NINETEENTH SESSION OF U.S.-TURKEY SECURITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005730 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MASS TU SUBJECT: NINETEENTH SESSION OF U.S.-TURKEY SECURITY COOPERATION WORKING GROUP ¶1. DSCA Director for Europe, Russia, the Americas, and Sub-Saharan Africa Jeanne Farmer led a U.S. delegation to Ankara Sept. 24 for the nineteenth session of the U.S.-Turkey Security Cooperation Working Group (SCWG). Ms. Farmer and her Turkish counterpart, Brigadier General Ali Akdogan, discussed a wide range of security cooperation issues, including Defense Industrial Cooperation, comparative procurement procedures, Turkish use of IMET and other USG SC funding, specific Turkish plans to purchase U.S. equipment and programs, and Turkish concerns regarding disposal of excess U.S.-origin materiel and USG third-party transfer requirements. Both sides tentatively agreed to resume Defense Industrial Cooperation (DIC) talks as well as the twentieth SCWG meeting in early 2005. List of agreed action items in para. three. ¶2. Highlights of the meeting included: --Turkey's interest in U.S. procurement procedures. The U.S. side advised that Turkey may wish to avail some of its IMET funding (or its own) to take courses at the Defense Acquisition University at Fort Belvoir, VA. --Turkey's desire to market the capabilities of its U.S.-origin aircraft depot level maintenance facilities. U.S. side responded that USG cannot help Turkey market itself, but advised Turkey to raise this issue at DIC talks and also to consider visiting U.S. contractors who provide a similar service to inquire as to their marketing practices. --Turkey's ongoing problems dealing with excess U.S.-origin equipment it obtained in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Unfortunately, the Turks cannot provide documentation regarding under what program these items were obtained, thus making it difficult for them to dispose of the materiel. The U.S. side recommended that the Turks make a one-time request to dispose of this equipment in accordance with DoD 4160.21-M-1 (see action items para. three). This is also a global issue with most countries that have purchased U.S.-origin equipment under the former Military Assistance Program (MAP). --Turkey's desire to transfer some of this equipment to third countries. U.S. side recommended the GOT request the State Department to review third-party transfer statutes and policy to deal with equipment whose transfer dates and terms are indeterminable. --Turkey views that the interest rates on "state-firm" credits are above market rate. DSCA's Farmer responded that DoD has no control over the setting of these previous loan rates. --DSCA's Farmer reported that a USG interagency working group is studying the Customs and Defense Security Service issue. She noted that Turkey was among many countries which has run into problems with U.S. customs regulations in this area. ¶3. Following is the agreed text of action items resulting from the nineteenth U.S.-Turkey SCWG (note internal paragraph numbering): BEGIN TEXT Action Items of the 19th Security Cooperation Working Group (SCWG) 21-24 September 2004 The U.S.-Turkey Security Cooperation Working Group (SCWG) met in Ankara, Turkey, September 21-24, 2004 and reaffirmed the bilateral commitment to maintain a strong and strategic bilateral defense partnership, to maintain regional security and consultations on security issues affecting both Turkey and the United States (US). The following are agreed action items: ¶1. The GoT and USG agreed to transfer Industrial Cooperation discussions and activities to include Depot Level Maintenance on F-16, C-130, and KC-135 aircraft to the Defense Industrial Cooperation (DIC) Committee. DIC meetings tentatively scheduled January 2005. ¶2. USG to provide a list of Defense Acquisition Courses to GoT, including courses that are eligible for IMET funding. ¶3. GoT to provide a request to USG (DSCA) for approval to dispose of inoperative US origin equipment received under various programs whose transfers dates and terms are indeterminable. This equipment will be demilitarized in accordance with DoD 4160.21-M-1 and disposed of using the terms and conditions of the Southern Region Amendment and will be a one time request to relieve the burden of maintaining and accounting for this equipment. ¶4. GoT to provide a letter of request from MGA to the Department of State requesting a review of Third Country Transfers and disposal procedures for items received under various programs whose transfers dates and terms are indeterminable. ¶5. USG to investigate the status of release of SLAM-ER (AGM-84H) with Automatic Target Acquisition capability, Joint Stand-Off Weapon (AGM-154C) and JASSM (Joint Air to Surface Stand-off Missile, AGM-158). ¶6. Pursuant to the agenda, the US Embassy will provide an update on outstanding Third Party Transfers cases to the GoT by October 31, 2004. END TEXT ¶4. Ms. Farmer cleared this cable. EDELMAN