TFLE01: LEBANON EVACUATION: PREPARING ALTERNATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004234 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR CA/OCS AND CA/EX DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/EX/PMO/DL DEPARTMENT PASS TASK FORCE ONE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR CASC EWWT REL CMGT MOPS US TU SUBJECT: TFLE01: LEBANON EVACUATION: PREPARING ALTERNATE PROCESSING SITE IN MERSIN/ADANA/INCIRLIK, TURKEY REF: A. TASK FORCE ONE-DUTY OFFICER 7/19 CALL ¶B. ANKARA 4154 ¶C. SECSTATE 7843 ¶D. DCM-TASK FORCE 7/20 TELCON ¶E. ANKARA 4200 ¶F. TASK FORCE 7/20 TASKING E-MAIL ANKARA 00004234 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) In response to Task Force direction, Mission Turkey has prepared to use the port of Mersin as an overflow evacuation point for AmCits departing Lebanon. We intend to bus evacuees to Incirlik Air Base and conduct processing on the base. Mission has directed all available existing resources to Consulate Adana and Incirlik Base. We asses that our capability to process evacuees as of July 20 is approximately 200-400 daily. As of July 21, we will be capable of processing 400-800 per day. If we are to exceed this number ) and we understand there is a requirement to process 2500 per day beginning July 22 ) then we will require urgent TDY support (already provide to Task Force) and commitment of charter aircraft. ¶2. (U) We expect an initial arrival of AmCits on July 20 via a Canadian chartered ferry. We do not have a specific arrival time nor a passenger manifest. Our latest information indicates that the first such ferry will arrive at Mersin after 2000 local July 20 with up to 27 Amcits on board. Another ferry with an undetermined number of AmCits may arrive later the evening of 7/20. ¶3. (U) A Consulate Adana/Incirlik team is prepared to meet any incoming boat. We will bus them to Incirlik Airbase for processing and issuance of Turkish visas. At that point, AmCits who do not wish to be repatriated to the US will be allowed to depart base for independently organized onward travel within Turkey or the region. Those who wish to be repatriated to the US will remain on base and be billeted and fed until the arrival of commercially chartered aircraft. Incirlik Air Base has the capacity to billet and feed 800 at any one time and can surge up to 1300. If we are required to drive up to a capacity of 2500 per day, evacuees will be billeted in a tent city, on cots and will be fed MREs. Ideally, we would hover around 1500 at any single time and need to focus on charter aircraft to move people onward. 39 Wing Incirlik and Turkish base command are committed to working together to make this operation a success. We also understand there is active consideration of bringing evacuees to Turkey from Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus via C-130s; we will need advance notice to clear these flights through appropriate GOT channels. ¶4. (U) Visa requirements and customs issues: The GOT has agreed to waive the USD20 visa fee for all incoming evacuees, regardless of nationality. Incirlik has a 24/7 Turkish customs operation on base. We are working with the Turks to determine if they can plus that up, to get agreement to do all processing, including Turkish visas (which will still need to be stamped in passports) and out-processing on base. ¶5. (U) Visa requirements for TDY staff: Turkish MFA has agreed that if we get names, port of entry and nationality of TDYers to them, they will send a message to the port of entry to issue a visa there, regardless of type of passport. ¶6. (U) Incirlik charters: Mission confirms that charters should be arranged to land at and depart from Incirlik. GOT authorities concur. ¶7. (U) Incirlik will support all our facilities needs for processing and control room. We need TDYer names as soon as possible, especially TCN host national support so we may pass that information via diplomatic note to the MFA. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ ANKARA 00004234 002.2 OF 002 WILSON