TURKEY REQUIRES SYRIAN CARGO PLANE TO LAND

S E C R E T ANKARA 001306 SIPDIS NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2026 TAGS: MOPS PREL TU IR SY SUBJECT: TURKEY REQUIRES SYRIAN CARGO PLANE TO LAND REF: A. STATE 73024 ¶B. ANKARA 1297 Classified By: POL-MIL COUNSELOR CARL SIEBENTRITT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D) . ¶1. (S/NF) MFA Deputy Director General for Maritime and Aviation Affairs Basat Ozturk told us late May 29 that Turkish authorities had required the Syrian cargo aircraft suspected of illicit arms transfers (reftels) to land for inspection at Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey. The aircraft complied and landed at approximately 1800 hours local time. The aircraft was on its way from Syria to Iran. Ozturk stated that the aircraft will be required to land again for inspection should it transit Turkish airspace on its return flight from Iran to Syria. ¶2. (S/NF) We will follow up to determine any results from today's inspection and report on any further Turkish action. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON