IAEA AND IRAN: TURKS WELCOME CLARIFICATION ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM

S E C R E T ANKARA 002511 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2013 TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL TU IR IAEA SUBJECT: IAEA AND IRAN: TURKS WELCOME CLARIFICATION ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM REF: A. STATE 85566 ¶B. ANKARA 2126 ¶C. STATE 81552 (U) Classified by Pol-Mil Counselor Stuart Brown. Reasons 1.5 (c) and (d). Polmiloff met MFA Disarmament Second Secretary Aykut Kumbaroglu on April 16 and delivered ref a demarche. Kumbaroglu welcomed the clarification on Iran's nuclear program and promised to convey the information at once to the Turkish Mission in Vienna as well as other relevant GOT offices. Kumbaroglu agreed that Iran's becoming a party to the Additional Protocol would be a "positive step," but by no means indicated transparent compliance or proof of Iran having abandoned its nuclear weapons program. He both hopes and expects the IAEA will seek a more complete clarification about Iran's program and continue to monitor the situation on an urgent basis. Kumbaroglu said that Turkey's non-permament term on the IAEA Board will expire in 2003 and that Ankara hopes the USG will continue to share as much information about Iran's nuclear efforts as it can. PEARSON