TURKEY REVIEWING REQUEST TO DENY OVERFLIGHT

S E C R E T ANKARA 001545

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2032
TAGS: EAIR PARM PREL MNUC TU KN SY AM KZ TI TX UZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY REVIEWING REQUEST TO DENY OVERFLIGHT
CLEARANCE TO SYRIAN ARAB AIRLINES FLIGHT

REF: STATE 84289

Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt, reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) Per reftel request, we met with MFA Aviation
Department Head Hamit Olcay and South Asia Department Head
Murat Yoruk on June 18 to request that Turkey deny overflight
clearance to reftel Syrian Arab Airlines aircraft, in
accordance with UNSCR 1718. Olcay checked with the MFA
flight clearance department to determine whether or not the
flight originating in Syria that was to have landed in North
Korea on June 18 had requested permission to overfly Turkey.
According to Olcay's sources -- assuming the flight did take
off as scheduled -- it did not/not request permission to
overfly Turkey on its way to North Korea. Olcay pledged to
monitor incoming overflight requests to watch for this
aircraft, but deferred to Yoruk for a political determination
on what, if any, action Turkey would take should the aircraft
request overflight permission.


2. (S) Yoruk noted that, as with past US requests, it is
difficult for the Turkish government to deny overflight
clearance absent detailed information that a specific flight
is in fact carrying illicit cargo. He pledged to review our
request with the Arms Control and Disarmament Department and
to discuss it with his superiors, but stated that any
additional information on the possible cargo and the presumed
final destination, if not Syria, would also be helpful. Post
welcomes any additional information on this flight that can
be shared with the Turkish government.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON