SOMALIA AND PIRACY: TURKEY INTERESTED IN POSSIBLY

UNCLAS ANKARA 000382 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS IO/UNP FOR JOE FITZGERALD L/OES FOR ASH ROACH AF/RSA FOR JUN BANDO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PBTS PREL UNSC EWWT TU SO UN SUBJECT: SOMALIA AND PIRACY: TURKEY INTERESTED IN POSSIBLY SUPPORTING UNSCR REF: STATE 18101 ¶1. (SBU) We discussed reftel with MFA Department Head for Maritime Affairs, Mehmet Poroy, on February 27. Poroy provided us with some background on Turkey's previous engagement on this issue. Because of Turkey's involvement in the International Maritime Organization (IMO),the IMO Secretary General began discussing the issue with Turkey SIPDIS prior to sending his letter to the UN requesting consideration of possible actions to address piracy off the Somali coast. In mid-2007, Turkey provided its input to the IMO and supported a proposed plan that would request the Somali Government's permission for non-Somali naval ships to pursue and apprehend pirates in Somali territorial waters. As part of NATO, Turkey has also been consulted on the issue by IMO. ¶2. (SBU) Poroy was pleased that the USG plans to include the Somali Government (TFG) in its discussions about any possible UN Security Council resolutions or UN action. He added that while Turkey does not have an official policy on the issue, it has already expressed its support for any action that would call for TFG authorization to conduct naval operations in Somali territorial waters. He suggested that USG representatives approach GOT representatives at the UN to discuss possible cooperation and agreed to share this information with Turkey's Defense and Justice Ministries as well as with its mission to the UN. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON