UPDATE: CESIUM 137 CONFISCATED AT THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000810 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2015 TAGS: AM ASEC KCRM MNUC PARM PINR PTER TU SUBJECT: UPDATE: CESIUM 137 CONFISCATED AT THE TURKISH/GEORGIAN BORDER REF: A. ANKARA 779 ¶B. YEREVAN 154 Classified By: Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Timothy Betts, reason 1 .4 b/d. ¶1. (C) EXBS Advisor met with MFA Energy Department First Secretary Basak Tug on February 11 to discuss the truck that SIPDIS was stopped at the Turkish/Georgian border due to the presence of cesium 137 in the scrap metal it was carrying. Tug confirmed the facts presented previously in ref A. Tug also provided the following additional information: ¶A. (C) The Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) was informed of the detainment of the truck by Customs. TAEK dispatched a technician to the Sarp Border gate who confirmed that the substance was cesium 137. The TAEK representative instructed the customs official to hold the truck and cargo until a proper determination of action could be developed. ¶B. (C) TAEK submitted all appropriate reports concerning the incident to IAEA shortly after the incident occurred. In late December, TAEK contacted the appropriate counter parts in Georgia to assist in determining the origin of the substance and to develop a plan of disposition. The Georgian officials informed TAEK that the shipment originated in Armenia and thus Armenia should be responsible for appropriate disposal. Georgia agreed to try to assist Turkey in coordinating disposal with Armenia. ¶C. (C) In early January, Georgian officials attempted to contact Armenian officials concerning the cargo. Georgia agreed to allow the truck to pass back through Georgia to Armenia, if Armenia would agree to allow it back into their country. Armenia would not accept responsibility for the cargo. ¶D. (C) In mid-January, Turkey contacted IAEA through their mission in Vienna to request assistance in coordinating the disposal of the cesium with Armenia. IAEA informed Turkey that while Armenia has an obligation to take back the contaminated cargo, the IAEA can not force Armenia to accept the cargo back into Armenia. IAEA officials have attempted to work with Armenia to coordinate some type of cooperation concerning the disposal of the cargo. ¶2. (C) Tug informed EXBS Advisor that the contaminated cargo has been moved from the Sarp border gate to their nuclear waste holding area in Istanbul. Due to the lack of diplomatic relations with Armenia, Turkey is hoping that one of the intermediaries, Georgia or IAEA, will be able to work with Armenia to properly dispose of the cargo. Tug agreed to notify EXBS Advisor if there are any new developments in the situation. EDELMAN