Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA147
2005-01-11 07:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

POST-LICENSE END USE CHECK ON LICENSES 73-101830

Tags:  ETTC KOMC TU 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ANKARA 000147

SIPDIS

FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC TU
SUBJECT: POST-LICENSE END USE CHECK ON LICENSES 73-101830
AND 73-101832

REF: STATE 263858

Per reftel request, on December 28, 2004 Embassy Blue Lantern
officer conducted a site visit of TEK-GER company at the
address provided in reftel. The company appeared to be very
small, consisting of a handful of employees, who occupied a
converted apartment office space in a run down district of
Ankara. According to TEK-GER's owner, Murat Odoglu, TEK-GER
has been in business since 1948, but working in the defense
industry since 1974. Its customers are exclusively Turkish
law enforcement institutions and intelligence gathering
organizations. They supply specialist equipment in the areas
of surveillance, forensics, and evidence gathering. TEK-GER
officials claimed to represent foreign suppliers from France,
UK, and other countries. Odoglu noted TEK-GER possessed
appropriate Turkish licenses relevant to their business but
was unable to substantiate this by providing examples of
licenses or other official documentation.

Odoglu claims no knowledge of the transactions listed in
licenses 73-101830 and 73-101832, and said the company had
never dealt with the named U.S. supplier of either night
vision equipment or laser equipment. Despite several
approaches in person and by phone, TEK-GER officials provided
little insight. TEK-GER officials pointed out that Turkey
has an indigenous ability to produce night vision equipment,
which according to government contracting rules, would compel
them to supply their customers with locally made equipment.

It is Blue Lantern officer's assessment that TEK-GER
officials were reluctant to provide background info about
their company, and answered questions about their general
activities, customers, etc. inadequately. TEK-GER officials
were especially evasive regarding their possible involvement
in specific reftel transactions and made little effort to
investigate the issue. Embassy requests this be considered
in this and future PM/DTCC cases involving TEK-GER.
EDELMAN