Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA2652
2007-10-25 15:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKEY: STATUS OF 123 AGREEMENT WITH TURKEY

Tags:  ENRG KNNP MNUC PREL TU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAK #2652 2981506
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 251506Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4174
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA//
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002652 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/PRA FOR FRIEDT, EUR/SE FOR MALIK, ISN/CPI: FOLEY AND
RUSSELL, ISN/ECC ACHURCH, NJOHASON, DOE FOR PENTOLA AND
COLAHAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2017
TAGS: ENRG KNNP MNUC PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: STATUS OF 123 AGREEMENT WITH TURKEY

REF: ANKARA 2024 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002652

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/PRA FOR FRIEDT, EUR/SE FOR MALIK, ISN/CPI: FOLEY AND
RUSSELL, ISN/ECC ACHURCH, NJOHASON, DOE FOR PENTOLA AND
COLAHAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2017
TAGS: ENRG KNNP MNUC PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: STATUS OF 123 AGREEMENT WITH TURKEY

REF: ANKARA 2024 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. SUMMARY: (C) GOT officials are certain to ask Energy
Secretary Bodman about the status of US ratification of the

SIPDIS
Agreement on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (123
Agreement) during his November 15-20 visit to Turkey.
Turkish officials insist that ratification is necessary to
reinvigorate bilateral nonproliferation cooperation and would
be a welcome sign of USG interest in supporting Turkey's
efforts to meet its energy needs. We recommend Secretary
Bodman be in a position to inform the GOT that the agreement
has been forwarded to Congress. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) The GOT is eager for US ratification of the 123
Agreement, which was initialed by the GOT and the USG in July
2000, and is deeply frustrated by lack of US ratification so
far (reftel). The Turkish parliament ratified the agreement
in January 2005. Since then, senior GOT officials have
repeatedly urged US ratification of the agreement and
stressed that the lack of such an agreement is impeding
Turkey's ability to move forward on a number of important
bilateral energy and nonproliferation initiatives. The
Foreign Ministry, the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK),
and Turkish National Police and Customs have all linked
progress on the 123 Agreement with GOT receptivity to
DOE/NNSA's Second Line of Defense proposal to upgrade the
nuclear detection portal monitor system located at Turkey's
borders, the DOE's Sister Labs Program, the exchange LEU for
HEU reactor fuel, and Turkey's participation in the nuclear
fuel assurances program.


3. (C) GOT officials have also explicitly linked finalization
of the Nonproliferation Cooperation (EXBS) Agreement with
progress on the 123 Agreement. The EXBS agreement is
designed to strengthen Turkey's ability to counter the threat
of proliferation of WMD and their delivery systems, as well
as to prevent the transfer of advanced weapons and dual-use
items that could threaten regional peace and stability. Once
finalized, the EXBS agreement will allow the USG to provide
state-of-the-art equipment and training to, and share
best-practices with a broad spectrum of GOT entities
responsible for strategic trade controls and border security.
Parliament ratified the EXBS Agreement in January and the
president subsequently signed implementing legislation, but
officials have told us they will not take the final
procedural step necessary to allow the agreement to come into
force until the MFA receives a clear indication from us that
the 123 Agreement is moving to ratification.


4. (C) Our submission of the 123 Agreement for ratification
would also serve to convince the GOT of our genuine interest
in supporting GOT efforts to develop energy alternatives that
would not involve investing in Iran's energy sector. Turkish
officials argue that, while it understands USG concerns
regarding Iran, Turkey has real energy demands that must be
met and the USG has not given Turkey any alternatives for
assured sources of energy. The 123 Agreement would
facilitate more intensive bilateral discussions concerning
Turkey's plans to develop nuclear energy. US energy firms,
already active in Turkey, would stand to benefit from
ratification of the 123 Agreement. Conversely, continuing
absence of US ratification could undermine their ability to
develop a strong market presence in Turkey as it seeks to
expand nuclear energy production.

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

WILSON