Cablegate: Secretary Clinton Letter to President Gul On

VZCZCXYZ0021
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #9113 0290147
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 290140Z JAN 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY ANKARA IMMEDIATE 1676

UNCLAS STATE 009113

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPA PREL TU
SUBJECT: SECRETARY CLINTON LETTER TO PRESIDENT GUL ON
TURKISH SPACE REQUEST (S/ES: 201000523)

1. Please deliver the following message from Secretary
Clinton to President Gul. There will be no signed
original.

2. Begin Text:

Dear Mr. President:

Thank you for your recent letter regarding the interest
of the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Air Force in
human spaceflight. I congratulate Turkey on the
upcoming 100th anniversary of the Turkish Air Force.
The United States greatly values the strong cooperation
between our countries' air forces, as well as the work
we have done together in the areas of science and
technology. We look forward to continuing our strong
partnership.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
is retiring the Space Shuttle in 2010 or shortly
thereafter. All of the crew assignments for the five
remaining flights have been filled for some time given
the advance planning and training required for each
flight. As a result, it will not be possible to
schedule a Turkish pilot to fly on the Space Shuttle to
the Space Station in 2011.

Nonetheless, the United States is continuing plans for
future human space flight missions on vehicles being
developed to replace the Space Shuttle. We anticipate
significant international participation in that effort.
In the interim, there are also opportunities for
cooperation on research on the Space Station on a
bilateral basis. NASA will engage the appropriate
authorities in Turkey to explore possibilities for
future cooperation.

Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton

End Text.
CLINTON

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