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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001620 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O.  12958:  N/A 
TAGS: MASS MARR PREL GG MK BK AF GR EG AJ QA BA SA LE
TU 
SUBJECT: TURKEY: POL-MIL ROUND-UP, May 2007 
 
(Note: This is one of a regular series of unclassified reports on 
significant Turkish defense and national security issues in the 
press and other open sources.  End note.) 
 
Contents 
-------- 
 
-- 8th International Defense Industry Fair in Ankara 
-- Turkish General Staff Hosts International Symposium on Security 
 
-- Anti-Terrorism High Council Convenes 
-- Turkish Military to Close Camps on Election Period 
-- Turkey's Security Relations with Other Countries 
-- Defense Industry Activity 
 
8th International Defense Industry Fair in Ankara 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶1. The 8th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF - the biennial 
Turkish defense fair) was held on May 22-25 in Ankara.  494 
companies (333 foreign and 161 Turkish firms) from 48 countries 
participated in the fair, including 42 American companies.  Many 
high level officials from different countries attended, including 10 
defense ministers, 6 deputy defense ministers, 4 Chiefs of General 
Staff, and 7 defense undersecretaries.  Ceremonies to mark the 
signing of 13 contracts were held.  Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi 
Gonul met with official and unofficial visitors in an office 
dedicated to him in the fair area.  On May 22, a bomb explosion near 
the site of an IDEF reception hosted by Turkish CHOD GEN Buyukanit, 
which was attributed to the PKK terrorist organization, killed 8 and 
injured 100, including 6 Pakistani IDEF participants.  As a result, 
Turkish authorities increased security at the IDEF fairgrounds. 
 
Turkish General Staff Hosts International Symposium on Security 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶2. The Turkish General Staff hosted an international symposium 
entitled 'New Dimensions of Security and International 
Organizations' at the War Academies in Istanbul on May 31-June 1. 
Turkish CHOD GEN Yasar Buyukanit delivered the opening remarks to 
800 participants from 55 countries.  GEN Buyukanit said in his 
remarks that he has already notified the government of the need to 
launch a cross-border operation into northern Iraq.  He also said 
countries providing logistical, financial and propaganda support to 
terrorists should be considered terrorists.  Defining proliferation 
as a potential threat, GEN Buyukanit noted that the weapons 
development activities of some countries threaten the region.  The 
changing roles of international organizations and their contribution 
to security policies; the role of the UN and NATO; and nuclear, 
biological and chemical weapons counter-measures were among other 
issues discussed in the symposium (ANA). 
 
Anti-Terrorism High Council Convenes 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. Turkey's Anti-Terrorism High Council, chaired by Foreign Minister 
Abdullah Gul, convened on May 18.  This is the fifth meeting of the 
council in one year, but only the sixth since 1997.  The Prime 
Ministry announced that issues like preparations for the fight 
against terrorism, border security, and electoral security were 
discussed in the meeting. 
 
Turkish Military to Close Camps for Election 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶4. The Turkish General Staff announced it will shut down all 
military camps and recreational facilities during the week preceding 
the July 22 parliamentary general elections.  Additionally, military 
personnel will not be granted annual leave during the period.  The 
 
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decision will affect around half a million people considering 
families of the military personnel, as reported by the Center-right 
mass appeal daily of Sabah.  The purpose of the closure is to 
encourage military personnel to stay in their district of residence 
during the election period and exercise their right to vote. 
 
Turkey's Security Relations with Other Countries 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶5. Georgia: Turkish Deputy Chief of Mission in Tbilisi, Firat Sunel, 
said at a ceremony at a military airport near Tbilisi that bilateral 
military relations with Turkey are advancing at a satisfactory 
level, while Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Batu Kutelia said 
Georgia would work to boost military relations with Turkey. 
Turkey's military equipment grant to the Georgian Armed Forces is 
worth $ 750,000. 
 
¶6. Macedonia:  Turkey donated five new vehicles and equipment worth 
$291,000 to the Macedonian army on May 7.  Macedonian Defense 
Minister Lazar Elenovski said Turkey has been providing aid to the 
Macedonian military since 1991.  Elenovski also noted that Turkey's 
assistance is valued at $50 million, according to the official 
Macedonian Information Agency. 
 
¶7. Bosnia: A Turkish delegation led by Chief of Military History and 
Strategic Studies LG Eyup Kaplan visited Bosnian Defense Minister 
Selmo Cikotic on May 8.  The Turkish delegation was composed of 12 
generals, as reported by Sarajevo OSANA Independent News Agency. 
 
¶8. Afghanistan: The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) donated 24 howitzers 
to Afghanistan on May 9.  Afghan personnel who will be in charge of 
the howitzer batteries will be trained in Turkey, according to 
semi-official Anatolian News agency (ANA). 
 
¶9. Greece: In January, the Turkish General Staff (TGS) began to 
report Greek violations of Turkish airspace.  To date, the website 
has recorded 36 interceptions by Greek jets in international 
airspace over the Aegean Sea.  An interception by Mirage-2000 and 
F-16 Greek jets over international airspace near Lesbos Island four 
times on May 19, another interception by Greek F-16 fighters on May 
21, an interception in international airspace east of the Greek 
island of Rhodes by Greek F-16 and Mirage-2000 jets on May 26, and 
four interceptions by Greek F-16s in the international airspace over 
the Aegean Sea on May 28 are some of the interception reports.  TGS 
reported 13 airspace violations of Greek planes in May alone. 
 
¶10. Egypt: Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul received his 
Egyptian counterpart Sayyid Mash'al on May 23 to discuss boosting 
bilateral defense cooperation, as reported by the Cairo MENA 
official news agency. 
 
¶11. Azerbaijan: A Turkish delegation of 12 generals headed by GEN 
Eyup Kaptan visited Azerbaijani military officials on May 23.  GEN 
Kaplan said their visit aimed to boost relations and cooperation 
between the two armed forced (ANA). 
 
¶12. Qatar: Turkish CHOD GEN Buyukanit signed a framework agreement 
for military cooperation in education, technology and science with 
Qatari CHOD GEN Hamed Bin Ali Alateyah on May 23 in Ankara. 
 
¶13. Bahrain: Turkish CHOD GEN Buyukanit signed a framework agreement 
for military cooperation with Bahraini Defense Minister GEN Mohammad 
Bin Abdallah Al-Khalifa May 23 in Ankara. 
 
¶14. Saudi Arabia: A delegation led by Defense Minister Gonul and SSM 
Undersecretary Bayar (Defense Industry Undersecretariat) visited 
Saudi Arabia from on May 27-31.  The delegation met the Saudi King's 
deputy, the Defense Minister, and the Chief of General Staff and 
discussed the export of Turkish defense industry products to Saudi 
 
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Arabia as well as possibilities for bilateral defense industry 
cooperation. 
 
¶14. Kosovo: Turkey assumed command of Multinational Task Force South 
(MNTF-S), one of the 5 regional commands of the NATO-led KFOR, on 
May 29.  A Turkish battalion will serve with 757 troops in MNTF-S. 
The battalion's medical unit will provide health services to 
civilians in Kosovo (ANA). 
 
¶15. Lebanon: The Turkish parliament on May 29 extended the mandate 
of Turkish troops under the banner of the UN Interim Forces in 
Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another year.  The Turkish forces mandate will 
therefore expire on September 5, 2008 (ANA). 
 
Defense Industry Activity 
------------------------- 
 
¶16. SSM Undersecretary Murad Bayar signed the NBC Protective Suit 
Project Agreement signed with GAN Company at IDEF Defense Industry 
Exhibition, for the purchase of 149,792 NBC protective suits for the 
Turkish military. 
 
¶17. Cessna Aircraft Company, EADS, Diamond Aircraft Ind., Shinyoung 
Heavy Industries Co, Alenia Aeromacchi, Aero Vodochody, Morovan 
Aviation, Cirrus Desing Corp took the RFP (Request for Proposal) for 
SSM's tender to procure 46 Basic Trainer Aircraft for Turkish Land 
Forces to replace the U-17 and T-41 aircraft (ANA). 
 
¶18. Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., EADS, Bombardier Inc-Aerospace and 
Boeing received the RFP for two Command and Control Aircraft for the 
Turkish Air Forces.  The bid deadline is June 27 (ANA). 
 
¶19. 28 Turkish and foreign companies applied for an information 
document for SSM's tender for 1 LPD, 4 landing craft (LMC), 27 
Amphibious Armored Attack Vehicles  (AAV), 2 Landing Craft Vehicle 
Personnel (LCVP), and 1 Rigged Hall Inflatable Boat (ANA). 
 
¶20. Defense Minister Gonul and Ambassador Wilson announced in a 
joint press conference on May 11 that Turkey will procure 30 F-16 
Block 50 aircraft, to be delivered in the first half of 2010.  The 
total package price is about $ 1.78 billion. 
 
¶21. Boeing announced on May 21 at the TUSAS-TAI facilities that the 
delivery of AEW&C (early warning and control) aircraft would be 
delayed due to software and hardware problems.  SSM Undersecretary 
Bayar said it is not clear how much Boeing will pay SSM to 
compensate for the delay (Moderate pro-Islamic Zaman daily). 
 
¶22. SSM signed a contract with ASELSAN on May 22 for the 
installation of electronic warfare defensive systems against on 
helicopters in the military's inventory (ANA). 
 
 
 
WILSON