TURKS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006036 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/WMDT MEGAN DIETER E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2016 TAGS: KGIC MCAP PINR PINS PTER KNNP TU SUBJECT: TURKS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM REF: A. A) STATE 173436 ¶B. B) STATE 157733 C) STATE 155988 Classified By: Margaret Nardi, Acting PolMil Counselor. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Turkey has enthusiastically endorsed plans for the first meeting of partners of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GI) and will send a high-level delegation to Rabat on October 29-31. The MFA is coordinating an interagency review of the of Statement of Principles, Terms of Reference, and Explanatory Notes documents but provided preliminary comments on September 29, which were forwarded to the Department. Turkey is unlikely to present an expert-level briefing in Rabat. Turkey has, however, recommitted to hosting the second GI partners meeting in January 2007. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Ahmet Muhtar Gun, MFA the Head of Department for OSCE, Arms Control, and Disarmament, confirmed on October 17 that the GOT accepted a formal invitation from Morocco to attend the initial GI meeting in Rabat on October 29-31. The four-person Turkish delegation will led by Ambassador Rafet Akgunay, Deputy Under Secretary for Multilateral Political Affairs and will likely include Bulent Meric, Deputy Director General for Disarmament and Arms Control; Serhan Yigit, Head of Section for Arms Control and Disarmament; and a representative from the MFA legal advisor's office. Gun said Turkey appreciates the offer of U.S. assistance prior to the Rabat meeting, but does not envision a requirement for technical or other help from us. ¶3. (C) We are scheduled to meet again with Gun on October 19, together with the Russians, to share the draft agenda contained in ref a; provide specifics to the GOT on the U.S. delegation; and to again strongly encourage the Turks to provide at least one expert-level briefing in Rabat. Gun initially told us that Turkey did not plan to make a presentation. Gun also reconfirmed on October 17 Turkey's offer to host the second GI meeting in January 2007 or later. ¶4. (C) Stressing that the MFA is coordinating a comprehensive GOT reply to the GI papers we presented with the Russians on September 22 (ref c),Gun said he is still awaiting comments from several other agencies. On September 29 he passed us a two page paper with preliminary suggestions, which we conveyed to the Department by e-mail and fax same date. Main points of those comments were as follows: a. Statement of Principles: the GOT wishes to add a new final para which states: "Ensure the active cooperation of the IAEA to avoid duplicative work." b. Terms of Reference: the GOT suggests adding a new item (6) on the second page as follows: "IAG participants shall ensure full cooperation with the IAEA." c. Explanatory Notes: the GOT wishes to add language to item 3 on the third page, line eight, under "Activities:" "...establish appropriate arrangements or agreements, consistent with relevant national laws,..." d. Explanatory Notes, fifth page, item 5: delete the phrase, "and investigate and ensure just punishment of those responsible." ("Reason for deletion: our judicial system is independent. The phrase can be construed as an intervention in our judicial process.") e. Explanatory Notes, page 6, items 5 and 6, and page 7, item 8: add the word "intelligence" in the phrase: "...law enforcement, intelligence, operational, and technical experts..." f. Explanatory Notes, page 7, item 7, delete following language: "...to fulfill this principle, and identify opportunities for participation by industry and the public in suitable activities." ("Reason for deletion: Including the participation of industry and the public is deemed unnecessary in this particular context.") Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON