EXBS: TURKEY ADVISOR'S MONTHLY REPORT- (NOVEMBER

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