TURKEY WILL CONDITION OVERFLIGHT CLEARANCE FOR AIR

S E C R E T ANKARA 000263 SIPDIS INFO AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BISHKEK IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY TASHKENT IMMEDIATE SIPDIS ISN/CPI FOR ZARTMAN; EUR/PRA FOR FRIEDT; EAP/CM: HIGGINS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2037 TAGS: PREL PARM ETTC EAIR TU IR KN SUBJECT: TURKEY WILL CONDITION OVERFLIGHT CLEARANCE FOR AIR KORYO FLIGHT ON INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT AND CARGO REF: A. SECSTATE 13637 ¶B. SECSTATE 10930 Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Carl Siebentritt, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) We delivered ref a demarche to MFA Department Head for Nonproliferation and Disarmament Elif Ulgen on February 11. Given the likelihood that the cargo contained in this flight may be in violation of UNSCR 1718, Ulgen said the MFA had decided to require an inspection of the aircraft and cargo as a condition for granting overflight clearance for the reftel Air Koryo flight. Ulgen reported that the MFA has already alerted the Turkish Civil Aviation Directorate General about the flight. Civil aviation authorities will notify the MFA immediately should they receive a request from Air Koryo for overflight clearance. Ulgen pledged to pass ref a updated information about the flight to the Turkish Civil Aviation Directorate General and other relevant government entities. ¶2. (S) We followed up February 12 with MFA Deputy Director General for Aviation and Maritime Affairs Basat Ozturk. Ozturk confirmed receipt of updated information concerning the flight and reiterated Turkey's intention to require the Air Koryo aircraft to land for inspection should overflight clearance be requested. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON