EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (AUGUST 2005)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005277

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NP/ECC- PVANSON, ACHURCH, JGABRYSZEWSKI, VLE
DEPT FOR EUR/ACE- DMARTING, DMCCORMICK
CBP/INA- PWALKER
DOC FOR PETERSON-BEARD
USCG FOR BGOLDEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC IZ KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM TU
SUBJECT: EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (AUGUST 2005)

REF: 2004 STATE 146478


1. Summary: EXBS Advisor continued to monitor the NP
projects that are underway in Turkey, including Internal
Control Program (ICP),Commodity Identification Training
(CIT),Product Identification Tool (PIT) and Second Line of
Defense (SLD). Work continued to progress despite being in
the middle of the summer holiday season for most Turkish
Government officials. EXBS Advisor also coordinated Turkish
participation in several events including a PSI workshop,
Border Security Workshop and several NP conferences.


2. Completed Actions for the Reporting Period


A. Site Assessment and Meetings During Recent
Reporting Period

1) August 2 - EXBS Advisor met with Department Head
for Customs Enforcement Ender Gurleyik to review EXBS program
work with the Turkish Customs and prepare for expansion of
EXBS activities following the upcoming ratification of the NP
Cooperation Agreement. Equipment, training and joint
cooperation activities were discussed. Additionally, Gurleyik
reviewed recent cases, cooperation activities with other
countries in the efforts to improve Turkish Customs
procedures. Finally, the status of plans to upgrade the Habur
Gate border crossing with Iraq was reviewed. Installation of
the upgraded SLD equipment during the upgrade would decrease
the disruption of border activities that could occur if the
work was done following the upgrade project; efforts will be
made to try to incorporate this factor into the overall SLD
project once the NP Cooperation Agreement is ratified by the
Turkish Parliament.

2) August 5 - EXBS Advisor met with Turkish Atomic
Energy Authority (TAEK) Nuclear Safety Department Head Aysun
Yucel. EXBS Advisor and Yucel reviewed the current status of
the CIT milestones and upcoming events. Yucel agreed that
September would be a good time for the CIT Refresher course
and next review of the project with DOE INECP personnel.
EXBS Advisor reviewed information which was obtained during
stateside consultation in regards to cooperation between the
United States and Turkey in the area of Nuclear Threat
Reduction. EXBS Advisor expressed the desire of the United
States to have the President of TAEK attend the September
12-14 border security workshop in Amman Jordan. This
workshop would be a good time for TAEK President to meet his
counter-parts in Jordan and Iraq and to discuss areas of
common interest. (Note: TAEK President will not attend this
workshop due to scheduling conflicts. A meeting between the
Iraqi , Jordanian and Turkish Atomic Energy leaders will be
rescheduled at a later date and location.)

3) August 10 - EXBS Advisor accompanied Economic
Counselor and Commercial Attach at the initial Embassy
courtesy visit to the new Acting Undersecretary of Customs
Cihat Ancin. EXBS Advisor outlined in general the various NP
Cooperation projects that are in progress between the United
States and Turkey, including the SLD, CIT and PIT. EXBS
Advisor explained that following the ratification of the NP
Cooperation Agreement by the Turkish Parliament, there could
be a significant increase in activity including the
purchasing of equipment and the design and installation of
SLD equipment at border crossings. Ancin informed the EmbOff
that the modernization project for the Habur Gate crossing is
scheduled to begin in early September and should take
approximately 15 months to complete. EXBS Advisor informed
Ancin that it would be helpful to have the SLD project
install the monitors at Habur during this project, so as to
limit both disruption at the border and decrease costs.
Ancin agreed and told EmbOffs that he would look into seeing
what Customs could do to encourage MFA to seek ratification
of the Agreement quickly.

4) August 16- 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. Yavuzalp informed EXBS Advisor that the
support package for the NP Cooperation Agreement has been
completed and submitted with the Agreement to Parliament for
approval. Approval is expected in September or early October
at the latest. Finally, EXBS Advisor discussed Turkey's
involvement in PSI and inquired as to any effect the recently
announced changes in TGS could effect Turkish PSI activities.
Yavuzalp stated that with the new interministerial council
for PSI, Turkey's involvement towards PSI should be more
consistent and focused.

EXBS Advisor met with Department Head for Customs Enforcement
Mehmet Guzel to review EXBS program work with the Turkish
Customs, including CIT, PIT, and Risk Management Workshop.
Guzel informed EXBS Advisor that there have been several
changes within the Turkish Customs and some of his
interagency contacts for this projects have changed. This
could slow down the progress on some of the projects but
should not have any other negative impact. EXBS Advisor
reviewed the potential upcoming U.S. Customs and Border
Protection visit, outlining the purpose and the goals for the
visit. A more detailed itinerary will be developed later.
Finally, EXBS Advisor and Guzel discussed the importance of
properly monitoring the upcoming modernization of several of
the Turkish Border crossings in an attempt to install the new
SLD equipment during these modernization projects.


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: None


3. Future Activities


A. Sep 19- 23- DOE NNSA to conduct CIT Refresher
Course


B. Oct 11-14- EXBS Advisor to attend Black
Sea/Caspian Sea Workshop in Baku with Turkish Coast Guard
delegation


C. Oct 23-29- CITS/UGA visit to Turkey to conduct
evaluation of Turkish export control system.


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