TURKEY TO INSPECT SHIPMENT BETWEEN IRAN AND SYRIA

S E C R E T ANKARA 002394 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC MASS SY IR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY TO INSPECT SHIPMENT BETWEEN IRAN AND SYRIA OR DENY OVERFLIGHT CLEARANCE REF: STATE 133960 Classified By: Acting Pol-Mil Counselor Christopher Rich for reasons 1. 4 (b),(c),and (d) ¶1. (S) We provided reftel points on the potential shipment of sensitive equipment to Hizballah and Syria via IL-76 aircraft from Iran via Turkish airspace to Basat Ozturk, MFA Deputy Director General for Aviation and Maritime Affairs, on the morning of September 22. ¶2. (S) Ozturk informed us that the Turkish Flight Information Center had received a flight plan request for a Russian-registered aircraft to transit Turkish airspace enroute to Damascus from Tehran, and that the request stated the aircraft's cargo was "machine parts." Ozturk told us that the decision had already been taken by the GOT to require this aircraft to land for inspection at Diyarbakir Airport, and that this request had already been conveyed. If the request for inspection is refused, Ozturk emphasized, Turkey will deny overflight clearance for this flight. ¶3. (S) Referring to the second talking point reftel, which we provided Ozturk verbatim, we noted the potential for additional flights from Iran to Syria. Ozturk said that a political decision had been taken to request any cargo flight originating in Iran and bound for Syria to land in Turkey for inspection. Refusal of inspection would result in denial of overflight clearance, Ozturk reiterated. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON