POSITIVE TURKISH RESPONSE TO US-RUSSIAN GLOBAL

UNCLAS ANKARA 004145 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/WMDT AND EUR/SE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP PINR PINS PTER KNNP IAEA RU TU SUBJECT: POSITIVE TURKISH RESPONSE TO US-RUSSIAN GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM REF: A. STATE 110160 ¶B. ANKARA 3986 ¶1. The Turkish Foreign Ministry made the following public announcement on July 17 in reaction to the joint U.S. - Russia Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism announced on July 15 (reftels). The MFA provided this to us in the form of a diplomatic note as well. Informal Embassy translation follows. Begin text: We welcome the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism signed by the Presidents of the United States and the Russian Federation and announced on July 15, 2006. The dimensions of terrorist acts in recent years have shown the use of updated technology by terrorists and have brought nuclear terrorism to the forefront among threats to international peace and security. Believing that the fight against terrorism can only be efficiently carried out within the context of international cooperation, Turkey has supported and contributed to all initiatives implemented in the international arena for this aim, starting with the efforts of the United Nations. Turkey welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) aimed at preventing of the use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists and has started implementing it. Turkey has signed the UN Convention on Nuclear Terrorism, which was opened to signature last year. Turkey supports the U.S.-Russian joint initiative aimed at preventing the use of nuclear weapons by terrorists as an important additional stage in the fight against the nuclear dimension of terrorism. Responding o the invitation, Turkey will also participate in the first meeting to be organized by the U.S. and Russia on this issue. End text. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON