GOT SEES TIFA AS OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE IMPROVED

UNCLAS ANKARA 006190

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR FOR ERRION
USDOC FOR RUSNAK
USDA FOR FAS FOR ITP FOR BENNETT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV TU
SUBJECT: GOT SEES TIFA AS OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE IMPROVED
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT



1. (U) During an October 11 meeting with visiting State
EUR/SE Director Doug Silliman, Foreign Trade Undersecretariat
(FTU) Director General of Agreements Tevfik Mengu said that
the upcoming November 30 Trade and Investment Framework
Agreement (TIFA) Council meeting provides an opportunity for
Turkey to promote its improved business environment to US
companies. He agreed that it could be useful to hold private
sector related events on the margins of the TIFA. He
acknowledged that there were bilateral trade issues (e.g. IPR
and agricultural issues) that must be addressed but added
that FTU will also brief the US delegation on its 2006 "Year
of America" campaign during which FTU Minister Kursad Tuzmen
hopes to strengthen trade relations with North and South
America.


2. (U) On the subject of the head of the Turkish TIFA
delegation (currently FTU Deputy Undersecretary Ulker Guzel
is slated to lead the GOT delegation),Mengu said he would
speak again with FTU Undersecretary Tuncer Kayalar about the
issue and "try to solve the problem" so that Kayalar would
lead the Turkish side. FTU Head of the Agreements Department
Cigdem Kilickaya, who attended the meeting, however, pointed
out that FTU Deputy Undersecretary Abdullah Koten led the GOT
delegation at the 2002 TIFA meeting.


3. (U) Comment: We will continue working with FTU to
encourage Kayalar's participation as the lead Turkish
official. Post would also like to work with USTR and other
Washington agencies to flesh out the concept of
business-oriented events on the margins of the TIFA Council.
End comment.
MCELDOWNEY