ACTION REQUEST: TURKEY REQUESTS ASSISTANCE FOR

UNCLAS ANKARA 002902 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD PREL IZ TU SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: TURKEY REQUESTS ASSISTANCE FOR IRAQ TRADE FAIR Sensitive but unclassified -- please protect accordingly. ¶1. (U) This is an action request -- please see para. three. ¶2. (U) On April 28, we received a diplomatic note from the Turkish MFA announcing the "Expo Gateway to Iraq" trade fair to be held in Gaziantep, Turkey June 7-11. In its note, the MFA requested that we "make a demarche to the Multinational Force and the relevant Iraqi authorities to take the necessary security precautions" within Iraq for Iraqi businesspeople traveling to Turkey for the fair. ¶3. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: We propose to respond to the GOT that the type of security it has requested is an Iraqi responsibility, and that the GOT should directly approach the GOI on this matter. Unless we hear otherwise by May 25, we will respond to the GOT accordingly. END ACTION REQUEST. ¶4. (U) TEXT OF DIPLOMATIC NOTE: 2006/IEGY/173463 April 26, 2006 ¶1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honour to inform the Latter that "Expo Gateway to Iraq" (The Iraq International Fair) will be held on June, 7-11, 2006 in Gaziantep, Turkey, with the aim of contributing to the reconstruction of Iraq. The fair will be organized under the auspices of the Iraqi Ministry of Trade, State Company for Iraqi Fairs, Gaziantep Chambers of Industry and Forum Fairs, and is supported by the Turkish Undersecretariat of the Prime Ministry for Foreign Trade, the Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB),the Governorship of Gaziantep, Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce and various non-governmental organizations. ¶2. Significant participation, especially from Middle Eastern countries is expected in this fair. It is anticipated that many Iraqi businessmen will make daily visits to meet with their Turkish counterparts. ¶3. The Ministry kindly requests the Embassy of the United States of America to make a demarche to the Multinational Force and the relevant Iraqi authorities to take the necessary security precautions, during the journey on the route of Baghdad-Habur for representatives of companies who will visit the above-mentioned fair in Gaziantep. ¶4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. END TEXT Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON