TURKEY AND THE CONTAINER SECURITY INITIATIVE

UNCLAS ANKARA 004392

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EB/TPA - DVERNON AND EUR/SE


ROME FOR CUSTOMS - R. STIRITI


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT ETRD AMGT TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY AND THE CONTAINER SECURITY INITIATIVE

Ref: Sirotic/Stiriti/Vernon Emails/telcons 7/10/03



1. Customs Rome informed the Embassy (ref emails and
telcons) that the port of Izmir has been selected for
inclusion in the second phase of the Container Security
Initiative. We further understand that Customs
Assistant Commissioner Shruhan and Customs Attache
Stiriti met with GOT counterparts andto discussed CSI in
February and July 2003, but we have not received any
front-channel instructions or guidance indicating that
the USG would be formally approaching the GOT on this
initiative.neither the Istanbul Consulate nor the
Embassy were able to send staff to these meetings. We
also just learned that understand that Customs has
proposed to the GOT - prior to informing the Embassy of
the proposal (let alone initiating the NSDD-38 process)
- that a U.S. customs officer be stationed in Izmir,
first for a pilot period of several months, then
permanently, to implement the CSI.



2. The Mission fully supports CSI and is eager to work
with Washington agencies in securing Turkish cooperation
in the war on terror, but there are numerous local
issues to be considered. We are disappointed that the
approach to the GOT on this was not coordinated or even
outlined in any official instruction. Embassy requests
Department provide a front-channel message providing
guidance on this initiative, and also work with U.S.
Customs to ensure full interagency coordinationfurther
information on the planned inclusion of Turkey in CSI
and requests that future approaches to the GOT be
coordinated with relevant Mission elements. Pearson