EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (SEP 2006)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 005902

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NP/ECC- PVANSON, ACHURCH, JFEENEY, NJOHANSON
DEPT FOR EUR/ACE- DSILLIMAN, BHUNT
DOE/NNSA- TPERRY, LPARKER, EDESCHLER
CBP/INA- RWATTS, JGOUGE
DOC FOR TCURTIN
USCG FOR BGOLDEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TU
SUBJECT: EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (SEP 2006)

REF: 2004 STATE 146478


1. Summary: U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) conducted a Port
Security/Port Vulnerability Training for 19 Turkish Port
Authority, Customs, Coast Guard and Maritime Ministry
officials at the Port of Izmir; initial coordination was
started for an upcoming orientation visit to the United
States for representatives of Turkish Customs; and continued
progress was made on the Internal Control Program (ICP).
Finally, EXBS Advisor continued to utilized various
opportunities to further explain the importance of
ratification of the U.S.- Turkish NP Cooperation Agreement,
and the positive impact that the EXBS program can have in
Turkey.


2. Completed Actions for the Reporting Period


A. Site Assessment and Meetings During Recent
Reporting Period

1) Sep 15 - EXBS Advisor met with Customs
Enforcement Deputy Director General Mehmet Guzel to discuss
recent Turkish Customs activities. EXBS Advisor provided
Guzel with an evaluation of the Targeting and Risk Management
Workshop which was completed in Mersin. Guzel stated that he
had received several positive reports from the Mersin
Regional Director and other customs officials that the
workshop was very beneficial to all who attended. Guzel
added that he would appreciate the same type of program for
land border locations and possibly other ports. Finally,
Guzel requested information on the possibility of a Turkish
Customs delegation traveling to the U.S. during the next two
months for an orientation visit to Custom HQ and field
locations. EXBS Advisor stated that this should be possible;
however he would need to coordinate with U.S. Customs
concerning actual visit locations and program.

2) Sep 18- EXBS Advisor and visiting USCG team met
with Port of Izmir Regional Director, Deputy Director, port
officials and other senior staff members. USCG team provided
an overview of the Port Security/Port Vulnerability Training
that was being conducted. Izmir Port officials provided an
overview briefing of the port along with expected areas of
expansion of the port. Following the briefings, a tour of
the commercial port facilities was conducted. USCG team was
able to observe the overall physical security of the port,
off loading of cargo, the movement of trucks, and the
checking of incoming and outgoing trucks and passenger
vehicles. Turkish Port officials were very open and willing
to discuss their operation and exchange experiences. USCG
team found Turkish port operations well within traditionally
accepted international standards with no significant areas of
major concern.

3) Sep 19 - EXBS Advisor met with Undersecretariat
of Foreign Trade (UFT) Agreements Department Head Ziya
Demirduzen to review the progress of the ICP project, to
evaluate the translation of the EU control list and to
discuss possible other areas of cooperation. Demirduzen
informed EXBS Advisor that UFT has been in contact with the
contractor, Docuart, and submitted their final review on Sept

13. The program appears to be working properly and there are
only minor corrections needed in some of the documents.
Demirduzen added that the review of the translated control
list is being accomplished with the assistance of the
Istanbul Mineral and Metals Association, Turkish Atomic
Energy Authority and the Ministry of Defense. Each agency
has been requested to have comments submitted to UFT no later
than Oct 16. EXBS Advisor informed Demirduzen that planning
for the next stages of the ICP program, including instructor
training and an Industry-Government Forum, needs to continue;
however due to the delay in the review of the translated
control list it is now suggested that the instructor training
take place in early November and the IG Forum in early
December. Demirduzen agreed that this could be possible, but
would need to check with his Director General before
committing to these time frames.


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4) Sep 20 - EXBS Advisor met with MFA Energy, Water
and Environment Issues Head of Department Gulsum Erkul to
discuss the involvement of Turkish Atomic Energy Authority in
upcoming International Nuclear Smuggling Work Group and
provide initial information concerning upcoming request for
additional cooperation in combating nuclear smuggling. Erkul
informed EXBS Advisor that she was the main focal point of
international cooperation with issues involving TAEK and
appreciated being included in communication with TAEK that
could have international implications. EXBS Advisor stressed
that we consider Turkey a partner in this fight and that any
information that is obtained by TAEK conducting these tests
would be shared with GOT.

EXBS Advisor met with Customs Enforcement Deputy Director
General Mehmet Guzel to further discuss the proposed
orientation visit by Turkish Customs officials to the United
States. Guzel informed EXBS Advisor that he was impressed
with the proposed initial schedule for the orientation visit.
Guzel added that one of the key points on which Turkish
officials would like information was planning for the future.
Guzel continued that there is a belief that Turkish Customs
will be going through changes in the near future with the
addition of technology and personnel. Because of this, they
would like to learn more about how U.S. Customs plans for the
future and prepares for changes in policies, practices and
procedures.

5) Sep 26 - EXBS Advisor met with Dr. Kemal Kaya,
Advisor to the Turkish Grand National Assembly Speaker Arinc.
EXBS Advisor outlined the NP Agreement for Kaya and
requested assistance in moving the Agreement through
Parliament for ratification. Kaya reviewed the normal
procedure by which Agreements are ratified; he also checked
on the status of the Agreement. Kaya informed EXBS Advisor
that the Agreement was number 3 on the list of items for the
general agenda. This is a good position as the fall session
opens, since it is rare for non-agenda items to be brought to
the floor of Parliament early in the session. Kaya would
expect ratification of the Agreement within the first two
weeks of the next session, which opens October 2.

6) Sep 27 - EXBS Advisor met with Turkish National
Police Organized Crime Section Chief Mehmet Ali Keskinkilic.
EXBS Advisor informed Keskinkilic about the U.S. proposals
for increased cooperation between Turkey and the US in the
area of combating nuclear smuggling, including the offer of
discussion or workshops between law enforcement experts in
these areas. Keskinkilic stated that he did not believe that
there is a significant amount of actual smuggling of nuclear
material in Turkey at this time. EXBS Advisor informed
Keskinkilic that, while there might not be a significat
amount now, these discussions would assist n preparing
Turkish officials should the smugglers begin to try to work
through Turkey. Keskinkilic agree that this would be a good
prgram for the TNP's new terrorism task force and that he
would present the information to his leadership.

7) Sep 29 - EXBS Advisor met with Customs Enforcement
Deputy Director General Mehmet Guzel to further discuss the
proposed orientation visit by Turkish Customs officials to
the United States. EXBS Advisor presented the latest
proposed schedule which factored in changes due to travel and
holidays. Guzel informed EXBS Advisor that he just returned
from a meeting in Kiev, Ukraine concerning joint cooperation
between Black Sea countries to stop smuggling on the Black
Sea. This initiative is different from the Black Sea
Harmony/Black Sea Force that is being coordinated by the
militaries of some of the Black Sea littoral countries and
focuses more on cooperation between the customs services of
each country. It has been proposed that the main command
center for this new initiative be located in Ukraine, either
Kiev or Odessa. Guzel added that there are many details that
need to be worked out, but this initial four day meeting did
have attendees from all six littoral countries.


B. Training Conducted During Reporting Period:


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1) Sep 17- 23 - US Coast Guard (USCG) conducted a Port
Physical Security/Port Vulnerability Course at the Port of
Izmir, Turkey. The goal of the training was to enhance the
officers knowledge and abilities to enhance the physical
security of the port and to identify possible future areas of
vulnerability to the safety and security of the port. During
the week, 18 Turkish officials from 6 Turkish Ports, Turkish
Customs, Coast Guard and Maritime Ministry actively
participated in all course activities and field exercises at
the port. Student and instructor feedback was positive.


C. Equipment Delivered During Reporting Period: None


D. Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update: None


E. Significant Developments in Export Controls,
Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security: None


3. Future Activities


A. Nov 11-21 - Overview visit of Turkish Customs
Officials to United States.


B. Nov 28-30 (proposed)- ICP Instructor Training in
Ankara.


C. Dec 18-19 (proposed)- Industry - Government Forum
in Istanbul.


D. Dec/Jan (proposed)- INECP nuclear industry
outreach workshop to be conducted.


E. Jan/Feb (proposed)- First CIT Pilot Course
conducted by Turkish instructors with assistance by INECP
personnel.


4. Red Flag Issues: None


5. Contact Information for EXBS Adviser ) Kevin Lyon,
phone (90)(312) 455-5555 ext 2525, fax (90)(312) 468-4775,
email LyonK@state.gov.

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

WILSON