EXBS: TURKEY ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 005024 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NP/ECC- PVANSON, ACHURCH, TGROEN DEPT FOR EUR/ACE- DMARTIN, DMCCORMICK CBP/INA FOR PWARKER, RGALBRAITH USDOE/NNSA FOR TPERRY DOC FOR PETERSEN-BEARD USCG FOR RCIESLINSKI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL SUBJECT: EXBS: TURKEY ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE REF: STATE 146478 ¶1. Summary: August was a productive month despite the high number of Turkish contacts that were still enjoying their traditional summer vacation. The DOE Second Line of Defense visit was able to lay the initial groundwork required to begin the planning process in upgrading the portal monitors at many of the Turkish border crossing. EXBS Advisor met with Turkish officials to coordinate the upcoming initial visits for the DOC Internal Compliance Program and the DOE Commodity Identification Program. He also began planning with the Undersecretariat for Customs for a review of each border crossing to establish a base line of operations and prioritization list for areas of improvement in training, equipment and possibly facilities. Finally, EXBS Advisor continued to establish himself as the Embassy's main point of contact in the field of nonproliferation for the GOT. End Summary. ¶2. Completed Actions for the Reporting Period ¶A. Site Assessment and Meetings During Recent Reporting Period 1) August 2-3- Department of Energy second Line of Defense Team conducted introductory discussion with Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Customs and Atomic Energy Authority. This program received favorable comments from the GOT and they would like to begin the program as soon as possible. 2) August 6- EXBS advisor met with Mr. Okay Cakiroglu, President of the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK). The meeting focused on TAEK,s involvement in the GOT nonproliferation program. Mr. Cakiroglu outlined how TAEK supports the work being accomplished by Turkish Customs. It is also involved in the region, focusing on standardizing Atomic Energy and other nuclear activities in Turkic speaking countries, such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Turkey is organizing and sponsoring the Eurasian Conference for Nuclear Science and Its Application in Uzbekistan this October. 3) August 12- EXBS advisor met with MFA DDG for Disarmament Haluk Ilicak. During the meeting discussion were held on current projects including the EXBS MOU, Turkey's participation in the PSI experts working group, and future participation in the SEDM conference and future PSI activities. EXBS advisor presented information on upcoming EXBS activities including the Internal Compliance Program initiation meetings, Black Sea and Caspian Sea Maritime Workshop. Finally, EXBS advisory outline plan to work with Undersecretariat of Customs Enforcement to begin a coordinated review of the GOT Customs procedures to develop a list of potential areas with the EXBS program could focus to assist GOT. 4) August 19- EXBS advisor met with DDG for Customs Enforcement Riza Mehmet Korkmaz_ and Department Head Mehmet Guzel to begin work in the development of a coordinated review of the GOT Customs Enforcement activities, with the aim of developing a list of areas which the EXBS program could assist the GOT in customs enforcement. It was decided that Department Head Guzel will develop a presentation of the overall GOT Customs activities and believed shortfalls. A future meeting will be scheduled to review this information and develop a schedule of visits to customs areas. 5) August 27- EXBS advisor delivered a pair of Diplomatic Notes to Turkish MFA. The first proposing a set of coordination meetings to begin the process of developing and customizing the DOC Internal Control Program for Turkey and another inviting GOT participation in the upcoming Black/Caspian Sea Maritime Conference which will take place in Kiev, Ukraine. ¶B. Training Conducted During Reporting Period: None. ¶C. Equipment Delivered During Reporting Period: None ¶D. Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update: None ¶E. Significant Developments in Export Controls, Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security 1) Turkey participated in the multi-national PSI Exports Working Group in Copenhagen and Oslo. This was the first major working group exercise in which Turkey participated with a full team of experts. The team actively participated and agreed to send a team to the next PSI Working Group exercise as well as offering assets to the Maritime Exercise in Spain and to host an exercise in 2006. (Comment: Discussions in September placed a questions mark over Turkey's future participation in PSI activities; see septel (notal)) 2) Turkish replied to the U.S. comments on the umbrella EXBS agreement. The comments where forwarded to the Department via cable for consideration. Post also provided the Department with possible language to modify the last area of disagreement between the U.S. and GOT. Once this or similar language is accepted the agreement can move forward in the Turkish government for full approval. 3) Turkey submitted a delegation list for participation in the Southeast European Defense Ministers conference, which will take place in Bled, Slovenia in early September. EXBS Advisor served as the main link between the GOT delegation and OSD for this conference. 4) Turkey submitted a delegation list for the upcoming PSI maritime exercise that is to take place in Newport, Rhode Island in September. The team of experts appears to be fully qualified and prepared to actively participate in this workshop. EXBS Advisor is the Post lead on the PSI initiative. ¶3. Future Activities ¶A. September 8-11- Turkey will send a team of Border Security Experts to the South Eastern Europe Defense Ministers Conference in Bled Slovenia. ¶B. September 20-24 - Preliminary meetings will be held with Department of Commerce team to discuss the Internal Control Program. Country clearance request received, awaiting confirmation of dates from MFA before proceeding with detailed coordination. ¶C. September 27-30- Turkey will send a team of Senior Maritime Leaders to participate in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea Maritime Leaders Conference in Kiev, Ukraine. ¶D. Sept/Oct- EXBS Advisor will begin review of Custom Border posts, including actual site visits. A schedule of visits is being developed with the Undersecretariat for Customs Enforcement and will include visits to major seaports, airports and land border crossings. ¶E. Oct 4-17 - EXBS adviser will travel to Washington DC for program consultations and leave. ¶F. Oct 18-20- EXBS Advisor will attend EUCOM Black Sea Initiative Conference in Garmish, Germany. ¶4. Red Flag Issues ¶A. Finally approval of the U.S. Turkey EXBS agreement is needed in order for the EXBS program to begin to have an impact in Turkey. Post submitted to State Department proposed wording change to the agreement that we believe would be acceptable to the GOT (Ankara 04779). Awaiting reply to cable before presenting this wording to GOT MFA. ¶B. The DOE SLD and INECP along with the DOC ICP Programs are ready to start as soon as the overarching EXBS agreement is signed and in effect, with background and preparatory meetings already scheduled. ¶5. Contact Information for EXBS Adviser: Kevin Lyon, phone (90)(312) 455-5555 ext 2525, fax (90)(312) 468-4775, email LyonK@state.gov. EDELMAN