Cablegate: Turkey Cfe Entitlement Transfer Mou

VZCZCXYZ0127
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAK #0681 0851414
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261414Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1459
INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ANKARA 000681

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCFE NATO PARM PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY CFE ENTITLEMENT TRANSFER MOU

REF: STATE 37715

1. (SBU) As requested reftel, we informed MFA Arms Control
DDG Ahmet Muhtar Gun's office that the U.S. agrees with all
of the Turkish proposed changes to the draft text of the CFE
entitlement transfer MOU, and that we seek to put the MOU
into final form, exchange notes, and transmit the text to
Washington for final approval as soon as possible.

2. (SBU) In Gun's absence on March 26, we explained to Haldum
Erdem, CFE expert on this staff, that we accept Turkey's
proposed text for Article II, para d, regarding any
retransfer of entitlements, but that we desire to establish a
mechanism for timely consultations on retransfer requests.
We stressed that we are not seeking any modification of the
MOU text on this issue.

3. (SBU) We also advised Erdem that we have considered how to
address Article III regarding the timeline the issuance of
future CFE Treaty notifications that would result from any
decision to alter the MOU. Again, we emphasized that we are
not seeking any changes to the text as we do not regard
reference to this point as essential. We did inform Erdem
that if Turkey seeks explicit language on future
notifications, we would be prepared to offer a final sentence
as provided reftel.

4. (SBU) Erdem was appreciative of U.S. agreement on the
text, promised to pass our points to Gun, and suggested that
we follow up with Gun on March 27 regarding the exchange of
notes.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

MCELDOWNEY

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