EXBS: TURKEY ADVISOR'S MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE-

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 001737 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 ADVISOR'S MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE- (JUN 2007) REF: 2004 STATE 146478 ¶1. Summary: Twenty-four Turkish National Police (TNP) officials attended Department of Energy Radiation Detection Training; fifteen Turkish Customs officials attended Customs and Border Protection (CBP) International Rail Interdiction Training and three Government of Turkey officials attended University of Georgia Export Control Academy. CBP Training Expert conducted preliminary assessment of Turkish Customs training practices, policies and procedures; while finding adequate overall presentation of information, improvements could be made in the standardization of material in content and delivery. Progress continued in the development and standardization of the Internal Control Program, Commodity Identification Training and Second Line of Defense project. Additional focus was given to TNP development of detection and response capability to nuclear incidents. End Summary. ¶2. Completed Actions for the Reporting Period ¶A. Site Assessment and Meetings During Recent Reporting Period 1) Jun 5 - EXBS Advisor met with Customs Enforcement Deputy Director General Mehmet Guzel to discuss recent Turkish Customs activities. EXBS Advisor provided updated information concerning the Turkish Customs participation in CBP's International Rail Interdiction Training (IRIT) and International Air Cargo Interdiction Training (IACIT); also discussed was a Targeting and Risk Management (TRM) Workshop to be held in July, focusing on truck and vehicle traffic. EXBS Advisor added that the TRM trainers were available to remain in Ankara the week following training to work specifically with Turkish Customs HQ targeters on practices and procedures currently being utilized in the United States and in Turkey. Guzel welcomed this additional possibility and would work quickly to get this approved by senior leadership. EXBS Advisor then 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. Guzel again expressed appreciation for the large number of activities which will occur over the next few months and inquired again about the possibility of mid-level training for Customs officials in the areas of case management and incorporation of new technology. He added that the more exposure Turkish Customs officials get to new methods, procedures and equipment, the more prepared they will be to perform their duties. 2) Jun 7-8 - EXBS Advisor conducted departure briefing with Turkish Customs delegation traveling to the United States to participate in the International Rail Interdiction Training in El Paso Texas. 3) Jun 11-12 - EXBS Advisor accompanied CBP Training Expert Robert Hessler during an assessment of Turkish Customs Training Program. The assessment was conducted at the headquarters and the training offices in Ankara; including meetings with officials in the EU and External Affairs Directorate, Customs Enforcement Directorate and Training Division. The assessment determined that while the training program was adequate to provide officers and other Customs officials with the theoretical and legal knowledge needed for the basic level, it lacked actual practical exercises to supplement this training. The assessment also concluded that while Turkish Customs use of guest instructors provides the new officers with information from actual field experience, the training lacks standardized curricula and delivery methods to get consistent training to each new officer. It was determined that follow-on events could be of assistance to Turkish Customs Training Department in the development of standardized course material. A detailed report of the assessment is being developed by Mr. Hessler. ANKARA 00001737 002 OF 004 4) Jun 15 - 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 inquired as to the latest information concerning the NP Cooperation Agreement. Yigit replied that he needed to seek this information from the Agreements Division of MFA and would provide any update that he gets from them. Yigit added that although some training is proceeding while we await these formalities, it will be good when we can place all the NP programs into full motion, including the delivery of equipment and the starting of the SLD upgrades. EXBS Advisor agreed and then reviewed the activities that had and will occur between US and Turkish Customs, both training and visits. 5) Jun 19- 20 - EXBS Advisor attended the Washington Program Managers meeting in Vienna, Austria. These meetings assisted in the facilitation of EXBS program planning, implementation and exchange of best practices among program advisors. 6) Jun 27 - EXBS Advisor met with Turkish National Police Organized Crime Section Chief Mehmet Ali Keskinkilic to collect feedback concerning TNP's participation in FBI hosted Law Enforcement Workshop on Nuclear Terrorism. Keskinkilic stated that the workshop was very beneficial and spotlighted many areas which Turkey needs to address in the preparation and prevention of these types of events. He added that the practical exercises which were conducted brought into better focus the information that was being provided. EXBS Advisor replied that exercise are a great way to identify areas of improvement along with areas of strength; adding that TNP could benefit from an exercise now to better identify needs and focus initial work lists. Keskinkilic welcomed the idea and stated that he was intending to discuss this in an upcoming meeting with US FBI Liaison. EXBS Advisor then provided Keskinkilic with latest Nuclear Smuggling Open Source Report, adding that it was important for us to continue to share information concerning anti-smuggling successes in order to make it a safer world. 7) Jun 27 - EXBS Advisor met with Turkish National Police, Counter Terrorism Division Assistant Director Ahmet Yayla to obtain information from his recent meetings and training in the United States. Yayla 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; he explained how from this information TNP will begin developing a plan. 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 was an excellent opportunity for Turkish officials to share experience and learn from other countries which have recently developed these capabilities. Yayla agreed and added that he looks forward to working with the United States to continue to develop this unit. 8) Jun 28 - EXBS Advisor met with Custom EU and External Relations Deputy Director General Ihsan Kocer to review past events and upcoming cooperation activities and schedules. EXBS Advisor provided a briefing on the significant findings of the training assessment completed earlier in the month. EXBS Advisor noted that while the report is still in its draft stages, it was observed that Turkish Customs overall has a sound training philosophy but could use assistance in standardizing some of the material presented to the new officers. A more comprehensive review of the Turkish program needs to be completed which will include comparison of actual operations to training will need to be conducted to better ANKARA 00001737 003 OF 004 assist in either the exchange or the development of standardized courses. EXBS Advisor provided updated information concerning the Turkish Customs International Air Cargo Interdiction Training (IACIT),Radiation Detection Training and Hazardous Material training; also discussed was a Targeting and Risk Management Workshop to be held in July, focusing on truck and vehicle traffic and the additional meetings with US and Turkish targeting experts following the workshop. Kocer expressed appreciation for the increase in activities adding that they are assisting in building the bridges of cooperation between the organizations. ¶B. Training Conducted During Reporting Period: 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. ¶C. Equipment Delivered During Reporting Period: None ¶D. Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update: 1) Jul 8-14 - CBP to conduct Land Based Targeting and Risk Management Course, Ankara for twenty-four Turkish customs officials. 2) Jul 16-17 - CBP targeting experts to conduct meetings/training with Turkish Customs HQ targeting experts. 3) Jul 20 - Aug 1 - Twelve Turkish Customs Officers to attend International Air Cargo Interdiction Training Course, New York, NY. ¶E. Significant Developments in Export Controls, Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security: None ¶3. Future Activities ¶A. Jul 8-14 - CBP to conduct Land Based Targeting and Risk Management Course, Ankara for twenty-four Turkish customs officials. ¶B. Jul 16-17 - CBP targeting experts to conduct meetings/training with Turkish Customs HQ targeting experts. ¶C. Jul 20 - Aug 1 - Twelve Turkish Customs Officers to attend International Air Cargo Interdiction Training Course, New York, NY. ¶D. Aug 25 - Sep 1- Twenty-Four Turkish Customs Officers to attend DOE RADACAD Training in Richland, WA. ¶E. Sep 10- 22 - Twenty- Four Turkish Official to attend CBP HAZMAT Tech/First Responder Training, Harpers Ferry, WV. ¶F. Sep 12 -22 - Eighteen Turkish Customs Officers to attend International Sea Port Interdiction Training Course, Charleston, SC. ¶G. Sep 12 - 27 (proposed) - CBP Training Experts to conduct follow-on evaluation of Turkish Customs training development and course material. This evaluation will include visits to actual customs locations to match actual procedures with training provided. ¶4. Red Flag Issues: None ¶5. Contact Information for EXBS Adviser ) Kevin Lyon, phone (90)(312) 457-7210, fax (90)(312) 468-4775, email ANKARA 00001737 004 OF 004 LyonK@state.gov. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON