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

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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/


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WILSON