GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY PROMULGATES POLICY FOR

UNCLAS ANKARA 002694 SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/CR/CIL ROME, ATHENS FOR IMMIGRATION ATTACHE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC EAIR SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY PROMULGATES POLICY FOR DEPORTATIONS TRANSITING THROUGH TURKEY ¶1. The Government of Turkey (GOT) has recently promulgated clear guidelines for the transiting of deportees through their airports. These procedures are in effect immediately and apply to all countries that move deportees through Turkey (Istanbul's Ataturk Airport in most instances). BICE must revise their current notification practices in order to conform to GOT policy. ¶2. Third country nationals who are being deported to their country of citizenship may only transit through Turkey in accordance with the rules provided below (translation of diplomatic note received 5/6/04): ¶A. The requests for transiting nationals of third country must be sent to the Ministry of Interior 15 days prior to the travel. The request should include the identity information and citizenship of the third country national and the identity information of the accompanying escorts, as well as the flight details and dates of the travel. Any changes on the flight destination and the date should be reported 5 days prior to the travel. ¶B. The sender country can only implement the travel after the Ministry of Interior authorizes it. ¶C. The escorts accompanying the third country national should make the necessary arrangements with the Istanbul Airport Protection Section officials and only then will the third country national and the escorts be allowed to transit through Istanbul without entering into the country. ¶D. The Embassy of the sender country should confirm that the officials of other third country to where the SUBJECT will be transiting authorize the transit. ¶E. If the third country national is denied entry into the country of citizenship, the sender country is required to pay all necessary travel expenses to return the SUBJECT back to the sender country. (end diplomatic note translation) ¶3. Please note that the transit cannot take place until the Turkish Ministry of Interior authorizes the request. Embassy does not see an issue with BICE planning for a deportation once the advance notification is submitted, in accordance with GOT procedures. Embassy will alert BICE only if a request is not approved prior to the deportation date. ¶4. Embassy Ankara and Consulate General Istanbul are ready to assist BICE in coordinating these deportation requests. All required information should be sent in the country clearance request. Once received, Embassy will prepare a diplomatic note alerting the proper GOT authorities. With the required advance notification we can continue to work with airport Protection Section officials (c, above) in preparation for ICE agent arrivals. Embassy will require BICE to provide confirmation that the country receiving the deportee will accept him/her (d, above) as part of the country clearance request. We advise strict adherence to the notification deadlines, as the GOT will hold fast to this timeframe. Edelman