TFLE01: LEBANON EVACUATION: POSSIBLE ARRIVAL OF

UNCLAS ANKARA 004200 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR CA/OCS AND CA/EX DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TASK FORCE ONE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR CASC EWWT PREL CMGT MOPS US TU SUBJECT: TFLE01: LEBANON EVACUATION: POSSIBLE ARRIVAL OF AMCITS IN MERSIN, TURKEY REF: A. TASK FORCE ONE-DUTY OFFICER 7/19 CALL ¶B. ANKARA 4154 ¶C. SECSTATE 7843 ¶1. (U) In response to Task Force information (ref A) that AmCits may be arriving in the Turkish port city of Mersin on 7/19, Mission made contingency preparations to accommodate and process. ¶2. (U) Initial information that 100 ) 200 AmCits would arrive late July 19 in Mersin on a Canadian-chartered fast ferry is no longer current. According to the Canadian Embassy in Ankara, the ferry had difficulties entering Beirut harbor and will seek to reenter on 7/20. Canadian Embassy further reports that the ferry will be carrying Canadians, Australians, AmCits and Singaporians. They estimate the ferry will arrive in Mersin on the evening of 7/20. ¶3. (U) A Consulate/Incirlik team will be prepared to meet any incoming boat. Via a combination of commercial and Incirlik buses, to be escorted by Turkish National Police, they would proceed to a secure area at Incirlik for processing, checking of documents, issuing of emergency passports, signing promissory notes, etc. Incirlik is capable of providing billets and food for up to 800 AmCits at any one time. We are looking into, in conjunction with CA, the possibility of bringing chartered aircraft into Incirlik to fly any AmCits out of Turkey. ¶4. (U) We will continue to coordinate closely with the Canadians. The Canadians plan to transport their citizens to a holding place ) a local stadium that they have rented for the purpose - to do triage and process them there (both for Turkish customs purposes and Canadian entry requirements). They will then be flown out of Adana civilian airport the morning of July 21 on chartered planes. ¶5. (U) Mission Turkey remains ready to receive any AmCits who arrive in Turkey on the Canadian charters or other vessels. The Turkish Government has pledged their full support and cooperation for our evacuation efforts. We await further guidance on what additional assistance Mission can provide to the evacuation effort. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON