GOT SUPPORTS IMO NONPROLIFERATION

UNCLAS ANKARA 003437 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/T/HTP - FOSTRANDER AND L/LEI - DMANNING DOD FOR OUSDP/PDUSD, PASS CODE 10 USNAVY DEPT PASS DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION DHS FOR TSA, ICE SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC ASEC PTER EWWT PREL TU SUBJECT: GOT SUPPORTS IMO NONPROLIFERATION INITIATIVE SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY. REF: STATE 127568 (SBU) ECONOFF TRANSMITTED REFTEL DEMARCHE SEEKING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED NONPROLIFERATION AMENDMENTS TO THE UN CONVENTION ON THE SUPPRESSION OF UNLAWFUL ACTS AGAINST THE SAFETY OF MARITIME NAVIGATION (THE SUA CONVENTION) NEGOTIATED AT THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO) TO GUCAN BALIK, OF THE MFA MARITIME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. BALIK TOLD US THAT PAKISTAN HAS LOBBIED THE GOT AS PART OF ITS EFFORTS TO IMPEDE PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE. HE STRESSED THAT TURKEY STRONGLY SUPPORTS USG EFFORTS ON THIS INITIATIVE, AND DOES NOT BELIEVE INDIA AND PAKISTAN WILL SUCCEED IN PREVENTING FURTHER WORK ON THE SUA AMENDMENTS. EDELMAN