Published by Wikileaks & Bivol.bg
date: 10/3/2003 7:16 refid: 03ANKARA6217 origin: Embassy Ankara classification: SECRET destination: header: This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. S E C R E T ANKARA 006217 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/RPM, EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2013 TAGS: PREL, MARR, PINR, PGOV, BU, TU SUBJECT: INITIAL TURKISH RESPONSE ON APPOINTMENT OF ASPARUKHOV: NO OFFICIAL GOT POSITION YET REF: A) STATE 269610 B) STATE 273864 C) USNATO 994 D) USNATO 968 (U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Deutsch. Reasons: 1.5 (B and D). 1. (S) Deputy pol-mil counselor delivered ref a and b points to MFA NATO Department Head Atila Gunay October 2. Gunay said he was aware of the issue, having received a recent cable from the Turkish mission at NATO. Gunay explained he had held off on receiving deputy pol-mil counselor until now to try to obtain an official MFA position on the issue. However, he was unable to do so in time for today's meeting, in large part because the Ministry -- and the MFA's senior point man on Asparukhov, Deputy U/S Sensoy in particular -- has been focused on preparing for S/CT Black's visit to Ankara today (October 2) for discussions on the PKK/Kadek. Gunay offered to get back to the Embassy after he had an opportunity to discuss the matter with Deputy U/S Sensoy. 2. (S) Speaking personally, Gunay told deputy pol-mil counselor that the USG position made "perfect sense" and added the GOB should be given a strong message that Bulgaria stands to be cut off from NATO classified information if it goes ahead with the appointment. Looking ahead, Gunay said one area where the US and Turkey might differ is how to convey this message to the GOB. Where the GOT likely can be expected to support "NATO initiatives" to caution Bulgaria, some within the GOT -- including the governing AK party -- might view bilateral approaches to the GOB as Turkey "meddling" in Bulgaria's internal affairs. Deputy pol-mil counselor responded that the US and Turkey share the goal of making sure Bulgaria does everything it can to prepare itself for NATO membership -- not jeopardize it -- and urged the GOT to approach the GOB to reverse the appointment. 3. (S) DCM discussed the issue later that same day with Sensoy and MFA DG for Intelligence Tezcan on the margins of CT meetings in Ankara (septel). Tezcan briefed Sensoy on the issue and they agree that this nomination represented a problem for Bulgaria and that Turkey should take appropriate action per Lord Robertson's request. EDELMAN
