TURKISH CIVIL AVIATION DIRECTOR CEBECI REPLACED

UNCLAS ANKARA 002239 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EUR/SE, EB/TRA ROME FOR FAA PARIS FOR TSA FRANKFURT FOR TSA, FAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ASEC ATRN TU SUBJECT: TURKISH CIVIL AVIATION DIRECTOR CEBECI REPLACED This message is sensitive but not classified. Not for internet distribution. ¶1. (SBU) Topa Bilgetin Toker was reinstated on April 1 as Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),replacing Serdar Cebeci. Toker, who was discharged for unspecified reasons in August 2002, had filed a lawsuit against the state. The court recently determined that Toker had been fired without cause, and therefore reinstated him as Director General. Sources at the DGCA told us the reinstatement of Toker had been a legal decision, and had nothing to do with the AK Party Government. One DGCA source said AK was not likely to replace Toker any time soon, given Toker,s successful lawsuit. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: We do not anticipate that this change will affect Turkey,s aviation policy. Like Cebeci, Toker is an approachable contact. End comment. PEARSON