THIRD COUNTRY TRANSFER: GOT REQUEST TO SELL MURAT

UNCLAS ANKARA 004160 SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/RSAT (SARA HORNER) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MASS MARR TU SUBJECT: THIRD COUNTRY TRANSFER: GOT REQUEST TO SELL MURAT REIS (USS RAZORBACK) SUBMARINE REF: A. 02 ANKARA 5784 ¶B. 02 ANKARA 7719 ¶1. This is an action request. See para 4. ¶2. The Embassy recently received a diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting information on this submarine re-transfer request. This is the third diplomatic note we have received from the MFA regarding this case. The first two were dated August 1, 2002 (ref A) and October 19, 2002 (ref B). ¶3. Begin text of MFA note No: 2003/ALGY/252944: 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 notes numbered 2002/ALGY/29317, dated August 1, 2002, and 2002/ALGY/399244, dated October 19, 2002 has the honor to request information regarding the outcome of the request for assistance to obtain the US Government's approval for the sale of Murat Reis (Ex. USS Razorback) submarine to the USS Razorback/Murat Reis Association resident in North Little Rock, Arkansas. 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. Ankara, June 20, 2003. end text. ¶4. Action request: Embassy asks that the Department, in coordination with other appropriate agencies, review the GOT's request and inform the Embassy of its decision as soon as possible. PEARSON