TURKEY: ADVOCATING A BROAD DEFINITION OF ARMS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001220 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/CATR FOR J. CHRISTIAN KESSLER E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2017 TAGS: KNNP PREL PARM ETTC UNSC IR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: ADVOCATING A BROAD DEFINITION OF ARMS AND RELATED MATERIEL UNDER UNSCR 1747 REF: A. STATE 67422 ¶B. ANKARA 1210 ¶C. ANKARA 926 Classified By: Political Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt, reasons 1 .4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) We delivered ref a demarche to MFA Iran Desk Officer Aziz Sevi on May 18, emphasizing the comprehensive US interpretation of the definition of arms and related materiel that we believe applies to paragraph 5 of UNSCR 1747. We noted that this definition includes all items listed on the Wassenaar Arrangement Munitions List. We urged that the GOT adopt a similarly broad definition in its implementation of the sanctions resolution. ¶2. (C) Sevi told us he found the Wassenaar List a useful guide and pledged to share our request with senior officials. He noted that paragraph 5 of UNSCR 1747 refers to the supply, sale, or transfer of arms from Iran, and that paragraph 6 refers to the transfer to Iran of arms, technical assistance, and financial assistance related weapons programs. He asked if the US is applying the same broad definition of arms and materiel to paragraph 6. ¶3. (C) In response to our question, Sevi confirmed that no Iranian companies or representatives thereof had been invited to the International Defense Equipment Fair (IDEF),to be held in Ankara, May 22-24. ¶4. (C) Sevi confirmed that the MFA, in preparation for implementation of UNSCR 1747, had met with affected GOT ministries and had distributed a Turkish translation of the text of the resolution. He confirmed that the GOT plans to submit its report on the implementation of UNSCR 1747 by May 24 as called upon in the resolution. (Comment: per ref b, we continue to press Turkish officials to expedite their implementing legislation for UNSCRs 1737 and 1747. End comment.) Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON