EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (MAY 2007)

UNCLAS ANKARA 001413 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NP/ECC- PVANSON, ACHURCH, NJOHANSON DEPT FOR EUR/ACE- DSILLIMAN, BHUNT, PMALIK DOE/NNSA- TPERRY, LPARKER, EDESCHLER CBP/INA- BWATTS, BPICKETT DOC FOR TCURTIN USCG FOR BGOLDEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TU SUBJECT: EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (MAY 2007) REF: 2004 STATE 146478 ¶1. Summary: Coordination continued for Turkish officials attending training events in June including: Radiation Detection and Response (RADACAD) training, International Rail Interdiction Training, and UGA Export Control Academy. Additional training opportunities were proposed to the Government of Turkey including HAZMAT training, International Air Cargo Interdiction Training and an other RADACAD course. Coordination of CBP Training Expert visit was completed in preparation for visit June 11-12, 2007. End Summary. ¶2. Completed Actions for the Reporting Period ¶A. Site Assessment and Meetings During Recent Reporting Period 1) May 2 - EXBS Advisor met with Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade (UFT) Agreements Department Head Ziya Demirduzen to review the progress of the ICP project and to prepare for the next phase. According to Demirduzen, UFT has been in contact with the local contractor, Docuart, and updates are being completed on the software. Demirduzen added that the just completed ICP instructor training identified some other problems which are being corrected. EXBS Advisor inquired about a possible Beta testing of the software in early June by select companies. Demirduzen cautiously stated that this could be possible but there are many other obligations for his staff in June which may not allow this to occur. EXBS Advisor also informed Demirduzen that funding was available for UFT to send two participants to the UGA Center of International Trade and Security Export Control Academy. Demirduzen welcomed this information and suggested that Turkish Customs could also benefit from participation. EXBS Advisor stated that he would discuss this with MFA and Customs in the near future. 2) May 15 - EXBS Advisor met with Turkish National Police, Counter Terrorism Division Assistant Director Ahmet Yayla to discuss upcoming meetings and training for TNP officials. EXBS Advisor outlined the meeting to be held in Washington DC with officials from the Department of Energy and State Department concerning development of Turkey's Nuclear Detection and Response capabilities. These meetings will be held prior to the DOE sponsored training in Richland, Washington for 24 TNP officials. Yayla appreciated the assistance and provided information concerning the GOT's efforts to develop this capability and identified shortfalls. EXBS Advisor added that TNP attendance at the FBI-sponsored Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism workshop in Miami will also be an excellent opportunity for Turkish officials to share experience and learn from other countries which have recently developed these capabilities. Yayla stated that TNP intends to send a ten-person delegation to this workshop which they also believe will be very beneficial. Yayla added that he looks forward to working with the United States to continue to develop this unit. 3) May 22 - EXBS Advisor met with Customs Enforcement Deputy Director General Mehmet Guzel to discuss upcoming events and recent Turkish Customs activities. EXBS Advisor provided Guzel with an update on the planning for the International Rail Interdiction Training. He also informed Guzel about other opportunities which were being offered for International Air Cargo Interdiction Training, Seaport Interdiction Training and RADACAD training. Guzel welcomed these additional training opportunities and believes that Turkish Customs will benefit from attending them. EXBS Advisor added that planning is almost complete for the Targeting and Risk Management Workshop which will be held in Ankara July 8 - 14. Guzel then requested information on the possibility of mid-level management courses for Turkish Customs officials. This training could focus on the processing of cases and the development of officials. EXBS Advisor stated that this should be possible; he added that this issue should be addressed during the upcoming visit by CBP training expert. 4) May 24 - EXBS Advisor met with MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Head of Department Serhan Yigit to discuss current projects in Turkey, including Internal Control Program (ICP),Customs Training and Second Line of Defense (SLD). EXBS Advisor presented Yigit with a proposal for an ICP prototype workshop in June. Yigit accepted the proposal but doubted that it would be possible to coordinate on such short notice. He added that he will coordinate with UFT and provide an answer. EXBS Advisor then reviewed the activities that will occur between US and Turkish Customs, both training and visits. Yigit commented that this increased engagement will be beneficial and a good way to build the working level cooperation between US and Turkey. 5) May 29 - EXBS Advisor met with Custom EU and External Relations Head of Department Hasan Kursuoglu to review upcoming cooperation activities and proposed schedules. EXBS Advisor provided up dated information concerning the Turkish Custom participation in CBP's International Rail Interdiction Training (IRIT) and International Air Cargo Interdiction Training (IACIT); also discussed was a Targeting and Risk Management Workshop to be held in July, focusing on truck and vehicle traffic. EXBS Advisor discussed the schedule of meetings during the visit of a senior CBP training expert who will begin investigating areas of cooperation between the U.S. and Turkey in the development of the new Turkish Customs training academy. Kursuoglu expressed appreciation for the large number of activities which will occur over the next few months. He added that the more exposure Turkish Customs officials get to new methods and procedures, the more prepared they will be to perform their duties. ¶B. Training Conducted During Reporting Period: None ¶C. Equipment Delivered During Reporting Period: None ¶D. Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update: 1) June 2 - 9 - Twenty-Four Turkish National Police Officers to attend DOE RADACAD Training in Richland, WA 2) June 9 - 23 - Two Turkish Foreign Trade and One Customs Officials to attend UGA Export Control Academy in Athens GA. 3) Jun 9 -17 - Fifteen Turkish Customs Officers to attend International Rail Interdiction Training Course, El Paso, Texas. 4) Jul/Aug - Delivery of ZVB Back Scatter Van to Turkish Customs. ¶E. Significant Developments in Export Controls, Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security: 1) Announcement to hire LES for new EXBS Program Coordinator position was released with a closing date for application of June 6. Position should be filled by late summer. ¶3. Future Activities ¶A. June 2 - 9 - Twenty-Four Turkish National Police Officers to attend DOE RADACAD Training in Richland, WA. ¶B. June 9 - 23 - Two Turkish Foreign Trade and One Customs Officials to attend UGA Export Control Academy in Athens GA. ¶C. Jun 9 -17 - Fifteen Turkish Customs Officers to attend International Rail Interdiction Training Course, El Paso, Texas. ¶D. Jun 11- 12 - Visit by CBP Training Expert to develop course of action to support development of Turkish Customs Officer Academy. ¶E. Jun 18-21 - EXBS Advisor to attend EXBS Advisor conference in Vienna. ¶F. Jul 8-14 - CBP to conduct Land Based Targeting and Risk Management Course, Ankara for twenty-four Turkish customs officials. ¶G. Jul 20 - Aug 1 - Twelve Turkish Customs Officers to attend International Air Cargo Interdiction Training Course, New York, NY. ¶H. Jul 30 - Aug 4 - Twenty-Four Turkish Customs Officers to attend DOE RADACAD Training in Richland, WA. ¶I. Sep 10- 22 (proposed) - Twenty- Four Turkish Official to attend CBP HAZMAT Tech/First Responder Training, Harpers Ferry, WV. ¶J. Sep 12 -22 (proposed) - Eighteen Turkish Customs Officers to attend International Sea Port Interdiction Training Course, Charleston, SC. ¶4. Red Flag Issues: None ¶5. Contact Information for EXBS Adviser ) Kevin Lyon, phone (90)(312) 457-7210, fax (90)(312) 468-4775, email LyonK@state.gov. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON