EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (JANUARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000611 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NP/ECC- PVANSON, ACHURCH, JHARTSHORN DEPT FOR EUR/ACE- DSILLIMAN, SYOUNTCHI DOE/NNSA- TPERRY, LPARKER, EDESCHLER CBP/INA- PWALKER, JGOUGE DOC FOR PETERSON-BEARD USCG FOR CWILSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM TU SUBJECT: EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (JANUARY 2006) REF: 2004 STATE 146478 ¶1. Summary: EXBS Advisor continued to promote action on the several projects (Internal Control Project (ICP), Product Identification Tool (PIT) and Commodity Identification Training (CIT)) that have begun in Turkey without a ratified NP Cooperation Agreement. Proposed schedules of activities were coordinated to keep the projects on target and moving forward. EXBS Advisor coordinated information flow between Turkey and the United States concerning PSI activities and participation in upcoming Turkish led exercise. Finally, EXBS Advisor delivered U.S. approval for change to NP Agreement title, sought by the Turkish Parliament prior to ratification. End Summary. ¶2. Completed Actions for the Reporting Period ¶A. Site Assessment and Meetings During Recent Reporting Period 1) January 5- EXBS Advisor met with Department Head for Export Controls, General Directorate of Customs Sevilay Turksen to review CIT and PIT projects. Turksen informed EXBS Advisor that Customs has been reviewing the PIT project and considering conducting the customization in-house, due to concerns about specific customs procedures that will be included in the program. EXBS Advisor suggested that an outside contractor be utilized for the general customization and that the specific customs procedure information be added to the program after general customization This would decrease the work that would need to be performed by the Turkish Customs IT personnel and should decrease the time that it would take for customization. Turksen stated that this option would need to be presented to the proper authorities for consideration. 2) January 6- EXBS Advisor met with MFA Second Secretary for Arms Control and Disarmament Serhan Ali Yigit SIPDIS to conduct monthly update meeting on all current projects in progress in Turkey, including Internal Control Program (ICP), Commodity Identification Training (CIT),Product Identification Tool (PIT) and Second Line of Defense (SLD). EXBS Advisor also discussed the upcoming Turkey-led PSI exercise, including the involvement of other countries and the United States' participation in the exercise. 3) January 20- EXBS Advisor met with MFA Second Secretary for Arms Control and Disarmament Serhan Ali Yigit. SIPDIS EXBS Advisor proposed a change in the English language title of the NP Agreement that would better match the proposed Turkish title while still keeping the intent and focus of the agreement. Yigit did not believe that there would be any problems with the proposal. Yigit also provided an update on Turkey's involvement in PSI and the replies to the upcoming Turkish led PSI exercise. 4) January 27- EXBS Advisor met with MFA First Secretary for Arms Control and Disarmament Guven Begec. EXBS SIPDIS Advisor proposed a visit by ICP and PIT project coordinator in early Feb. This one day visit would focus on answering any final questions along with meeting with the contractor to being work on the customization of both projects. Begec agreed that this would be a good opportunity, that should allow the projects to finally move forward. EXBS Advisor met the same day with Serhan Yigit to receive an update on the PSI exercise. Yigit requested EXBS Advisor seek an opinion from Washington on the possible addition of countries to observe the exercise. The intent of allowing these countries to observe the exercise is to expose them to the benefits of PSI in hopes that they will formally endorse the initiative. ¶B. Training Conducted During Reporting Period: None ¶C. Equipment Delivered During Reporting Period: None ANKARA 00000611 002 OF 002 ¶D. Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update: None ¶E. Significant Developments in Export Controls, Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security: 1) GOT provided U.S. approval for modifying the title of the NP Agreement to include the words "Weapons of Mass Destruction" on January 30, 2006. Agreement will now be re-submitted to the Turkish Parliament for ratification. Once ratification occurs the path will be open for full engagement of all aspects of the EXBS program with Turkey. ¶3. Future Activities ¶A. Feb 13- CTP representative to visit Turkey to review the status of the CIT and PIT projects. ¶B. Feb 15-17- UNVIE Amb Schulte to visit for consultations with GOT. ¶C. Mar 2-3- EXBS Advisor to participate in meetings with DOE and TAEK officials in Istanbul. ¶D. Mar 6- 10 - DOE INECP to conduct CIT Train the Trainer Course in Ankara. ¶E. Mar 28-29 - EXBS Advisor to attend EXBS Advisor conference in Vienna, Austria. ¶F. Apr (tent)- DOE SLD to visit Turkey to complete SLD Implementation Agreement and begin scheduling of installation of new SLD equipment. ¶G. May 24-26- EXBS Advisor to attend PSI Exercise Anatolian Deer in Ankara and Antalya Turkey. ¶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. WILSON