EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (MARCH 2008)

UNCLAS ANKARA 000731 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 ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (MARCH 2008) ¶1. Summary: The EXBS Program advisor met with Turkish Customs officials to review proposed CBP offered training in anticipation of the EXBS Agreement going into force. EXBS team completed preparations for DHS/CBP's Z-Backscatter Van (ZBV) training for Turkish Customs, which began on April 10. CT-30 Inspection kits have been delivered to Customs Enforcement and transferred to high traffic Ports of Entry throughout Turkey. ¶2. Completed Actions for the Reporting Period ¶A. Meetings During Recent Reporting Period 1) March 10 - Met w/ Undersecretariat of Customs, Training and EU Accession Harmonization staff members Deniz Atasoy and Sevil Karaca. We reviewed previously delivered descriptions of DHS/CBP course offerings and discussed the need to progress with the training review of Turkish Customs accession and on-the-job training programs. The Director General of External Affairs advised them that he would like to have Turkish Customs and Customs Enforcement agents attend both in-country and U.S.- based IBIT, ISIT, IACIT and IRIT courses over the next twelve months, if possible. We agreed to move forward on determining availability of EXBS funding and DHS/CBP availability of courses and deployable training teams. Once confirmed, Turkish Customs, in conjunction with EXBS and DHS/CBP, will prepare a multi-year training plan for DHS/CBP and ICE training programs. We also confirmed that any in-country courses will need to be scheduled to occur after the EXBS Nonproliferation agreement is placed into force. 2) EXBS Advisor was on annual leave and held consultations in Washington from March 12 to April 3. While in DC, advisor meet with Brett Golden in DOS ISN/ECC, LaReinna Parker with DOE/INECP, Carson Kuo in ISN/NTOC, and Sharon Mark and Bobby Pickett at DHS/CBP. ¶B. Training Conducted During this Reporting Period: - Three GOT officials attended the March 31 - April 11 session of University of Georgia's Export Control Academy in Athens, Georgia, as noted in February's monthly cable. The EXBS Coordinator also attended the first week of this training as part of his professional development plan. ¶C. Equipment Delivered During this Reporting Period: 8 CT-30 Kits and 200 Gerber tool kits w/flashlights where delivered to Customs Enforcement on March 5. These kits where shipped directly to Custom Ports of Entry at seven border crossings and one will be maintained at their smuggling interdiction team in Ankara. ¶D. Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update: 1) A DHS/CBP team from Miami, FL arrived in Ankara on April 8 and began provide Customs Enforcement with a 8-day course on operational use of the newly delivered AS&E Z-Backscatter Van. Training thus far is going well with a lot of interaction from both CBP and Turkish Custom Enforcement officers. ¶E. Significant Developments in Export Controls, Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security: None. ¶3. Future Activities: EXBS Advisor and coordinator will be attending a Border Control workshop in Ankara at the Partnership for Peace Training Academy on April 23. This course is being provided by Turkish General Staff (TGS) and DHS/CBP will have one Customs officer present during this workshop. ¶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.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey DEBLAUW