UPDATE; CESIUM 137 CONFISCATED AT THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002333

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2015
TAGS: AM ASEC KCRM MNUC PARM PINR PTER TU
SUBJECT: UPDATE; CESIUM 137 CONFISCATED AT THE
TURKISH/GEORGIAN BORDER

REF: ANKARA 810

Classified By: Acting Pol-Mil Counselor Maggie Nardi, reason 1.4 b/d.


1. (C) EXBS Advisor met with the President of the Turkish
Atomic Energy Authority, Okay Cakiroglu, on April 22 to
request an update on the status of the Cesium 137 that was
seized in December. Cakiroglu stated that the Cesium 137 was
still safely stored at a Turkish secure facility near
Istanbul while Turkey waits for further information
concerning its origin.


2. (C) Cakiroglu informed EXBS Advisor that he had attempted
to contact his counterpart in Armenia shortly after the
seizure occurred, but was unable to reach him. Cakiroglu
also stated that IAEA informed him that they could not get a
commitment from Armenia to properly dispose of the substance.
He also confirmed the information provided in reftel.


3. (C) Finally, Cakiroglu stated that the Cesium 137 would
remain in its current location until the source country is
willing to accept responsibility for it and to agree to
properly dispose of it via internationally recognized methods.

EDELMAN