VZCZCXRO5215
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHAK #1657/01 0880604
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 290604Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4363
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
RHMFISS/39ABG CP INCIRLIK AB TU
RHMFISS/425ABS IZMIR TU//CC//
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001657 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2031 
TAGS: PREL MARR PTER OVIP PACE PETER TU IZ IR SY
GR 
SUBJECT: CJCS AND CHOD OZKOK STRESS IMPORTANCE OF 
U.S.-TURKEY MILITARY COOPERATION 
 
REF: A. ANKARA 1656 
 
     ¶B. ANKARA 1623 
 
Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney, reason 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (S) Summary: CJCS Gen Pace and TGS Chief Ozkok reaffirmed 
the importance of the US-Turkey military relationship.  Ozkok 
underscored Turkey's record of cooperation on Iraq, 
acknowledged recent progress there, stressed the importance 
of Kirkuk, and warned that sectarian strife could draw 
neighbors into Iraq.  He expressed appreciation for US 
efforts against the PKK in Europe and through intelligence 
sharing, but called for some action to keep the PKKin 
northern Iraq from becoming too comfortable, such as strong 
statements by senior officials against the terrorist group. 
Gen Pace responded that it was important to get Iraq right 
first, then Turkey, Iraq and the US could together deal with 
the PKK presence.  Meanwhile, he offered to think about what 
might be done to keep the PKK "on edge." Regarding Iran and 
Syria, Ozkok suggested that engagement would be more 
effective than isolation.  Ozkok complained about Greeks' 
intercepting Turkish Air Force flights in the Aegean.  Gen 
Pace raised American defense companies' recent difficulties 
in the Turkish market, noting how militaries possessing the 
same equipment work more closely together.  Ozkok offered a 
spirited defense of offsets and Turkey's demands for 
technology transfer.  Both generals agreed to look for ways 
to expand bilateral training opportunities.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) CJCS Gen Pace met with Chief of the Turkish General 
Staff GEN Hilmi Ozkok for 1.25 hours on March 23.  Ozkok 
thanked the Chairman for supporting Turkey's Center of 
Excellence-Defense Against Terrorism (Gen Pace spoke at a 
COE-DAT-sponsored counterterrorism conference the next day). 
He observed that Turkey was in a crucial area of importance 
to the US.  While important during the Cold War, US-Turkey 
relations were even more important today, he declared.  CJCS 
agreed, calling the relationship "absolutely critical." 
 
Iraq 
---- 
 
¶3. (S) Ozkok argued that Turkish cooperation on Iraq 
contributed greatly to CF efforts there, including hosting 
several northern no-fly zone operations after 1991, opening 
Turkish airspace, even after the March 1, 2003 Parliamentary 
vote prohibiting US troops to transit Turkey, and permitting 
special operations forces to cross the border.  While 
regretting the daily loss of life in Iraq, he noted that 
sometimes sacrifices were necessary to achieve difficult 
objectives.  He assessed that the process in Iraq was moving 
forward, albeit slowly. 
 
¶4. (C) Ozkok underscored the importance of Kirkuk as a symbol 
of all of Iraq, urging that any referendum on its status 
involve all Iraqis.  Similarly, Iraq's natural resources 
should be used for the benefit of all Iraqis. 
 
¶5. (C) Gen Pace expressed appreciation for Turkey's 
contributions in Iraq and reviewed recent progress in 
developing the Iraqi Army, both in size and ability. 
Terrorists understand that Iraq is now the "center of 
gravity" of the GWOT, which is why the US is determined to 
provide sufficient security for the Iraq to get on its feet, 
support the Iraqis' forming an inclusive, unifying 
government, and to stop the terrorists by not only capturing 
and killing them but also building the economy and 
infrastructure to reduce unemployment and the temptation to 
take up arms.  Walking away from Iraq would only encourage 
the terrorists.  He cautioned, however, that the war on 
terrorism would be a long one.  Ozkok recalled news reports 
earlier in the day of Senate Armed Services Committee members 
saying that the US is a great country and would solve the 
problems in Iraq. (CODEL Warner had meetings in Ankara 
earlier the same day, reftels.)  "Your success is our 
security," the general said. 
 
¶6. (C) Ozkok said that conflict between different groups in 
Iraq could lead to invitations for assistance from neighbors. 
 
ANKARA 00001657  002 OF 003 
 
 
 Turkey, Iran, Syria and Israel all have security interests 
in Iraq.  It would be far better to cooperate for the benefit 
of Iraq.  That is why TGS supports assisting the US. 
 
PKK 
--- 
 
¶7. (C) Ozkok said he understood why the US has not taken on 
the PKK in northern Iraq.  He expressed appreciation for 
US-Turkish intelligence exchanges and especially for US 
efforts against these terrorists in Europe.  Nonetheless, 
more needed to be done in Iraq.  He said the PKK operates its 
logistic support and training activities in Iraq without 
fear, picking up new techniques and equipment which they test 
out in attacks in Turkey.  The mountainous border is 
impossible to protect without assistance on the other side, 
and there is none.  He hoped the US would do something to 
avoid giving the PKK the impression that we view it as a 
friend.  Strong statements by senior officials would help. 
 
¶8. (C) CJCS responded that the PKK is a terrorist 
organization and is, therefore, unacceptable to the US in 
Iraq, Turkey or elsewhere.  He reviewed some specific steps 
the US has taken against the organization ) dedicating over 
20 analysts at JAC Molesworth to the PKK, working against PKK 
finances and criminal activity in Europe, and working to 
locate PKK leaders in Iraq.  Attacking the PKK would be 
equivalent to opening another front in the war.  Instead, our 
priority should be on the stability and governance of Iraq 
first, then Turkey, Iraq and the US could deal with the PKK 
presence.  That said, he understood Ozkok's point about 
keeping the PKK on edge, and undertook to examine what might 
be done in that regard when he returned to Washington. 
 
¶9. (C) Regarding the situation in Turkey, Ozkok observed that 
some people talk of a "Kurdish problem."  (Note: PM Erdogan 
caused a stir last year when he used this term in public 
remarks in Diyarbakir.  End note.)  "There isn't one," 
according to Ozkok.  Instead, the problem in Turkey's 
southeast are due to geography.  "Even Kurdish businessmen 
invest in the West," he observed.  If Turkey's per capita 
income were $10,000 instead of $4,000, no one would desire a 
Kurdish state. 
 
Iran 
---- 
 
¶10. (C) Ozkok declared Iran's effort to acquire nuclear 
weapons concerned Turkey, and that Ankara was bothered that 
the "proliferation axis" from North Korea through China, 
India and Pakistan was reaching Turkey's borders.  He called 
for the elimination of nuclear weapons from "the area."  TGS 
has only minimal relations with the Iranian military.  He 
suggested that convincing China and Russia that a 
nuclear-armed Iran would be a threat would be useful. 
Nonetheless, he also argued that isolating Iran would be 
counterproductive, spurring Tehran to drive for 
self-sufficiency.  Dialogue would be more likely to succeed. 
Gen Pace responded that there was a great deal more diplomacy 
likely to occur before this issue is resolved. 
 
Other Issues 
------------ 
 
¶11. (C) Other issues the two generals discussed were: 
 
-- Exercises/Training: Ozkok and Pace agreed that we should 
informally preview requests for training or exercises in 
Turkey so we could consider Turkish constraints in our formal 
requests and avoid putting TGS in the awkward position of 
turning us down.  Gen Pace added that, as US troop 
commitments to OIF and OEF diminish over the next year or so, 
we should review our bilateral exercise schedule to resume 
activities suspended because we lacked available forces to 
participate.  He pledged to do what he could to break down 
barriers to working and training together. 
 
-- Aegean:  Ozkok complained about Greeks' intercepting TUAF 
flights, Athens' refusal to approve NATO exercises in the 
 
ANKARA 00001657  003 OF 003 
 
 
Aegean, and the GOG's issuing year-long NOTAMs blocking large 
areas of international air and sea space from other 
militaries' use.  He said Turkey did not want to provoke 
Greece, and stated that keeping international airspace and 
seas from shrinking was in the interest of the US as well. 
 
-- Defense industry: Gen Pace raised the difficulty American 
defense firms were having participating in Turkish tenders. 
Noting that he wasn't a salesman, he argued that the 
exclusion of American equipment would erode opportunities for 
our militaries to work together at lower levels (mechanics, 
operators, etc.).  Ozkok pushed back noting that Turkish 
industry was now more developed and capable; thus, Turkey 
requires offsets.  Some technology transfer restrictions also 
cause problems for Turkey, he said.  For example, his 
preference was for American helicopters, but anyone could 
tamper with the software code making a system inoperable; 
that was why Turkey wanted to develop its own mission 
computers.  Ozkok also expressed concern that American firms 
could not say up front whether they will be permitted to 
deliver systems they are bidding to provide.  Nevertheless, 
he thought all these issues could be solved if the two sides 
came together to do so.  Gen Pace said he would look at US 
restrictions once he returned to Washington, but asked Ozkok 
to also work to find a solution. 
 
--Kosovo: "Kosovo is a crucial issue that will impact on the 
entire region," according to Ozkok.  "Everyone should be 
careful." 
 
-- Syria: General Pace asked for Ozkok's advice in dealing 
with Syria.  The CHOD replied that Asad is young and looks to 
the future, but is isolated in a system occupied by many 
hard-liners.  He thought "good psyops" directed at the people 
coupled with support for the president could change the 
country's direction. 
 
¶12. (U) CJCS cleared this message. 
 
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ 
 
MCELDOWNEY