MFA REQUESTS RECONSIDERATION OF ISTANBUL

UNCLAS ANKARA 005765

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EB/TRA/OTP, S/CT AND EUR/SE
PARIS FOR TSA
BRUSSELS FOR TSA/FAA
DHS FOR TSA
DEPT PASS TRANSPORTATION DEPT

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR PTER PREL TU
SUBJECT: MFA REQUESTS RECONSIDERATION OF ISTANBUL
AIRPORT SECURITY REQUIREMENTS (SBU)


Sensitive but Unclassified. Please Handle Accordingly.

Ref: (A) TSA Emergency Amendment SD 1544-04-08 6/29/04
B) Ankara 5301 and previous


1. (U) This cable contains an action request in para 3.


2. (SBU) On October 7, Ahmet Bigali, Director of
Aviation Affairs at the Turkish Foreign Affairs
Ministry, called Econoff to raise TSA security
requirements on direct flights to the U.S. departing
from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ref A). Bigali urged
the USG to reconsider the Emergency Amendment, asking
whether revision or cancellation of these measures is
under consideration. He added that the Turkish
Minister of Finance had raised the issue in
correspondence with MFA. Bigali contended that the
extensive screening requirements are a hardship for
passengers and have led to a loss of U.S.-bound transit
customers for Turkish Airlines.


3. (SBU) Action Request: To our knowledge, Turkish
authorities have shown full cooperation with U.S.
counterparts on this matter. In the interest of
maintaining that cooperation, Embassy requests a status
update/guidance on ref A measures imposed in June,
specifically whether there are plans to modify the
requirements, and if so, when. We also note that TSA's
loan of explosive trace detection equipment in use at
Istanbul Airport is about to expire and request
information on whether the loan will be extended
soonest.
Edelman