Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA2943
2007-12-12 05:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

EXBS: TURKEY ADVISOR'S MONTHLY REPORT- (NOVEMBER

Tags:  ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAK #2943/01 3460556
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 120556Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4621
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSJGA/COMDT COGUARD WASHDC
RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUCNEXC/EXPORT CONTROL AND RELATED BORDER SECURITY
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC
UNCLAS ANKARA 002943 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NP/ECC- YWONG, ACHURCH, BGOLDEN
DEPT FOR EUR/ACE- DSILLIMAN, BHUNT, PMALIK
DOE/NNSA- TPERRY, LPARKER, EDESCHLER
CBP/INA- BWATTS, BPICKETT
DOC FOR DCREED

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TU
SUBJECT: EXBS: TURKEY ADVISOR'S MONTHLY REPORT- (NOVEMBER
2007)


UNCLAS ANKARA 002943

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NP/ECC- YWONG, ACHURCH, BGOLDEN
DEPT FOR EUR/ACE- DSILLIMAN, BHUNT, PMALIK
DOE/NNSA- TPERRY, LPARKER, EDESCHLER
CBP/INA- BWATTS, BPICKETT
DOC FOR DCREED

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TU
SUBJECT: EXBS: TURKEY ADVISOR'S MONTHLY REPORT- (NOVEMBER
2007)



1. Summary: The EXBS Advisor completed transfer of the
Z-Backscatter Van (ZBV) to Turkish
Customs. Turkish MFA continues to withhold implementation of
EXBS Agreement pending U.S. ratification of the Peaceful Uses
of Nuclear Energy (123) Agreement. Progress continues for
ongoing enforcement training and equipment deliveries.


2. Completed Actions for the Reporting Period


A. Site Assessment and Meetings During Recent Reporting Period

1) Nov 1 - EXBS Advisor and Coordinator inspected AS&E
Z-Backscatter van. The van was properly stored and
maintained by warehouse staff and is ready for delivery to
Turkish Customs Enforcement upon acceptance and signature of
U.S. Property Grant documents.

2) Nov 6 - Met w/ Mr. Mehmet Guzel, Turkish Customs, Deputy
Director General for Enforcement and his Head of Department
for Enforcement, Mr. Ender Gurleyik for a general overview of
Turkish Customs organization. Customs Enforcement is working
closely with U.S. (EXBS) and EU assistance programs to
build an umbrella of detection and enforcement capabilities.
These include 5 additional fixed and 1 mobile X-ray units at
key customs ports with Iran, Syria, and sea ports in the
Mediterranean and Black Sea, as well as enforcement detection
tools, and replacement of existing U.S.-provided portal
radiation detection monitors with locally-built TAEK portal
monitors and U.S.-acquired SLD systems (when approved by
GOT).

3) Nov 7 - Met w/ Mr. Ihsan Kocer, Undersecretariat of
Customs, Deputy Director General for EU and External Affairs
and his Head of Section for Training and EU Accession
Harmonization to review the CBP draft report on Turkish
Customs Academy training programs. EXBS Advisor recommended
further discussions on working with DHS/CBP on the next phase
of this curriculum review using DHS/CBP trainers in Turkey to
update their current training curriculum. Turkish Customs is

also receiving additional assistance for capacity building
for customs personnel and organizational development from
Germany, as
well as assistance from Italy to develop a forensics
laboratory in Istanbul which will include a drug
analysis capability for the Istanbul / Marmara Region.

4) Nov 26 - Met w/ Mr. Ender Gurleyik again to follow-up with
Customs Enforcement on issues relating to delivery of
Z-Backscatter van and clearance of new CT-30 Kits and Gerber
Tool kits. Customs is ready to receive the van and is
requesting Embassy and TAEK assistance for clearance of CT-30
Kits, since they contain a radiation source inside the Buster
Density units. Dip note was sent to MFA requesting TAEK and
Customs work together for licensing of Busters and clearance
of CT-30 and Gerber kits.

5) Dec 7 & 8 - Brett Golden, EXBS Program Manager for Turkey
visited Ankara and met with Turkish officials from Turkish
Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK),Undersecretariats of Ministry of
Foreign Trade, Customs and Foreign Affairs, and Turkish
National Police. TAEK proposed sending US experts to Turkey
to conduct a nuclear smuggling threat assessment with TAEK,
which EXBS can use as a vehicle to encourage TAEK support for
future EXBS and SLD initiatives. The MFA welcomed news that
the PUNE Agreement is now at the White House, but will not
agree to unfreeze implementation of the EXBS agreement until
U.S. ratification. We pressed TAEK and Customs to pressure
MFA to act faster on EXBS, and EXBS transfered the
Z-Backscatter van to Turkish Customs. Customs Enforcement
and TNP both expressed enthusiasm for working with EXBS and
SLD. Further details of his meetings will be included in
December's monthly reporting cable.


B. Training Conducted During this Reporting Period: - None.


C. Equipment Delivered During this Reporting Period: - The
Property Grant for the Z-Backscatter van was formally signed
by Turkish Customs Enforcement on December 7th, 2007. Van is

now the property of Turkish Customs and is pending pick-up by
Customs week of December 10th.


D. Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update:

1) As noted earlier, 8 ea- CT-30 Kits and 200 ea- Gerber tool
kits w/flashlights have arrived at Ankara Airport and are
currently in bonded storage at a special warehouse for
radioactive materials. MFA is working with TAEK and Customs
to obtain end-user licenses from TAEK and customs clearance.
Anticipate delivery to Customs Enforcement in 3-4 weeks. Los
Alamos Technical Associates (LATA) will need to provide for
special storage fees for this storage upon release from the
bonded warehouse. Expected storage cost will be
approximately $25 per day for all materials in storage.


E. Significant Developments in Export Controls,
Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security: The
Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade continues to work with
Parliament to update current Export Control Laws to be in
line with EU Export Control Laws as part of the EU
harmonization process. UFT expects these new laws to be
enacted later in 2008.


3. Future Activities: EXBS Advisor anticipates visiting
several southern Ports of Entry early January 2008, pending
MFA, Customs, and TNP acceptance, and approval.


4. Red Flag Issues: None.


5. Contact information for EXBS Program Ankara is: Robert
Cieslinski, EXBS Advisor, Email: CieslinskiRL@state.gov,
Office (90) (312) 457-7210, Cell (90) (533) 716-4808 and
Erhan Mert, EXBS Coordinator, Email: MertE2@state.gov,
Office(90)312 457-7059, Cell (90) (533) 264-8407. EXBS
Program
Office Fax (90) (312) 468-4775

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

WILSON