Turks Interested in Pursuing CSI

UNCLAS ANKARA 006085 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/TRA/OTP AND EUR/SE ROME FOR CBP ROBERT STIRITI PARIS FOR TSA DHS FOR CSI - TODD HORTON DEPT PASS TRANSPORTATION DEPT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT PTER ETRD PREL ETTC KTIA PBTS TU SUBJECT: Turks Interested in Pursuing CSI Ref: (A) Horton/Sirotic Email 10/15/04 (B) Ankara 5691 (C) State 198802 ¶1. Basat Ozturk, Head of the MFA Maritime Department, told Econoff on October 26 that GOT agencies had agreed to respond "positively" to the proposed inclusion of Turkey in the Container Security Initiative (CSI),and asked that Embassy relay this official response to Washington agencies. Ozturk cautioned that the GOT needs to sort out internally how to reconcile CSI with domestic legislation restricting access to customs areas in Turkey. He noted this will likely require a bilateral agreement, and possibly the approval of Turkey's Parliament. Ozturk also said Turkish agencies were gathering information requested ref C on customs organization and on trade handled by the Port of Izmir, and would provide this to us. ¶2. Ozturk told us that the GOT would welcome a visit by U.S. officials to discuss CSI, including a visit to the port of Izmir, though he emphasized that the GOT needs some time to prepare so that the visit would be of maximum use to both sides. Ref A states that an interagency group would like to visit Turkey in November or December. We recommend that DHS propose dates for a visit after the end of the Ramazan holiday ending November 16. Edelman