy Chisinau 
End Summary. 
 
NATO Need Not Apply 
------------------- 
¶2.  (SBU) Turkish Admiral Kadir Sagdic (Head, Strategy 
Department, Turkish Navy Headquarters) stated at Harvard,s 
Black Sea Security Conference in Chisinau, Moldova that 
Turkey was capable of ensuring Black Sea regional security 
without involving other NATO powers.  Admiral Sagdic stated 
further that NATO,s &dictatorial policies regarding PFP and 
other programs were not contributing to security in the 
region.8 In a conversation with DOS Bucharest-based SECI 
Coordinator, he claimed that Turkey has the capacity to &go 
it alone8 in the Black Sea without further &outside 
interference.8  When asked to clarify what he meant by 
outside interference, he referred explicitly to current 
Romanian government Black Sea security initiatives and 
corresponding USG dialogue with the GOR on regional security. 
  He also criticized recent NATO references to the important 
Black Sea security.  Admiral Sagdic described any Operation 
Active Endeavor-like activity in the Black Sea as 
&unnecessary8 and &duplicative,8  given the centrality of 
Turkish-led Black Sea Harmony.  He insisted, however, that 
Turkey would provide &reporting8 to NATO on all Black Sea 
issues (Ref A).  Admiral Sagdic further stated that the Black 
Sea Economic Cooperative Organization (BSEC) presently has 
the capacity to meet regional challenges and characterized 
&expansion8 of BSEC as ¬ in the interest of Black Sea 
security.8 
 
Back to the Future: Turkish-Russian Black Sea Cooperation 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
¶3.  (SBU/NF) Admiral Sagdic made it clear to the conference 
attendees and in private conversations that NATO involvement 
in the Black Sea was a hindrance for overall regional 
security.   He further pointed out that both Turkey and 
Russia were &insiders8 when it came to Black Sea policy and 
security concerns, &as they have been for over one-hundred 
years.8  Although Major General Nicolai Bushuev, Russian 
Defense Attach to Moldova and the Russian delegate to the 
conference, did not engage in any public discussions during 
the conference, he privately observed that he &doesn,t 
disagree8 with the Turkish positions stated during the two 
day conference. 
 
Oh, Those Talkative Romanians! 
------------------------------ 
¶4.  (SBU/NF)  Both during the conference and in private 
conversations,  Sagdic claimed there is a perception in 
&NATO capitals8 that Turkey does not have the capacity of 
taking the lead on Black Sea security issues.  He pointedly 
criticized those that believe that &other countries8 in the 
region could fill such a role.  When asked &which other 
countries?8 he archly replied &those that speak the most 
about it.8  Most conference participants interpreted 
Sagdic,s remarks as a not-so-veiled reproach of Romanian 
efforts to develop a regional security strategy. 
 
¶5.  (SBU/NF)  Comment.  "The Turkish "go it alone" policy 
articulated by Admiral Sagdic gibes with recent Romanian 
reports that Turkey, in tandem with Russia, intends to 
dominate Black Sea security and "non-littoral states8 need 
not apply.  At best, the Turks seem willing to share 
information with other NATO states.  The Romanians, for their 
part, continue to call for a more engaged U.S., NATO and EU 
role in the region.  End Comment. 
 
¶6.  (U)  AmEmbassy Bucharest's Reporting telegrams, as well 
as daily press summaries, are available on the Bucharest 
SIPRNet website:  www.state.sgov/gov/p/eur/bucharest 
DELARE