TURKS CONCERNED ABOUT IRAQ-BOUND ANTITANK MISSILES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001913 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/I, EUR/SE, PM/RSAT E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2017 TAGS: PARM MARR PREL IZ TU SUBJECT: TURKS CONCERNED ABOUT IRAQ-BOUND ANTITANK MISSILES Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Kelly Degnan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) A shipment of FAGOT guided antitank missiles, along with other arms (nfi),is being transported aboard a St. Vincent-flagged vessel, the Slavyanin, which departed the port of Oktyabrsk in Ukraine and transited the Bosphorus 21-23 July, bound for the port of Umm-Qasr in Iraq, according to Turkish officials. The weapons shipment, ostensibly consigned to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, raised red flags with the GOT because of the missiles. GOT officials questioned whether they were actually bound for Iraq MOD. Turkish MFA alerted us to the shipment on the evening of July 24, noting that it was also asking GOI officials directly through the Turkish embassy in Baghdad. We asked Embassy Baghdad to double-track this request for information as well. ¶2. (C) Turkish MFA informed us July 26 that PM Maliki's National Security Advisor, Mouafak al-Rubaie, told Turkey's ambassador in Baghdad that Iraqi MOD has indicated it has no knowledge of any such shipment. It is unclear who may be the end recipient of the weapons shipment. ¶3. (C) Details of the shipment: Vessel: Slavyanin Flag: St. Vincent Shipping Co.: Starway Management Property, LTD Transited Bosphorus: 21-23 July Last known location: entering Suez Canal afternoon of July 26 Final destination: Umm Qasr, Iraq Consignee: Iraqi Ministry of Defense Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON