INFORMATION ON BIFA BISCUITS

UNCLAS ANKARA 002192 SIPDIS ROME FOR ICE - CHER IANNACCONE CUSTOMS FOR OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS, FOREIGN OPERATIONS DIVISION SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TU SUBJECT: INFORMATION ON BIFA BISCUITS Ref: ROME 962 (RM02ZE03BO035-CMI) Sensitive but unclassified. Protect accordingly. ¶1. (U) This is a response to Reftel. ¶2. (SBU) Econ/Ankara made discreet inquiries through relevant Turkish authorities on BIFA Biscuits and obtained the following information. ¶3. (SBU) BIFA Biscuits is located in Karaman/Konya, but has an exporting office based in Istanbul. Adress in Karaman is: "BIFA BISKUVI VE GIDA SANAYII A.S., Eregli Yolu Uzeri PK.10 70001 Karaman". Tel number is +90 338 213 24 90. Fax number is +90 338 213 26 95. Istanbul office telephone number is +90 212 442 79 33 and +90 212 442 79 00. ¶4. (SBU) Company's managers are; Yilmaz Babaoglu, Chief Executive Officer and owner; Necati Babaoglu, board member; Muberra Sandikci, board member; Necla Adiguzel, board member; Taner Kus, export representative. ¶5. (SBU) The Turkish Finance Ministry Inspection Board, the government agency with which post cooperates combating terrorism financing in Turkey, claimed the company was renamed as "KARSA" recently and was linked to Yasin El Kadi. Econ/Ankara could not obtain supporting evidence to confirm this connection. EDELMAN