TURKEY 2005 END USE MONITORING REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001434 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AFIN SNAR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY 2005 END USE MONITORING REPORT REF: STATE 222564 -------------- Overview -------------- ¶1. Since 1986, the International Narcotics Crime and Control (INCC) program has provided approximately 5,500 units of equipment and training, valued at over USD 5.7 million, to five Turkish agencies with responsibility for Turkey's anti-narcotics programs: the Turkish Grain Board (TMO),Turkish National Police (TNP),Jandarma, Customs, and the Amatem drug addiction treatment facility. During calendar year 2005, training and equipment valued at USD 60,384 was provided. Generally, the equipment provided since 1986 can be assigned to the following categories: training, communication, surveillance, and poppy processing. However, because of the number and types of equipment provided, to report by type of resource rather than by project, as requested in reftel, is not practicable. (For example, while computers have been provided to all five agencies, they serve completely different functions in each agency.) ¶2. Similarly, because equipment has been assigned to scores of locations throughout the country, physical inspection of any but a very small portion is a practical impossibility. Thus, Post relies upon periodic meetings with supervisory personnel in each recipient agency to monitor use. (It appears that all agencies maintain up-to-date physical inventories.) Where feasible, Post does, in connection with such meetings, also physically inspect some equipment. Physical inspections were carried out at TNP Istanbul and at Amatem in calendar year 2005. In 2006, Post plans to inspect some equipment provided to the TMO. ¶3. Because of Turkey's refusal to accept Leahy Amendment language contained in the year 2000 Letter of Agreement, the INCC program has been winding down. After funding a DEA-led Jetway Drug Interdiction School seminar in Istanbul in 2005, Post is left with a total of USD 57,719 remaining INL funds. Our local partners have made many requests for additional training and equipment and believe resumption of the program will be of great value to Turkey's anti-narcotics efforts. -------------- Turkish Grain Board -------------- ¶4. Starting in 1992 and continuing through 2001, the INCC program provided TMO with equipment and training valued at over USD 900,000. All of this equipment is still being used. No new items were delivered in 2005. We plan to conduct a physical inspection of donated items in spring 2006. The items are located in the town of Afyon, a three-hour drive from Ankara. -------------- Turkish National Police -------------- ¶5. Starting in 1986 and continuing through 2004, the INCC program provided TNP with equipment and training valued at over USD 1.2 million. In March 2005, INCC funded the Jetway Airport Interdiction Seminar at Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport for TNP and Customs officials. The 30 participants received training in identifying drug couriers and initiating and developing airport investigations. This program, which cost approximately USD 60,400, strengthened DEA Turkey's already excellent relationship with the TNP. ¶6. We met with Erol Keskinkilic, chief of the Technical Unit at TNP Ankara. He began the meeting by mentioning that the INCC program was no longer active because of the addition of Leahy Amendment language to the Letter of Agreement. Keskinkilic reported that the vast majority of the items donated under the INCC program are outdated and no longer used. He told us that TNP Ankara still uses the donated GPS equipment, camera lenses, siren systems, and hand-held radios in its operations. ¶7. We also met with Ramazan Emekli, deputy chief of the Narcotics Division at TNP Istanbul. According to Emekli, the fiberscopes provided under the INCC program in 2003 have been the most useful. The vast majority of the technical equipment provided to the TNP in the last ten years has reached the end of its useful life. Emekli reported that aside from the fiberscopes, the INCC-donated equipment is no longer in use and is in the TNP's storage warehouse. He told us that digital recording devices, microphones, wire transmitters, and headphones would be very useful for their search and surveillance operations. -------------- Jandarma -------------- ¶8. Starting in 1988 (when the INCC program was revived for the Jandarma) and continuing through 2004, the INCC program delivered to Jandarma training and equipment valued at over USD 81,390. We met with Cengiz Yildirim, head of the Smuggling and Organized Crimes division, who told us that the Jandarma still use the digital video cameras and night vision goggles that the INCC program provided. He reiterated that, if in the future the program were revived, the Jandarma would benefit from training rather than equipment, as the INCC-funded equipment often must be purchased in the U.S. and does not resemble local equipment, making covert operations difficult. -------------- Customs -------------- ¶9. Starting in 1994 and continuing through 2002, the INCC program delivered to Customs equipment valued at USD 562,000. We met with Ender Gurleyik, Head of Department, Undersecretariat of Customs. From 1999 through 2004, the INCC program provided English language instruction to customs officials to enable law enforcement officers to follow international developments more closely and cooperate better with international counterparts if they spoke English. These courses were terminated in January 2005 due to lack of funding. Gurleyik stressed that if the INCC program were to be revitalized in the future, Customs would greatly benefit from the resumption of English language courses. -------------- Amatem -------------- ¶10. Amatem is a state-sponsored drug rehabilitation center with six branches throughout Turkey. Starting in 1994 and continuing through 2003, the INCC program delivered to Amatem computer and communications equipment valued at USD 86,000. We met with Dr. Duran Cakmak, the Istanbul clinic chief, to discuss the program and tour the facility. Cakmak said that all of the donated equipment is still being used for patient registration and rehabilitation and to manage a 24-hour hotline. He noted that future funding could be used for research projects and to replace the donated equipment, as much of it is reaching the end of its useful life. Wilson