TURKEY WILL CONSIDER REQUEST TO INSPECT FLIGHTS

S E C R E T ANKARA 002747 SIPDIS SIPDIS ISN/CATR FOR MITCHELL AND GANEM E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2031 TAGS: PREL ETTC MASS TU IR SY SUBJECT: TURKEY WILL CONSIDER REQUEST TO INSPECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN IRAN AND SYRIA REF: A. STATE 154478 ¶B. ANKARA 2340 ¶C. ANKARA 2695 Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney, Reasons 1.4 (B),(C),and (D) ¶1. (S) We shared ref a. points concerning potential shipment of sensitive equipment to Syria from Iran with MFA Department Head for Aviation Affairs Hamit Olcay on the morning of November 9. Olcay said a request for these flights has not been submitted, and GOT regulations require a 10-day advance notice for overflight requests. He offered to inform us if the MFA does receive such a request. ¶2. (S) While promising to share ref a information with colleagues in relevant departments, Olcay complained that, acting on U.S. intelligence, Turkey had previously inspected flights between Iran and Syria that did not contain any prohibited items. We pointed to the likelihood that Iranian entities trying to ship sensitive material to Syria will intersperse shipments containing legitimate goods with those carrying illicit items in order to make intercept more difficult. Olcay assured us that Turkey will continue to inspect any flight between Iran and Syria that appears suspicious, and will consider seriously all USG requests to inspect flights about which there is reliable intelligence. Additional details about the nature of the cargo would help ensure a positive response. ¶3. (S) Comment: Turkish skepticism about the accuracy of US information has been heightened recently by our difficulty in providing timely and accurate assurances in the case of the cargo of the MV Slavyanin (ref c) as well as Turkish officials' belief that our support of a French demarche on the cargo of the MV Neptune in October was based on faulty intelligence. End Comment. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON