Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ANKARA8546
2002-11-22 12:21:00
SECRET
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
EMBASSY EFFORTS TO STOP TURKISH ATROPINE EXPORTS
how-toThis 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 008546
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR NP/CBM, EUR/SE, EUR/PRA, NEA/NGA AND INR/SPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2012
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC TU IZ
SUBJECT: EMBASSY EFFORTS TO STOP TURKISH ATROPINE EXPORTS
TO IRAQ (S)
REF: A. STATE 222715
B. STATE 172843
C. ANKARA 8314
D. ANKARA 6489
Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch. Reasons 1.5 B and D.
S E C R E T ANKARA 008546
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR NP/CBM, EUR/SE, EUR/PRA, NEA/NGA AND INR/SPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2012
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC TU IZ
SUBJECT: EMBASSY EFFORTS TO STOP TURKISH ATROPINE EXPORTS
TO IRAQ (S)
REF: A. STATE 222715
B. STATE 172843
C. ANKARA 8314
D. ANKARA 6489
Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch. Reasons 1.5 B and D.
1. (S) Post has expended substantial and sustained efforts to
encourage the GOT to shut off potential for Iraqi acquisition
of atropine from Turkey. We offer the following chronology
of our efforts:
(S) May 2002 - Regional Affaires (RA) Office begins work on
issue with GOT interlocutors. Information exchange on-going
to present time.
(S) August 28 ) U/S Grossman raises with U/S Ziyal in
Washington.
(S) First week of Sept. ) DCM raises with MFA DG Kurttekin.
(S) Sept. 10 ) Political Military Affairs (PMA) officer
raises with MFA Iraq Desk, passes points including name and
details of suspect Turkish firm per State 172843. MFA says
it will investigate. ECON also delivers State 172843 points
to MFA DG for Bilateral Economic Affairs.
(S) Between Sept. 10 and Nov. 7 PMA made at least three
follow-up calls to MFA. No further information was provided.
(S) Oct. 30 ) DCM raises with MFA DG Burcuoglu who, holding
up his daily to-do list, says the issue is at top of his
agenda.
(S) Nov. 7 ) PMA Raises again with MFA DDG for Middle East
per State 222715. Gets no information but promise that
results of ongoing investigation will be passed to us. ECON
raises with Acting DG for Agreements at Undersecretariat of
Foreign Trade. Gets no information.
(U) Nov. 12 ) NYT runs story.
(S) Nov. 14 ) PMA raises with MFA Disarmament Department
Head. He too was unable to provide any information.
(S) Nov. 15 - PMA called into the MFA by Iraq Department
Head, who provides info contained Ref C confirming that the
first week of August, 44,000 atropine autoinjectors were sent
from Turkey to Iraq, and stating no shipments had been made
afterwards. MFA stated that the effort to move the atropine
had stopped completely after the MFA took action in late
August/early September. If there had been any attempt
afterward, word had not reached the MFA.
2. (S) Post intends to continue pressing the GOT for more
information on this issue, using any available information.
PEARSON
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR NP/CBM, EUR/SE, EUR/PRA, NEA/NGA AND INR/SPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2012
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC TU IZ
SUBJECT: EMBASSY EFFORTS TO STOP TURKISH ATROPINE EXPORTS
TO IRAQ (S)
REF: A. STATE 222715
B. STATE 172843
C. ANKARA 8314
D. ANKARA 6489
Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch. Reasons 1.5 B and D.
1. (S) Post has expended substantial and sustained efforts to
encourage the GOT to shut off potential for Iraqi acquisition
of atropine from Turkey. We offer the following chronology
of our efforts:
(S) May 2002 - Regional Affaires (RA) Office begins work on
issue with GOT interlocutors. Information exchange on-going
to present time.
(S) August 28 ) U/S Grossman raises with U/S Ziyal in
Washington.
(S) First week of Sept. ) DCM raises with MFA DG Kurttekin.
(S) Sept. 10 ) Political Military Affairs (PMA) officer
raises with MFA Iraq Desk, passes points including name and
details of suspect Turkish firm per State 172843. MFA says
it will investigate. ECON also delivers State 172843 points
to MFA DG for Bilateral Economic Affairs.
(S) Between Sept. 10 and Nov. 7 PMA made at least three
follow-up calls to MFA. No further information was provided.
(S) Oct. 30 ) DCM raises with MFA DG Burcuoglu who, holding
up his daily to-do list, says the issue is at top of his
agenda.
(S) Nov. 7 ) PMA Raises again with MFA DDG for Middle East
per State 222715. Gets no information but promise that
results of ongoing investigation will be passed to us. ECON
raises with Acting DG for Agreements at Undersecretariat of
Foreign Trade. Gets no information.
(U) Nov. 12 ) NYT runs story.
(S) Nov. 14 ) PMA raises with MFA Disarmament Department
Head. He too was unable to provide any information.
(S) Nov. 15 - PMA called into the MFA by Iraq Department
Head, who provides info contained Ref C confirming that the
first week of August, 44,000 atropine autoinjectors were sent
from Turkey to Iraq, and stating no shipments had been made
afterwards. MFA stated that the effort to move the atropine
had stopped completely after the MFA took action in late
August/early September. If there had been any attempt
afterward, word had not reached the MFA.
2. (S) Post intends to continue pressing the GOT for more
information on this issue, using any available information.
PEARSON