Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA3976
2005-07-08 09:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT (JUNE-2005)

Tags:  ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM 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 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)

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