EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (MAY 2006)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 003287 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- (MAY 2006) REF: 2004 STATE 146478 ¶1. Summary: ISN/ECC Turkey desk officer visited Ankara for program oversight and meetings with Government of Turkey officials. Meetings provided desk officer with direct contact with Turkish interlocutors and an opportunity to gain specific information on the Turkish program and how EXBS is/will benefit Turkey. EXBS Advisor served as Embassy representative at major Turkish led PSI exercise providing interface between other US observers and participating US assets. Exercise was a success in promoting PSI initiative with over 35 countries in attendance. Finally, EXBS Advisor continued to track status of the NP Cooperation Agreement. ¶2. Completed Actions for the Reporting Period ¶A. Site Assessment and Meetings During Recent Reporting Period 1) May 10-12 - ISN/ECC Turkish Desk officer, John Feeney, visited Ankara to review program and meet with GOT officials. Feeney discuss EXBS program with Pol/Mil Counselor and provided a Department view on the status of several issues. Pol/Mil Counselor provided Feeney with challenges that the program has/is overcoming and an overview of where it will be in near future. Feeney accompanied EXBS Advisor to all meetings on May 11 and 12, adding a Washington perspective to the discussion. 2) May 11- EXBS Advisor and Feeney met with MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Head of Department Osman Yavuzalp 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 has cleared Parliamentary committee and awaits final ratification by Grand National Assembly. Feeney express Washington's concern about the delay in Agreement getting final ratification and that this delay was holding up funding which is earmarked for Turkey. Yavuzalp remarked that he was aware of the pending funding, but would ensure his superiors were informed of the possible ramifications of a prolonged delay. Yavuzalp continued that he looked forward to the increase in cooperation with the United States when final ratification was achieved. EXBS Advisor and Feeney met with Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade (UFT) Agreements Department Head Ziya Demirduzen to review the progress of the ICP project and discuss possible other areas of cooperation. Demirduzen informed EXBS Advisor that UFT had reviewed the first section of the ICP program completed by the contractor, Docuart. The program appears to be working properly and he believes that the customization efforts are on track. Demirduzen, inquired to the status of the translated control list. EXBS Advisor informed him that we were very near to selecting a contractor to complete the translation and that it should be done soon. Demirduzen then proceeded to outline possible new areas of cooperation, including increased industry outreach, professional exchanges of licensing personnel and review of the Turkish laws and regulations concerning control list procedures and enforcement of regulations. Feeney informed Demirduzen that these new areas will need to be reviewed to match needs with programs available under the EXBS program. 3) May 12- EXBS Advisor and Feeney met with President of Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK),Okay Cakiroglu to discuss various issues. EXBS Advisor expressed his appreciation for Cakiroglu's staff's for the work being completed on the CIT course. Cakiroglu replied that he believes that the course will improve the awareness of dual use items by the Turkish Customs authorities, who are on the front lines in the fight against proliferation. EXBS Advisor also discussed the proposed meeting of the heads of nuclear authority for Turkey, Jordan and Iraq, which will focus on assisting Iraq in building a safe nuclear program while decreasing the incidents of radiated material crossing the ANKARA 00003287 002 OF 003 borders out of Iraq. The planning and preparation for the meeting continues, Cakiroglu added that he believes this will be a good first step in future cooperation between the three countries. EXBS Advisor and Feeney met with Department Head for Customs Enforcement Ender Gurleyik to review EXBS program work with the Turkish Customs, including CIT, PIT, and proposed Risk Management Workshop. Gurleyik stated that work that is being accomplished in the professional exchange area is helpful, but improved equipment would greatly assist the Turkish Customs officer. Feeney outlined some of the equipment that has been provided to other countries under the EXBS program and the hopes that the same could occur here following final ratification of the NP Agreement by Turkish Parliament. Finally, Gurleyik reviewed recent customs cases to show how Turkish Customs is utilizing the equipment and abilities it currently has to protect its borders from illegal activities. EXBS Advisor and Feeney met with DG for EU and External Relations Riza Korkmaz. Korkmaz reviewed some of the areas of cooperation that Turkey and the EU have been working, this included a proposed 50 million Euro is upgrades to border crossing, joint training and professional exchanges between Turkey and other members of the EU Customs Union and the dedicated EU liaison officer, which will be on his staff until the end of the year. Korkmaz added that even with the cooperation with the EU, he looks forward to increased cooperation with the US following the final ratification of the NP Agreement. 4) May 24-26- EXBS Advisor observed the Turkish led PSI exercise, Anatolian Sun. This exercise brought together assets from US, Turkey, France and Portugal to participate in the live exercise along with observes from over 35 other countries. Details on this exercise will be reported septel. 5) May 30- EXBS Advisor met with Turkish National Police Organized Crime Section Chief, Mehmet Ali Keskinkilic. Keskinkilic informed EXBS Advisor that his section had just formed a new Anti-Terrorism Unit. This unit will also be responsible for spearheading the fight against nuclear smuggling along with all types of terrorism. EXBS Advisor informed Keskinkilic about the several proposals for increased cooperation between Turkey and the US in these areas. Keskinkilic also requested assistance in developing the skills of his officers in the identification of nuclear and dual use items. EXBS Advisor informed Keskinkilic about the Turkish CIT project, and that he would discuss including TNP representatives in the training classes once they begin later this year. 6) May 31- EXBS Advisor met with Customs Enforcement Head of Department Mehmet Guzel to discuss recent Turkish Customs activities. Guzel stated that he had been informed that Turkish Parliament was very near in ratifying the NP Agreement, which will allow for additional bilateral cooperation. EXBS Advisor outlined upcoming activities that have been proposed to MFA along with the possible visit of the SLD program coordinator. Guzel remarked that it would be a good time to begin reaching an informal agreement on the SLD Implementation Agreement, so that this project could move forward shortly after final ratification of the NP Agreement. EXBS Advisor also proposed a Port Risk Management course for later in the summer. Guzel stated he will check for possible dates and for best location for this type of activity. Izmir appears to be the first choice. Guzel added that Denmark will be leading a risk management workshop for customs official in mid-June, which he will be attending along with other senior customs enforcement officials. Guzel reiterated the desire of Turkish Customs to continue to work closely with the United States in attempts to stop the illegal transfer of nuclear or dual use items in or through Turkey. ¶B. Training Conducted During Reporting Period: None ¶C. Equipment Delivered During Reporting Period: None ANKARA 00003287 003 OF 003 ¶D. Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update: None ¶E. Significant Developments in Export Controls, Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security: None ¶3. Future Activities ¶A. Jun 13-14- DOE SLD representative to visit Ankara and begin discussion concerning SLD Implementation Agreement with GOT officials. ¶B. Jun 15-16- EXBS Advisor to accompany CSI site visit to Port of Izmir. ¶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 scheduling of installation of new SLD equipment. ¶E. Jul (proposed)- EXBS Advisor to travel to Washington for end of contract consultations, contract renewal and leave. ¶F. Late July (proposed)- Wisconsin Project team to visit Turkey to conduct meetings to determine the inclusion of Turkey in the project. ¶G. Aug (proposed)- CBP Targeting and Risk Management training and evaluation team to visit Turkey to conduct course/evaluation at Port of Izmir. ¶H. Sep (proposed)- Port Physical Security/Port Vulnerability Course to be conducted by US Coast Guard. ¶I. Sep/Oct (proposed)- First CIT Pilot Course conducted by Turkish instructors with assistance by INECP personnel. ¶J. Oct/Nov (proposed)- INECP nuclear industry outreach workshop to be conducted. ¶4. Red Flag IsQes: 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