Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA502
2006-02-07 12:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END USE CHECK OF
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #0502 0381230 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 071230Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2976 INFO RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// PRIORITY
UNCLAS ANKARA 000502
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND PM/DTTC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KOMC ETTC MASS TU
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END USE CHECK OF
APPLICATION 05-981743
REF: SECSTATE 217260
UNCLAS ANKARA 000502
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND PM/DTTC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KOMC ETTC MASS TU
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END USE CHECK OF
APPLICATION 05-981743
REF: SECSTATE 217260
1. Begin Summary: We met twice in January 2006 with officials
from Turkey's Mechanical and Chemical Industries Corporation
(MKEK) to discuss order/contract number 03361, per reftel,
and confirmed that MKEK's intended purchase of approximately
200 handguns from Smith and Wesson appears to be a standard
transaction. Despite an awkward initial meeting, Embassy
officers received satisfactory answers to their questions
during a subsequent meeting. End Summary.
2. During a Jan. 6 meeting, MKEK acting procurement chief
Mustafa Aycicek was not very forthcoming. In fact, Aycicek
appeared nervous and refused to answer basic questions.
Aycicek did, however, show us a copy of the proposed handguns
deal with Smith and Wesson, and stated that the handguns were
not intended for any specific government organization.
3. In a follow-up meeting on Jan. 23, Akif Akgul, MKEK's
Director of Marketing and Export, and Aynur Ceylan, an MKEK
Export Manager were very forthcoming. According to Akgul,
MKEK is 100 percent owned by the Turkish government, and
receives almost all of its orders/contracts from the Turkish
Ministry of National Defense (MND). MKEK Marketing/Sales
officials said the company sells a small amount of controlled
goods (such as explosive survey charges) to civilians and
civilian firms, but that goods such as the Smith and Wesson
handguns could only be purchased by a very select few people
in Turkey -- namely those in the military or internal
security, as well as a limited number of civilians with
permits -- after strenuous background investigations. The
Marketing/Sales team emphasized that MKEK keeps good records
on any contracts/purchases that involve firearms.
4. MKEK has been in business since 1950, and the main MKEK
facility on Tandogan Square appears to have good on-site
security. The company appears to have the necessary firearms
license and import permits required. The MKEK officials
commented that U.S. export regulations, such as those
involving the Smith & Wesson handguns, were too stringent and
hurt the ability of U.S. companies to compete for Turkish MND
contracts.
5. Based on the site visit, the viewed documentation and the
meeting with MKEK Marketing/Sales officials, we believe the
proposed sale meets the appropriate end-use standards.
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND PM/DTTC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KOMC ETTC MASS TU
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END USE CHECK OF
APPLICATION 05-981743
REF: SECSTATE 217260
1. Begin Summary: We met twice in January 2006 with officials
from Turkey's Mechanical and Chemical Industries Corporation
(MKEK) to discuss order/contract number 03361, per reftel,
and confirmed that MKEK's intended purchase of approximately
200 handguns from Smith and Wesson appears to be a standard
transaction. Despite an awkward initial meeting, Embassy
officers received satisfactory answers to their questions
during a subsequent meeting. End Summary.
2. During a Jan. 6 meeting, MKEK acting procurement chief
Mustafa Aycicek was not very forthcoming. In fact, Aycicek
appeared nervous and refused to answer basic questions.
Aycicek did, however, show us a copy of the proposed handguns
deal with Smith and Wesson, and stated that the handguns were
not intended for any specific government organization.
3. In a follow-up meeting on Jan. 23, Akif Akgul, MKEK's
Director of Marketing and Export, and Aynur Ceylan, an MKEK
Export Manager were very forthcoming. According to Akgul,
MKEK is 100 percent owned by the Turkish government, and
receives almost all of its orders/contracts from the Turkish
Ministry of National Defense (MND). MKEK Marketing/Sales
officials said the company sells a small amount of controlled
goods (such as explosive survey charges) to civilians and
civilian firms, but that goods such as the Smith and Wesson
handguns could only be purchased by a very select few people
in Turkey -- namely those in the military or internal
security, as well as a limited number of civilians with
permits -- after strenuous background investigations. The
Marketing/Sales team emphasized that MKEK keeps good records
on any contracts/purchases that involve firearms.
4. MKEK has been in business since 1950, and the main MKEK
facility on Tandogan Square appears to have good on-site
security. The company appears to have the necessary firearms
license and import permits required. The MKEK officials
commented that U.S. export regulations, such as those
involving the Smith & Wesson handguns, were too stringent and
hurt the ability of U.S. companies to compete for Turkish MND
contracts.
5. Based on the site visit, the viewed documentation and the
meeting with MKEK Marketing/Sales officials, we believe the
proposed sale meets the appropriate end-use standards.
WILSON