C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001674
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2017
TAGS: KJUS, EAID, AF, TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY SUPPORTIVE OF AFGHAN RULE OF LAW CONFERENCE
BUT STRETCHED BY EXISTING ASSISTANCE
REF: A. STATE 87370
B. ANKARA 1456
Classified By: Economic Counselor Tom Goldberger for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d).
1. (C) Summary: In keeping with the high priority it
attaches to Afghanistan, the Turkish Government plans to
send Under Secretary Apakan (D equivalent) to the Rome
Conference. Although Turkey will be supportive of Rule of
Law initiatives it will not be in a position to pledge
additional monies for this effort. Afghanistan already
ranks as one of the largest recipients of Turkish
development and military assistance. Turkey currently
provides $100 million for the former, but also has a
PRT, conducts police training and has recently
increased its troop contribution to ISAF. End Summary.
2. (C) We presented ref a demarche to MFA Afghanistan desk
officer Ilhan Sener. He stressed the priority Turkey
attaches to Afghanistan, going back to Afghan support for
the Turkish war of liberation in the 1920's. Barring
unforeseen circumstances, MFA Under Secretary Ertugrul
Apakan will lead the Turkish delegation, accompanied by
Deputy Under Secretary Feridun Sinirlioglu. Apakan will
make a speech in which Turkish support for the Rule of Law
effort and the Provincial Justice Coordination Mechanism
will be mentioned.
3. (C) Sener explained that Turkey will not be in a
position to make a new pledge, given budgetary
constraints and Turkey's already significant actions in
support of Afghanistan. Sener noted that Turkey is
providing $100 million over five years in development
assistance to Afghanistan, focused on education, health and
agriculture. Turkey's PRT in Wardak province, troop
contributions to ISAF, and police training are outside of
this $100 million envelope. Turkey has recently increased
its troop contribution to ISAF to 1,300 troops and has
donated 24 howitzers and an associated training package to
the Afghan army. Sener said that the Turkish National
Police have conducted training programs for a total of
300 Afghans and have provided Afghan police with assorted
equipment. 50 are local police in Wardak, 100 were brought
to Turkey for a variety of police training programs, and
150 received counternarcotics training.
4. (SBU) Turkey is also leading a trilateral effort to
promote dialogue and cooperation between the leaders of
Pakistan and Afghanistan, through implementation of the
principles of the Ankara Declaration, adopted in April 2007.
The first meeting of the Afghanistan-Pakistan-Turkey Joint
Working Group, created to monitor the implementation of the
Declaration,s principles, will be held in Ankara, on July 6.
U/S Apakan will host this Deputy Foreign Minister-level
meeting.
5.(C) Comment: Given Turkey's income level (per capita GDP
of $5,400) and its fiscal constraints under its IMF program
its existing and pledged support for Afghanistan is
substantial. Afghanistan is one of the largest recipient
countries for Turkey's modest overseas development assistance,
expected to total only $750 million in 2007.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON