TURKS CONCERNED BUT STILL MAINTAIN NO KNOWLEDGE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004785 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/CPI CHERRINGTON E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2016 TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP EWWT PHSA TU SUBJECT: TURKS CONCERNED BUT STILL MAINTAIN NO KNOWLEDGE OF TURKISH-OWNED DPRK-FLAGGED SHIPS REF: STATE 063168 Classified By: Econ Counselor Thomas H. Goldberger for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In separate meetings, MFA and Maritime Affairs Undersecretariat officials said they shared U.S. concern about the use of DPRK flags ships but said an internal investigation did not uncover any Turkish-owned vessels using North Korean flags. They explained that Turkish law does not require the registration of foreign flagged ships with Turkish maritime organizations, but that most reputable shipping companies and those operating large vessels do so. Both officials opined that the information we had earlier provided probably pertained to smaller vessels operating in the Mediterranean. ¶2. (C) We explained new USG regulations that prohibit U.S. citizens from owning, leasing, operating or insuring DPRK-flagged ships. The Turkish officials said that Turkey would not implement such a regulation unless required by the UN. ¶3. (C) When a DPRK-flagged ship calls at a Turkish port, the ships are automatically put under Port State Control, an inspection regime authorized by the International Maritime Organization to verify that foreign ships in national ports comply with international regulations related to it physical condition and method of operation. However, Okay Kilic, Head of Safety and Navigation Department of the Maritime Affairs Undersecretariat refuted the MFA's claim that all DPRK-flagged ships are automatically searched without cause. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON