UNCLAS ANKARA 006534

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN IZ KPAO TU
SUBJECT: SECURING UNDELIVERED IRAQI MEDIA EQUIPMENT --
PRELIMINARY REPORT ON TURKISH COMPANY


REF: A. STATE 284988

B. SMITH-DONNELLY E-MAIL



1. Istanbul Pol/Econ chief contacted the Al Huda San
company, which ref a identified as the company which prior to
the war had contracted to ship USD 17,881,020 worth of media
equipment to Iraq. He spoke with one company official, Ahmet
Cakir, who had been involved in the early stages of the deal.
Cakir said when Coalition troops entered Iraq, The Turkish
government informed the company that the tender was no longer
valid, and the deal collapsed. He added that he had no idea
where the equipment is and claimed the Al Huda San company
had never received payment for the equipment. He noted that
Al Huda is a partnership with an individual in Dubai, Mr.
Wadi Handal, whose phone no. is 00971-4-268-5044. Istanbul
hopes to meet with Al Huda San owner Yunus Takak next week to
clarify this information.



2. Embassy Ankara will follow up with GOT officials to
determine if they were aware of the deal and whether other
aspects of Cakir's story ring true. Embassy requests that
CPA fax the equipment list to Kurt Donnelly Econ/Ankara (fax
number 312 468-6138) and Stuart Smith/Istanbul (fax number
212 335-9355).
EDELMAN