GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM:

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000451 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2017 TAGS: PTER KNNP TU SUBJECT: GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM: FOLLOW-UP WITH TURKEY Classified By: POL-MIL COUNSELOR CARL SIEBENTRITT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D). ¶1. (SBU) In the wake of the second Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism meeting held in Ankara on February 12-13, we addressed follow-up items with MFA Arms Control Deputy Director General Ahmet Muhtar Gun on February 23. Gun noted that, as a contribution to the GI workplan, Turkey has offered to host a workshop on "Information Sharing for Preventing Assistance to Nuclear Terrorism Activities" in the final quarter of 2008. He said that Turkey would welcome U.S. and Russian input and contributions as Turkey proceeds to plan the workshop. ¶2. (SBU) Gun informed us that Turkey has approached Slovenia and Spain to gauge their interest in joining the GI, and has also provided information (Co-Chairs' Statement and Statement of Principles) to Poland and Egypt. He reported that the Ukrainian embassy had indicated that Ukraine is prepared to accept the Statement of Principles. Gun advised them to contact the Co-Chairs directly. ¶3. (C) Gun expressed Turkish concerns about the possibility of Cyprus joining the GI along with other EU Member States, explaining Turkish insistence on including language in the Co-Chairs' Statement about avoiding "importing political problems into the process." He added the MFA's understanding is that new members will be admitted on the basis of a consensus among all partners. He said Turkey does not wish to see "the shadow of Cyprus" over what it considers a very useful and positive endeavor. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON