VZCZCXYZ0018
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAKA #1323 1510804
ZNR UUUUU ZZH ZUI RUEWMCE0574 1510750
P 310804Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFIUU/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5//
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA//

UNCLAS ANKARA 001323 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL MARR UN LE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: PARLIAMENT APPROVES EXTENSION OF TURKEY'S 
UNIFIL DEPLOYMENT 
 
REF: 06 ANKARA 5149 
 
¶1. (SBU) ON MAY 29, THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 
APPROVED THE EXTENSION OF TURKEY'S DEPLOYMENT TO UNIFIL UNTIL 
AUGUST 31, 2008.  THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED THE MOTION AT 
THIS TIME IN THE EXPECTATION THAT PARLIAMENT WOULD NOT BE IN 
SESSION FOLLOWING JULY 22 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WHEN THE 
CURRENT MANDATE EXPIRES.  MFA UNDERSECRETARY APAKAN, WHO HAD 
BEEN PRESENT FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE, TOLD AMBASSADOR 
THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO OVERCOME STRONG OPPOSITION FROM 
THE REPUBLICAN PEOPLES PARTY (CHP).  PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN 
TOLD VISITING CODELS NELSON AND WHITFIELD ON MAY 28 THAT THE 
GOT IS EXTENDING ITS DEPLOYMENT BECAUSE BELIEVES IT MUST 
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT STABILITY IN LEBANON. 
 
¶2. (U) THE CHP HAD OPPOSED THE INITIAL DEPLOYMENT OF TURKISH 
TROOPS TO UNIFIL DURING A SIX-HOUR DEBATE ON SEPTEMBER 5, 
2006 AND POLLING AT THE TIME SHOWED THE MAJORITY OF THE 
PUBLIC OPPOSED TURKISH PARTICIPATION IN UNIFIL (REFTEL). 
 
¶3. (U) TURKEY CONTRIBUTES A CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING UNIT AS 
WELL AS NAVAL VESSELS TO UNIFIL, AND HAS OFFERED CONTRIBUTING 
NATIONS ACCESS TO SELECTED TURKISH SEA AND AIRPORTS, AS WELL 
AS AIRLIFT ASSETS, ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.  TURKEY HAS ALSO 
OFFERED TO COMMAND THE UNIFIL NAVAL COMPONENT AT THE END OF 
GERMANY'S ROTATION. 
 
VISIT ANKARA'S CLASSIFIED WEB SITE AT 
HTTP://WWW.STATE.SGOV.GOV/P/EUR/ANKARA/ 
 
WILSON