TURKEY - USAID AND AI ASSISTANCE PERIOD

UNCLAS ANKARA 006743 SIPDIS STATE ALSO FOR STUDZINSKI AND LANGE USAID FOR PEREIRA, BLANCHET AND CARROLL HHS FOR WSTEIGER/PBUDASHEWITZ FAS FOR ITP/MACKE/THOMAS, CMP/DLP/WETZEL, FAS/JDEVER FAS PASS FSIS AND APHIS VIENNA PASS APHIS BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ GENEVA PASS HEALTH ATTACHE ROME FOR US MISSION TO FAO TREASURY FOR PLANTIER SIPDIS E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: EAGR TBIO PREL EAID TU KFLU SUBJECT: TURKEY - USAID AND AI ASSISTANCE PERIOD REF: A: ANKARA 6417 B: ANKARA 2708 ¶1. Summary and Action Request: By diplomatic note, the GOT asked for an extension of the one-year period for using the USAID avian influenza related grant in an amount of $1 million for restructuring of the backyard poultry sector in the east. We recall that this question was discussed previously with World Bank officials and USAID suggested that as long as the project was substantially started and/or funds were earmarked on a multi-year basis, there would be no problem. We request that USAID provide clarification for us to provide to the GOT and WB. End Summary. ¶2. Diplomatic Note 2006/IEGY/533691 dated December 20, 2006 (marked urgent) text follows: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and, concerning the cooperation between Turkey and the USA on the struggle against Avian Influenza, has the honor to inform the Embassy of the following. The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs informs that the USAID has donated an amount of USD 1 million to the project of the World Bank on the struggle against Avian Influenza in Turkey. The amount of USD 250.000 of the said donation would be utilized for raising the public awareness. The remaining USD 750.000 has been allocated for the restructuring of poultry sector in Turkey. However, the timetable for using the donation envisaged by USAID, which already started as of September 2006 for a period of one year is not compatible with that of World Bank covering the period between 2008-2010 for the implementation of the project in this field. Hence, pointing to the fact that the said donation could hardly be used within the presumed period, the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs proposes either an extension in the implementation period of the project, or a new understanding to be agreed by the USAID and the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs which will enable to use this donation in areas other than the poultry sector as well. It would be highly appreciated if the Embassy could be kind enough to transmit this proposal to the USAID and inform this Ministry of the result. Wilson