BSEC SENIOR OFFICIALS CLEAR U.S. REQUEST FOR

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 001603

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN ETRD TU PREL
SUBJECT: BSEC SENIOR OFFICIALS CLEAR U.S. REQUEST FOR
OBSERVER STATUS

REF: A. ANKARA 2031


B. ISTANBUL 645

C. ISTANBUL 470

D. STATE 43828


1. (SBU) In separate phone conversations on September 16 and
September 20, Black Sea Economic Cooperation Secretary
General Tedo Japaridze and First Deputy Secretary General
Tugay Ulucevik confirmed to Istanbul P/E Chief that the
organization's senior officials had agreed in their September
15 Istanbul meeting to forward to the BSEC Council a
recommendation for approval of the United States' request for
observer status. Senior officials also recommended granting
observer status to the Czech Republic and Belarus, but did
not reach consensus on granting such status to the Republic
of Cyprus. Per the recommendation, observer status will
commence on November 1, 2005, for a renewable period of 2
years.


2. (SBU) The BSEC Council meets on September 27 in
Chisinau. Both Japaridze and Ulucevik expressed confidence
that the recommendation will be adopted "without difficulty."

JONES