TURKEY APPROVES RESEARCH VESSEL "KNORR" REQUEST TO

UNCLAS ANKARA 002044 SIPDIS FOR OES, ELIZABETH TIRPAK, AND EUR/SE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT SENV TU SUBJECT: TURKEY APPROVES RESEARCH VESSEL "KNORR" REQUEST TO CONDUCT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH REF: SECSTATE 189716 ¶1. This cable is in reference to State file 200Z-097, R/V Knorr, April 15 - May 16, 2003. ¶2. The Foreign Ministry has granted permission for the research vessel 'Knorr' to conduct scientific research in the Western Black Sea from April 15 - May 15. The approval came in the form of the following diplomatic note. Begin Text: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and with reference to the Ministry's Note dated February 27, 2003, No: 2003/DHGY/78790 and the Embassy's Notes dated February 18, 2003, No: 272, and dated October 16, 2002, No: 1140 has the honour to inform the Embassy that the research vessel "Knorr" has been granted permission for conducting marine scientific research in Western Black Sea, in the areas details of which are given by the abovementioned Note No: 1140, between 15 April - 15 May 2003, provided that following conditions are fulfilled: - All measures should be taken for preventing any negative effect to the normal flow of the maritime traffic and for ensuring safety of life, property, navigation and environment in the research areas. To this end, the necessary warning should be made in due time. - Coordination with Samsun and Istanbul Regional Directorates of the Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs should be established and kept in all phases of the research. - Two scientists from Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and a scientist from the Department of the Navigation, Hydrography and Oceangraphy of Turkish Naval Forces Command should take part in the research and the raw data of the research should be given to the latter by the end of the cruise. - The coordinates (41 Degrees 13 Minutes North, 029 Degrees 09 Minutes East) of the first station which is common in the two legs of the cruise should be changed as 4l Degrees 18 Minutes North, 029 Degrees 09 Minutes East due to its geographical proximity to the northern entrance of the Strait of Istanbul. - In case underwater cultural assets are found during the research, without any intervention, the Ministry of Culture should be promptly informed about the fact and also the documents regarding this finding should be submitted to the said Ministry. - Two copies of the preliminary cruise report should be submitted to the Ministry within a month after the end of the cruise and the final report within three months. - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. End Text. PEARSON