DELIVERY OF CSI DEMARCHE

UNCLAS ANKARA 005691 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/TRA/OTP AND EUR/SE ROME FOR CBP ROBERT STIRITI PARIS FOR TSA DHS FOR CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION DEPT PASS TRANSPORTATION DEPT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT PTER ETRD PREL ETTC KTIA PBTS TU SUBJECT: DELIVERY OF CSI DEMARCHE Ref: State 198802 Embassy delivered reftel demarche proposing Turkey's inclusion in the Container Security Initiative (CSI) via diplomatic note, and faxed copies to other interested Turkish agencies. In a followup meeting on September 29 with Acting Customs Undersecretary Riza Tuna Turagay, Econ Counselor reiterated demarche points. Turagay told us he was inclined to support Turkish participation in CSI, which he believes will enhance Turkey's competitiveness in trade and transport. However, he said that Customs has not completed internal consultations on the feasibility and desirability of introducing CSI to the Port of Izmir, and it will also have to seek the views of other agencies. In a separate conversation on October 4, Orkun Ersoy, of the MFA Maritime Department, told Econoff that MFA was favorably inclined to CSI, but that GOT agencies had not taken a final decision on whether to proceed. Post will provide updates on CSI as we receive further information from the GOT. Edelman