EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT (JUNE-2005)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 003976 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NP/ECC- PVANSON, ACHURCH, TGROEN DEPT FOR EUR/ACE- DMARTING, DMCCORMICK CBP/INA- PWALKER DOC FOR PETERSON-BEARD USCG FOR BGOLDEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM TU SUBJECT: EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT (JUNE-2005) REF: A. 2004 STATE 146478 ¶B. ANKARA 3358 ¶C. ANKARA 3789 (NOTAL) ¶1. Summary: EXBS Advisor coordinated the official signing ceremony for the NP Cooperation Agreement that, once ratified by the Turkish parliament, will allow full engagement of the EXBS program in Turkey. EXBS Advisor moved forward with the Department of Energy Commodity Identification Training, by sponsoring a meeting between DOE reps and Turkish officials to establish goals and milestones for the project. EXBS Advisor also reviewed Turkey's participation in PSI activities and discussed ways to continue to increase Turkey's engagement in this initiative. Finally, EXBS Advisor assisted in the discussions between DOE International Threat Reduction Program and the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) concerning ways to improve security of radioactive materials in the regional and explore opportunities for cooperative activities in the area of radiological threat reduction. End Summary. ¶2. Completed Actions for the Reporting Period ¶A. Site Assessment and Meetings During Recent Reporting Period 1) June 1-3 - EXBS Advisor attended the Annual EXBS Program Washington Manager's Meeting with Program Advisors held at UNVIE in Vienna, Austria. This meetings brought together all EXBS Advisors and allowed the various program managers to present changes in the EXBS programs. It also allowed EXBS Advisors to exchange ideas on best practices and discuss ways to overcome problems that may be encountered. 2) June 6- EXBS Advisor met with Department Head for Customs Enforcement Mehmet Guzel and Ender Gurleyik to review EXBS program work with the Turkish Customs, including CIT, PIT, and SLD. EXBS Advisor outlined the agenda for the upcoming CIT meetings and how these meetings would assist in getting TAEK and Turkish Customs to formulate an achievable action plan to move this project forward. EXBS Advisor also presented the draft SLD Implementation Agreement to Guzel in an effort to quickly reach agreement on the document and to move forward to the design phases of the SLD project. Guzel then reviewed the actions behind the opening of a new crossing with Bulgaria and the activities involved in getting this accomplished quickly. Finally, EXBS Advisor requested an update on the planned modernization of the Habur Crossing facilities. Guzel stated that they are awaiting the formal awarding of the contract and construction should begin shortly after that, hopefully by mid-July. 3) June 9- EXBS Advisor participated in meetings with DOE INECP with TAEK and Turkish Customs to refocus the CIT project. These meetings began with a detailed discussion with TAEK President, Okay Cakiroglu, and staff to discuss not only the CIT project but the overall INECP program. This was followed by a working-level meeting with members of TAEK and Turkish Customs to discuss past accomplishments and to establish a set of actions and milestones for the next 4 months with the CIT project. These milestones included the formal designation of Core Technical Group (CTG) members, date for CIT Refresher training and revision of the Turkish CIT Training Plan. 4) June 14- EXBS Advisor coordinated the Ambassadors participation in the signing ceremony for the Non-Proliferation Cooperation Agreement between the United States and Turkey. This Agreement, once ratified by the Turkish parliament, will open the door for the full range of EXBS activities and cooperation in the future. (Ref B) 5) June 23- EXBS Advisor met with MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Head of Department Osman Yavuzalp to conduct monthly update meeting on all current projects in progress in Turkey, including Internal Control Program (ICP),Commodity Identification Training (CIT),Product Identification Tool (PIT) and Second Line of Defense (SLD). Yavuzalp stated even though the NP Cooperation Agreement has been signed, it still requires the approval by Parliament in order to be in effect. He then requested that the United States be patient while the ratification process is underway. While current and future projects can be discussed, they must not appear to be moving forward too quickly and should wait for the agreement's ratification before full engagement is achieved. Yavuzalp also stated that he would prefer waiting for ratification before beginning any formal discussions on subsidiary agreements, such as the SLD Implementation Agreement. It was finally agreed that EXBS Advisor could begin discussions to establish the framework for the SLD Agreement, but a visit by DOE personnel should be delayed until the NP Agreement is ratified. EXBS Advisor also discussed Turkey's involvement in PSI, the Turkish Interagency Working Group, 2006 Turkish Exercise and the Copenhagen PSI experts working group to which Turkey sent a significant delegation. 4) June 28- EXBS Advisor coordinated and participated in meetings between members of the DOE Office of International Threat Reduction Program (IRTR) and TAEK. The purpose of the visit was to begin to discuss shared concerns for the security of radioactive materials and to explore opportunities for cooperative activities in the area of radiological threat reduction in the region. Following detailed discussions of various issues and potential areas of focus, it was agreed that the first area of Nuclear Threat Reduction cooperation with Turkey should focus on the problem of nuclear safety in Iraq and the high volume of nuclear contaminated material that is stopped at the borders trying to depart Iraq. A more detailed summary of this meeting will be provided septel. TAEK President concluded the meeting with a discussion of the proposed exchange of HEU for LEU fuel assemblies and the negative impression that is being presented toward Turkey by the United States due to the lack of information concerning the status of the Bilateral Agreement for the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. (Ref C) ¶B. Training Conducted During Reporting Period: None ¶C. Equipment Delivered During Reporting Period: None ¶D. Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update: None ¶E. Significant Developments in Export Controls, Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security: 1) GOT and United States official signed the NP Cooperation Agreement during a June 14 ceremony at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This agreement opens the path for full engagement of all aspects of the EXBS program with Turkey. The GOT still needs to present the Agreement to the Turkish Parliament for ratification, a process Turkish officials expect to be concluded in the early fall. (Ref B) ¶3. Future Activities ¶A. Jul 9-17- EXBS Advisor on authorized stateside leave. ¶B. Jul 12- DOE officials to meet with TAEK to conclude negotiations concerning Turkey's participation in the upcoming HEU/LEU fuel exchange. ¶C. Jul 18-22- EXBS Advisor to renew contract and attend consultations in Washington DC. ¶D. Sep (tent)- DOE NNSA to conduct CIT Refresher Training ¶E. Sep (tent)- CBP visit to conduct baseline assessment for cooperation with Turkish Customs Authority. ¶F. Oct (tent)- University of Georgia EXBS Program Assessment visit. ¶4. Red Flag Issues: None ¶5. Contact Information for EXBS Adviser ) Kevin Lyon, phone (90)(312) 455-5555 ext 2525, fax (90)(312) 468-4775, email LyonK@state.gov. MCELDOWNEY