Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1415
2007-06-06 15:27:00
SECRET
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY TO CONSIDER SCREENING SELECT IRANIAN AND
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #1415 1571527 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 061527Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2456 INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN IMMEDIATE 0909 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 0959 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT IMMEDIATE 0523 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE 0417 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS IMMEDIATE 1647 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH IMMEDIATE 0635 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 0142 RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA//
S E C R E T ANKARA 001415
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2027
TAGS: MARR MOPS PTER TU IR SY LE
SUBJECT: TURKEY TO CONSIDER SCREENING SELECT IRANIAN AND
SYRIAN FLIGHTS
REF: A. STATE 77808
B. ANKARA 1347
C. ANKARA 1306
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt, reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).
S E C R E T ANKARA 001415
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2027
TAGS: MARR MOPS PTER TU IR SY LE
SUBJECT: TURKEY TO CONSIDER SCREENING SELECT IRANIAN AND
SYRIAN FLIGHTS
REF: A. STATE 77808
B. ANKARA 1347
C. ANKARA 1306
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt, reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) Per ref a request, we approached the MFA South Asia
Affairs and Aviation Affairs Departments to ask Turkey to
deny overflight clearance to, or request inspection of, all
Iranian and Syrian State aircraft that request overflight
approval. South Asia Head of Department Murat Ahmet Yoruk
questioned whether the US request is consistent with UNSCR
1747 as well as the definition of "State" aircraft, but
promised to pass the request to his superiors. Yoruk
acknowledged that, given the recent discovery of weapons on a
train from Iran bound for Syria that was derailed in Turkey
(ref b),his government would give the US request serious
consideration.
2. (S) Aviation Affairs Head of Department Hamit Olcay stated
that, beginning with the US request to inspect Iranian
contract aircraft in July 2006, he was given a blanket
mandate to continue random inspections of Iranian and Syrian
cargo and other charter aircraft transiting Turkey. In fact,
Olcay said, he had intended to call for an inspection of a
Syrian cargo plane on one leg of its transit from Syria to
Iran and back to Syria last week even before the US requested
Turkey to do so (ref c).
3. (S) Olcay said that a decision to deny overflight or
increase the number of plane inspection requests would be
made by the South Asia Affairs Department. In Olcay's view,
it would be difficult for Turkey to issue a blanket denial of
all non-commercial Iranian and Syrian aircraft. However, he
thought it might be possible for Turkey to increase the
number of requests to inspect cargo and charter flights as
well as any flights which make last minute flight plan
changes, or appear suspicious for any other reason, and
promised to advise us of any MFA decision in this regard.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2027
TAGS: MARR MOPS PTER TU IR SY LE
SUBJECT: TURKEY TO CONSIDER SCREENING SELECT IRANIAN AND
SYRIAN FLIGHTS
REF: A. STATE 77808
B. ANKARA 1347
C. ANKARA 1306
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt, reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) Per ref a request, we approached the MFA South Asia
Affairs and Aviation Affairs Departments to ask Turkey to
deny overflight clearance to, or request inspection of, all
Iranian and Syrian State aircraft that request overflight
approval. South Asia Head of Department Murat Ahmet Yoruk
questioned whether the US request is consistent with UNSCR
1747 as well as the definition of "State" aircraft, but
promised to pass the request to his superiors. Yoruk
acknowledged that, given the recent discovery of weapons on a
train from Iran bound for Syria that was derailed in Turkey
(ref b),his government would give the US request serious
consideration.
2. (S) Aviation Affairs Head of Department Hamit Olcay stated
that, beginning with the US request to inspect Iranian
contract aircraft in July 2006, he was given a blanket
mandate to continue random inspections of Iranian and Syrian
cargo and other charter aircraft transiting Turkey. In fact,
Olcay said, he had intended to call for an inspection of a
Syrian cargo plane on one leg of its transit from Syria to
Iran and back to Syria last week even before the US requested
Turkey to do so (ref c).
3. (S) Olcay said that a decision to deny overflight or
increase the number of plane inspection requests would be
made by the South Asia Affairs Department. In Olcay's view,
it would be difficult for Turkey to issue a blanket denial of
all non-commercial Iranian and Syrian aircraft. However, he
thought it might be possible for Turkey to increase the
number of requests to inspect cargo and charter flights as
well as any flights which make last minute flight plan
changes, or appear suspicious for any other reason, and
promised to advise us of any MFA decision in this regard.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON