TURKEY TIFA: PROPOSED DATE, AGENDA

UNCLAS ANKARA 006641 SIPDIS DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR FOR LERRION USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/CRUSNAK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD EAGR TU USTR SUBJECT: TURKEY TIFA: PROPOSED DATE, AGENDA AND RELATED EVENTS REF: A: PATRICK/ERRION 10/6/05 EMAIL B: PATRICK/ERRION 11/9/05 EMAIL ¶1. This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 2 & 3. ¶2. Turkey has proposed January 23 through 24, 2006, for the next Trade and Investment Framework (TIFA) Council meeting with the US. Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (FTU) U/S Tuncer Kayalar will lead the Turkish delegation. Embassy would appreciate USTR's confirmation of AUSTR Shaun Donnelly's and the US delegation's availability for these dates. ¶3. FTU officials have proposed that the TIFA meeting be organized so that Kayalar and Donnelly open and close the meeting while working groups (without the delegation heads' participation) discuss specific issues during the day. Post requests USTR's response to this proposal. FTU has also requested USTR's feedback regarding their proposed agenda (ref A),which includes discussions on overall trade policy, agriculture (including rice),generalized system of preferences (GSPs),investment issues, intellectual property rights, regional cooperation issues, qualified industrial zones (QIZs),anti-dumping and anti-subsidy implementation, the Container Security Initiative (CSI),and energy cooperation. According to the FTU officials, they hope to finalize the agenda as soon as possible so that they can begin scheduling appropriate officials from other ministries and agencies. We would also appreciate USTR's assistance in finalizing the agenda. ¶4. Post has proposed a business-related event on the margins of the TIFA that would bring Turkish and American companies together with government officials. We envision a reception the evening before the TIFA, schedules permitting, and also possibly a meeting between the private sector and the delegations prior to the opening of the TIFA. In order to facilitate this public-private dialogue, FTU has proposed two days for the TIFA, one for the meeting and one for other events. McEldowney