Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA4316
2006-07-26 14:54:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKEY RECEIVES THREE SYRIAN AND IRANIAN IL-76

Tags:  PREL PARM MARR ETTC TU IR SY SA JO IS LE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0051
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAK #4316 2071454
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 261454Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7478
INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 0817
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0692
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 1527
RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT PRIORITY 0844
RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA PRIORITY 0193
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 0597
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0061
RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 0069
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
RUEKDAI/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/425ABS IZMIR TU//CC// PRIORITY
RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU PRIORITY
S E C R E T ANKARA 004316 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2026
TAGS: PREL PARM MARR ETTC TU IR SY SA JO IS LE
SUBJECT: TURKEY RECEIVES THREE SYRIAN AND IRANIAN IL-76
OVERFLIGHT REQUESTS

REF: A. STATE 120961

B. ANKARA 4279

Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt, reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).

S E C R E T ANKARA 004316

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2026
TAGS: PREL PARM MARR ETTC TU IR SY SA JO IS LE
SUBJECT: TURKEY RECEIVES THREE SYRIAN AND IRANIAN IL-76
OVERFLIGHT REQUESTS

REF: A. STATE 120961

B. ANKARA 4279

Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt, reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S/NF) We delivered ref a points to MFA Aviation
Department Head Hamit Olcay on July 25. According to Olcay,
Turkey does not have any pending cargo overflight requests.
However, the GOT did receive three separate IL-76 overflight
requests from Syria and Iran following our initial July 19
approach. In addition to the overflight request made by Pars
Airlines (ref b),Syria and Iran each sent diplomatic notes
requesting overflight permission for an IL-76 cargo plane.
The MFA notified both governments and Pars that, given the
ongoing conflict in the region, Turkey was willing to
accommodate their requests but would invoke its right under
Article V (Right of Non-Scheduled Flights) of the 1944
Convention on International Civil Aviation to require the
planes to land in Turkey and undergo an inspection. Only
Pars agreed to that requirement and the Syrian and Iranian
government planes were denied overflight clearance.


2. (S/NF) Olcay commented that Diyarbakir Airport in
southeastern Turkey was selected as the inspection site for
these flights because it brought them far enough into Turkish
air space that Turkish planes would have time to intercept
them if necessary.


3. (S/NF) In addition to the cargo flights, Olcay noted a
regularly scheduled civilian passenger flight between Tehran
and Damascus that overflies Turkish territory. The GOT, he
said, recognizes the potential for abuse of those flights but
would not subject routine passenger flights to a landing and
inspection absent "sufficient, credible evidence" of WMD or
other problematic materials on board.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON