Wikileaks - CMIV
134456 12/14/2007 15:13 07ANKARA2968 Embassy Ankara UNCLASSIFIED VZCZCXRO2158 RR RUEHDA DE RUEHAK #2968/01 3481513 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 141513Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4664 INFO RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4/ECJ5// RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//ISA-EUR/DSCA// RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5// RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 2526 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3631 RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0101 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0063 RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 1549 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 1090 RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 8557 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0217 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 6692 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3204 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0162 RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6689 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0258 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0445 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 1048 RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 6130 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 002968
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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MASS, MARR, PREL, YI, CI, AJ, IZ, GR, KS, IT, UK, IS, CY, PL, EG, RO, TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: POL-MIL ROUND-UP: October & November 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
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-- Turkish CHOD Delivers Remarks at War Academies -- Anti-Terrorism High Council Convenes -- TGS Reacts to House Committee Vote on Armenian Genocide Resolution -- Turkish Parliament Approves Petition for CBO -- National Security Council Convenes -- Turkish Land Forces Carries Out Annual Mobilization Exercise -- Toros-2007 Military Exercise Takes Place in North Cyprus -- Supreme Military Council Convenes -- Turkey's Security Relations with Other Countries -- Defense Industry Activity
Turkish CHOD Delivers Remarks at War Academies
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1. In the keynote speech delivered at the opening of the Turkish War Academies on Oct. 1, CHOD GEN Yasar Buyukanit underlined the theme that no power can divide Turkey, change its secular structure, or shake the Turkish nation's confidence in its military. Emphasizing the importance of the fight against terrorism, GEN Buyukanit said actions, not words, are what counts. He also noted that Iraq was moving towards a federal structure and that this posed risks for Turkey.
Anti-Terrorism High Council Convenes
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2. The Anti-Terrorism High Council convened under PM Tayyip Erdogan on October 9. A statement released following the meeting noted that the Council discussed recent terrorist attacks and reaffirmed Turkey's determination in fight against terrorism. The statement further indicated that necessary orders and instruments were given to authorities in order to take all legal, political and economic measures to end the presence of the terrorist organization in the neighboring country.
TGS Reacts to House's Armenian Genocide Resolution
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3. Turkish CHOD GEN Yasar Buyukanit sent a letter to his counterpart, Chairman of the Joint chiefs of Staff, ADM Mullen, on Oct. 9 noting that if the resolution is adopted it would cause serious problems in US-Turkish relations. GEN Buyukanit, in Rome on an official visit on Oct. 18, told the press that if the resolution should be adopted by the full House, Turkey-US military ties will "never be the same." "But I hope it will not pass, and our ties with the US will be better," Buyukanit said. Later on Oct. 30, Turkish General Staff (TGS) posted a 34-page report on the events of 1915 on its website. The report, entitled "Issues Missed in the 1915 Armenian Debate," was prepared by the TGS's research center Strategic Research Study Center (SAREM). Turkish Parliament Approves Motion for Cross-border Operation
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4. Turkish parliament (TGNA) approved on October 17 a motion allowing troops to cross into northern Iraq to engage PKK terrorists based there. The resolution expires in one year and was approved by a vote of 507 to 19.
National Security Council Convenes
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5. Turkey's National Security Council (NSC) held its bi-monthly meeting on October 24. President Abdullah Gul chaired the meeting for the first time. Political and military measures to be taken in line with the TGNA motion of October 17, foreseeing a cross-border operation into northern Iraq, topped the agenda. The NSC discussed economic measures to be taken against the groups directly or indirectly supporting terrorists organization in the region. The Council also discussed the Armenian resolution adopted by the US House of Representative's Foreign Affairs Committee.
Turkish Land Forces Carries Out Annual Mobilization Exercise
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6. Turkish Land Forces Command carried out the annual mobilization exercise Yildirim-2007 in Ankara on October 18-26. Reserve personnel and related public institutions participated in the exercise.
Toros-2007 Military Exercise Takes Place in North Cyprus
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7. Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus and Turkish Cypriot Security Forces jointly carried out the Toros-2007 military exercise on November 8. The exercise included an operation against a mocked hijacked plane, search and rescue operations, commando training demonstrations and a combat weapons and equipment exhibition. TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) "President" Mehmet Ali Talat, "Prime Minister" Ferdi Sabit Soyer, former "president" of TRNC Rauf Denktas, force commanders, ministers, as well as a number of local and foreign guests watched the exercise.
Supreme Military Council Convenes
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8. Turkey's Supreme Military Council (YAS) convened under PM Tayyip Erdogan on November 29-30. The second of the traditional two Supreme Council meetings each year assessed external threats, Turkish Armed Forces' readiness for war, and force structure requirements. The Council expelled 38 military personnel, seven of them for engaging in Islamic fundamentalist activities. PM Erdogan and defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, the only civilian members of the Council, noted their reservations about the expulsions, and take the position that such decisions should be made in the courts. The Council decisions were approved by President Abdullah Gul without reservation.
Turkey's Security Relations with Other Countries
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9. Greece: TGS reported 56 air interceptions by Greek jets in international airspace over the Aegean Sea in October and 51 in November. 12 incidents of violation of Turkish territorial waters in the Aegean, and two violations of airspace were reported in October.
10. Turkish Coast Guard Commander Admiral Can Erenoglu visited his Greek counterpart Admiral Ilias Sionidis on November 6. During the visit, they exchanged views on search-and-rescue efforts and illegal border crossings in the Aegean Sea.
11. Republic of Korea: Turkish CHOD GEN Yasar Buyukanit received his Korean counterpart GEN Kwan-Jin Kim on October 8. GEN Buyukanit honored GEN Kim with a medal of merit. GEN Kim said that Turkey and Korea will boost bilateral relations through military cooperation,
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especially in the defense industry area.
12. Italy: Turkish CHOD GEN Buyukanit visited his Italian counterpart ADM Giamapolo di Paola in Rome on October 16. No information was released on the outcome of the visit.
13. Britain: Turkey signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the UK on October 23. The Agreement covers issues including Turkey's membership to EU, joint cooperation against terrorism organization PKK and Al Qaeda, development of regional stability, defense, commerce and energy. Bilateral meetings are planned every six months to discuss issues listed in the agreement. 14. Israel: GEN Buyukanit postponed an official visit to Tel Aviv planned for Oct. 30-31. Turkish media announced the reason for the postponement was the possibility of a Turkish cross-border operation into northern Iraq. GEN Buyukanit was expected to meet with his Israeli counterpart and Israeli Defense Minister. 15. Poland: Turkish CHOD GEN Yasar Buyukanit received his Polish counterpart GEN Franciszek Gogar on November 2. No information on the visit was made public.
16. Egypt: Turkey signed the Framework Document for Strategic Partnership with Egypt on November 3. The document includes language on cooperation against terrorism and extremism as well as encouraging efforts to find solutions to regional problems and strengthening bilateral economic cooperation.
17. Romania: Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul received his Romanian counterpart Teodor Melescanu on November 27. Minister Melescanu stressed that his visit to Ankara will contribute to development of stronger relations between defense industries of both countries (ANA).
Defense Industry Activity
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18. The Turkish government assigned new members to the Defense Industry High Coordination Council. The Council, which convenes at least twice a year under PM Erdogan, will consist of State Minister Mehmet Simsek, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, and Industry and Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan. The Council is responsible for following up planning and coordination in light of general strategies set by the cabinet and giving regulatory directives, as well as identifying procurement methods for weapons and equipment to be procured by the Defense Industry Support Fund in conformity with the TGS's Strategic Target Plan.
19. SSM (Defense Industry Undersecretariat) announced a list of 17 companies that have responded to the RFI (Request for Information) for the Turkish Short Range defense Missile system T-LALADMIS. Raytheon is the only American company which responded to the RFI.
20. SSM announced a list of 15 companies that responded to the RFI for the Turkish Medium Altitude Air Defense System T-MALADMIS. Raytheon was the only U.S. firm responding to the RFI.
21. SSM announced that the contracts between SSM, TUSAS-TAI, Agusta Westland and Aselsan were signed on September 7 in connection with the ATAK Helicopter Program. The contracts are valued at approximately $ 2.7 billion.
22. Aselsan, a major defense contractor in Turkey, will produce software-defined radios (SDR) for Indonesia. This is the first ever Turkish defense product exported to Indonesia, according to Anatolian News Agency.
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23. Turkey's Middle East Technical University developed two different unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that have 2.2 meter and 4.3 meter wingspan. UAVs were designed by the Aerospace Engineering Department along with several other universities and companies. UAVs can reportedly fly from 1-6 hours in a range of 10-150 km (ANA).
24. SSM announced the list of companies that have submitted bids for the new submarine project: DCNS (France), HDW/MFI (Germany), Navantia S.A. (Spain).
25. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Airbus signed on November 6 a cooperation protocol for manufacturing fuselage panels of A400M and A320 passenger jets within the framework of a contract signed in 1998. The volume of business is expected to be in the $30 million range.
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