TURKEY: MFA DIPNOTE ON SEEBRIG

UNCLAS ANKARA 005961 SIPDIS DEPT FOR PM/RSAT A. BONFANTE; DSCA FOR J. TAYLOR; JCS FOR CDR BRASWELL; OSD FOR COPSON-NIECKO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MASS MARR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: MFA DIPNOTE ON SEEBRIG ¶1. On September 18, 2003, the Embassy received a diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (see para 2 for complete text) on the South Eastern European Brigade (SEEBRIG). Embassy faxed copy of the diplomatic note to OSD's Maria Copson-Niecko in Istanbul. ¶2. Begin text of MFA note No. UNGY-II No: 7938: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honor to refer to the proposed temporary transfer of USG-provided communications information system equipment to the Turkish company, Aselsan, which, pursuant to a contract between the Turkish Ministry of Defense and Aselsan, will integrate the equipment into vehicles donated by the Government of Turkey for use by the South Eastern European Brigade (SEEBRIG). The Government of Turkey understands that in keeping with United States laws and regulations, the United States Government may consider consenting to this temporary transfer of such equipment only upon first being furnished with assurances from the Government of Turkey that it will not permit Aselsan to retransfer the defense articles or any component thereof (including technical information),by sale, lease, release, assignment loan conveyance or any other means to any government (with the exception of the Government of Romania, acting as the next SEEBRIG headquarters host nation upon the equipment's return),entity, international organization, or person not an officer, employee, or agent of Aselsan or to use the defense articles, or any component thereof (including technical information),for any purpose other than for integration into vehicles donated by the Government of Turkey for use by SEEBRIG, pursuant to the agreement between Aselsan and the Government of Turkey without first obtaining the written consent of the United States Government. In accordance with the foregoing, the Government of Turkey hereby gives its assurances that, unless the written consent of the United States Government is first obtained: i) it will not permit Aselsan to retransfer this communications information system equipment, or any component thereof (including technical information),by sale, lease, release, assignment, loan, conveyance or any other means to any government (with the exception of the Government of Romania upon the equipment's return to the SEEBRIG headquarters host nation),entity, international organization or person not an officer, employee or agent of Aselsan; ii) it will not permit Aselsan the use of this communications information system equipment, or any component thereof (including technical information),for any purpose other than for integration into vehicles donated by the Government of Turkey for use by SEEBRIG, pursuant to the agreement between Aselsan and the Government of Turkey, and, iii) the Government of Turkey agrees to retain ultimate responsibility for ensuring that any technical information retained by Aselsan after all equipment furnished is returned to the Government of Romania remains within the territorial boundaries of Turkey and under the legal jurisdiction of the Government of Turkey. 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, 15 September, 2003. End of text. EDELMAN