CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): TURKEY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004784 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/SE AND AC/CB E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2015 TAGS: PARM MARR KTIA TU CWC SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): TURKEY POSITIVELY CONSIDERING DRAFT MOU ON CHALLENGE INSPECTIONS REF: STATE 148831 Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Timothy A. Betts, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (C) On Aug. 15, Acting PolMilCouns delivered to MFA Department Head for Arms Control and Disarmament, Osman Yavuzalp, reftel points on the US interest to conclude a Host Country Agreement on CWC Challenge Inspections. According to Yavuzalp, the modified 1999 draft MOU text has been reviewed by the MFA Arms Control and Americas Affairs Departments and is currently under review by the Legal Affairs Department. Given that several individuals involved in the review process are on vacation, he does not expect the MFA review process to be completed until the end of August. Yavuzalp did however express his understanding that, while the various departments may request minor changes, the draft had been generally positively received by those departments that had completed their review. MCELDOWNEY