TURKEY TO CONSIDER DRAFT AGREEMENT ON REMOTE

S E C R E T ANKARA 006033 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/SE AND PM/DDTC E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2015 TAGS: ETTC MARR PARM PINR PREL MASS TU SUBJECT: TURKEY TO CONSIDER DRAFT AGREEMENT ON REMOTE SENSING SPACE COOPERATION REF: STATE 179933 Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, Thomas Goldberger, reaso ns 1.4 (b) and (d). Per reftel request, Acting PolMilCouns delivered talking points and draft Government-to-Government Agreement (GTGA) Concerning Remote Sensing Space Cooperation to MFA Americas Affairs Office Head Vakur Erkul on Oct. 4. Erkul advised that he would circulate the document to all government agencies which may play a role in shaping a GTGA with the US on satellite cooperation, including the Ministry of National Defense, the Turkish General Staff and possibly the Ministry of Communication and the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM). After compiling their input, he will provide us with Turkey's initial response. Erkul was non-committal on the US offer to send a team to Turkey to discuss the document, preferring to complete the initial internal review before determining the next step. MCELDOWNEY