POST-LICENSE END USE CHECK ON LICENSES 73-101830

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