EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (APRIL 2006)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002513 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NP/ECC- PVANSON, ACHURCH, JFEENEY DEPT FOR EUR/ACE- DSILLIMAN, BHUNT DOE/NNSA- TPERRY, LPARKER, EDESCHLER CBP/INA- BWATTS, JGOUGE DOC FOR PETERSON-BEARD, TCURTIN USCG FOR CWILSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TU SUBJECT: EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (APRIL 2006) REF: 2004 STATE 146478 ¶1. Summary: EXBS Advisor continued to monitor the progress of the NP Cooperation Agreement, along with other NP projects with the Government of Turkey. EXBS Advisor attended initial planning meeting between Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade (UFT) and Internal Control Program (ICP) contractor, to ensure project focus was accurate and that project will move forward. Finally, EXBS Advisor conducted consultations in Washington, meeting with stateside program coordinators of the projects being conducted in Turkey, including the ICP, Commodity Identification Training, Product Identification Tool and other nonproliferation programs. End Summary. ¶2. Completed Actions for the Reporting Period ¶A. Site Assessment and Meetings During Recent Reporting Period 1) April 6- EXBS Advisor attended a meeting with UFT Agreements Department Head Ziya Demirduzen and Docuart Corp representative Serdar Yurtseven to discuss the status of the Internal Control Program (ICP). Demirduzen and Yurtseven discussed some of the specific customization requests the UFT would desire in the program. EXBS Advisor answered questions concerning the program in general and ensured that UFT and Docuart were approaching the project in a similar manner. Docuart believed that by mid-summer they could have a beta version of the customized program for review by UFT. At the conclusion of the meeting, Demirduzen requested another meeting with EXBS Advisor to discuss possible new ideas to improve Turkey's Export Control Program. He expected to receive UFT leadership approval for his proposals and to be prepared to present them following the EXBS Advisor's trip to Washington DC. 2) April 11- EXBS Advisor met with MFA Arms Control and Disarmament First Secretary Serhan Yigit to conduct monthly update meeting on all current projects in progress in Turkey, including Internal Control Program (ICP),Commodity Identification Training (CIT),Product Identification Tool (PIT) and Second Line of Defense (SLD). EXBS Advisor also discussed the status of the NP Cooperation Agreement, which was being reviewed by the Foreign Relations Committee of Parliament. Yigit stated that he expected approval soon and for the Agreement to be forwarded to the full Grand National Assembly soon. (Note: The Foreign Relations Committee approved the Agreement on April 13. End Note) Finally, EXBS Advisor discussed Turkey's upcoming PSI exercise, delivering a request for invitations to be extended to members of the Gulf Cooperation Council to observe the exercise, thus promoting PSI in this region. Yigit accepted this request and stated that the additional countries should be able to be included. 3) April 12- EXBS Advisor met with the new Department Head for Export Controls, Undersecretariat for Customs - General Directorate of Customs Mustafa Esen to review EXBS program and specifically to discuss the PIT project. Esen stated that he only assumed the position a few weeks earlier and he was still trying to gain a level of understanding on the many projects in his department. He is aware that there are some discussion between senior Turkish Customs officials on the approved course of action for the customization of the PIT program. The two options are: 1) to utilize only Turkish Customs resources, or 2) to utilize an outside contractor for the general work, with specific Customs information added later. Esen believes that most likely a combination of these two options will be adopted; he also believes that the Customs information technology department will be designated as the lead department for this project. Esen expected a decision by the end of April/early May concerning the course of action to be taken. 4) April 17-20 - EXBS Advisor conducted program consultations in Washington DC with representatives from ISN/ECC, ISN/CPI, ISN/CTR, DOE/INECP, DOE/SLD, CBP and DOC ANKARA 00002513 002 OF 002 personnel. EXBS Advisor provided updates on program and all projects underway in Turkey, along with planning for future activities. ISN/ECC reviewed planning for future projects and developing a proposed schedule of activities to increase engagement with Turkey following the ratification of the NP Cooperation Agreement. ¶B. Training Conducted During Reporting Period: None ¶C. Equipment Delivered During Reporting Period: None ¶D. Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update: None ¶E. Significant Developments in Export Controls, Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security: 1) Turkish Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee approved the NP Cooperation Agreement. The committee forwarded the Agreement to the Grand National Assembly for final ratification on April 13. This agreement will open the path for full engagement of all aspects of the EXBS program with Turkey. ¶3. Future Activities ¶A. May 10-13- ISN/ECC Desk office to visit Ankara to review program. ¶B. May 24-26- EXBS Advisor to attend PSI Exercise Anatolian Sun in Ankara and Antalya Turkey. ¶C. Late Jun (proposed) - ISN/CTR Nuclear Smuggling Cooperation team to visit Ankara to discuss areas of cooperation with GOT officials. ¶D. Jul (proposed)- DOE SLD to visit Turkey to complete SLD Implementation Agreement and begin scheduling of installation of new SLD equipment. ¶E. Late July (proposed)- Wisconsin Project team to visit Turkey to conduct meetings to determine the inclusion of Turkey in the project. ¶F. Late Aug (proposed)- CBP TRM and evaluation team to visit Turkey to conduct course/evaluation at Port of Izmir. ¶G. Aug/Sep (proposed)- Port Physical Security/Port Vulnerability Course to be conducted by US Coast Guard. ¶H. Sep/Oct (proposed)- INECP nuclear industry outreach workshop to be conducted. ¶4. Red Flag Issues: None ¶5. Contact Information for EXBS Adviser ) Kevin Lyon, phone (90)(312) 455-5555 ext 2525, fax (90)(312) 468-4775, email LyonK@state.gov. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON