RFG: TURKEY IMPOUNDS RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL AND

UNCLAS ANKARA 000380

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE


STATE FOR NP/PTR AND EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MNUC PARM TU
SUBJECT: RFG: TURKEY IMPOUNDS RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL AND
HABUR GATE

REF: CURRY EMAIL 21JAN04



1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified.



2. (SBU) This is an urgent action request; see para 2. In
response to reftel email indicating the IAEA had received
reports from Turkish officials that five trucks containing
presumably orphaned radioactive material had been intercepted
attempting to cross into Turkey, PolMilOff contacted the
Ankara Army Attache who is currently at the border. Turkish
border officials indicated to the Army Attache that there
were five trucks in a holding area in which radioactive
material had been detected. Border officials were awaiting
instructions from Ankara to determine the disposition of the
trucks. Army Attache has requested border officials hold the
trucks as long as possible, but if instructions were
received from Ankara in the meantime, they may feel compelled
to turn the trucks back to Iraq.



3. (SBU) Action Request: Embassy assumes that the GOT will
not want the trucks to enter Turkey. Presuming the trucks
are to be sent back to Iraq, please provide immediate
guidance as to how to coordinate their transition so that
they are properly handled on the Iraqi side of the border.
In the meantime, Embassy will ask MFA to instruct the border
officials to hold the trucks.



4. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
EDELMAN