Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANKARA78
2008-01-15 14:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (DECEMBER
how-toVZCZCXYZ0005 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #0078/01 0151440 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 151440Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4929 RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RULSJGA/COMDT COGUARD WASHDC RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC INFO RUCNEXC/EXPORT CONTROL AND RELATED BORDER SECURITY RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC
UNCLAS ANKARA 000078
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- (DECEMBER
2007)
REF: ANKARA 02962
UNCLAS ANKARA 000078
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- (DECEMBER
2007)
REF: ANKARA 02962
1. Summary: The EXBS Program Manager for Turkey met with
post and Turkish officials to review the state of the
program. EXBS Advisor completed transfer of the
Z-Backscatter Van (ZBV) to Turkish Customs. Turkish Atomic
Energy Agency (TAEK) has requested a joint proliferation
"threat" assessment. Progress continues for ongoing
enforcement training and equipment deliveries.
2. Completed Actions for the Reporting Period
A. Meetings During Recent Reporting Period
1) Brett Golden, EXBS Program Manager for Turkey, held the
following meetings during his December 7-8 visit to Ankara:
a) Turkish Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK) Director Okay
Cakiroglu. Cakiroglu continues to promote indigenous
development and deployment of radiation detection equipment,
to include portal monitors at key border crossings, hand-held
detectors, and personal pagers for Customs Enforcement
Officers. He asserted the new Turkish portal monitors would
provide a more secure system for Turkey and reduce the risk
of "backdoor" access by "other" entities. TAEK already has
built over 100 portal monitors to date. He proposed a joint
US/Turkish threat assessment to identify specific
nonproliferation risks for Turkey (reftel),and based on the
assessment, to work cooperatively with the U.S. to develop a
suitable radiation detection equipment program for
implementation in Turkey. We believe it will be difficult to
obtain TAEK buy-in for future EXBS and SLD initiatives
without conducting such an assessment. Request update from
Washington on progress toward convening a threat assessment
team to travel to Ankara within the next few months.
On Commodity Identification Training (CIT),Okay noted that
TAEK, Foreign Trade, and Customs have delivered training for
the US/Turkish developed CIT software program to over 50
Customs officials since its inception last year. There are
plans to train an additional 400 officials in the coming
year. TAEK also indicated that they have begun integration of
WMD related content into their CIT curriculum.
b) Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade (UFT) Department Head
for Foreign Agreements Atilla Bastimaci. Atilla noted that
UFT is working closely with Turkish Parliament to harmonize
Turkey's export control laws with EU legislation. As a
result, Atilla said it would be difficult for UFT to co-host
the Transshipment Forum this year. Atilla suggested UFT
would be better positioned to co-host this conference in 2009
or 2010. We agreed EXBS would consider Turkey as a potential
co-host in the future.
c) Turkish National Police (TNP) Organized Crime and
Smuggling Section Head Mehmet Keskinkilic. Keskinkilic
expressed appreciation for the assistance and training that
EXBS has provided to his officers through U.S. Customs and
Border Security training programs. He noted his officers
have incorporated this training into training programs in
Turkey. His biggest concern now is to obtain enforcement
equipment and training that would assist his officers in
performing searches for WMD related items. Keskinkilic
expressed interest in the possibility of some of his officers
attending the October 2008 Controlled Delivery training
course offered by US/DHS Immigration and Customs Enforcement
officers.
d) Acting Director General for Customs Enforcement Hayrettin
Cevher. We discussed past and current EXBS/Customs
cooperation and signed the property grant documents for the
formal turnover of the AS&E Z-Backscatter van to Turkish
Customs. They plan a more public announcement of this new van
and U.S. assistance following future successful seizures by
Customs.
e) MFA Head of Department for Nonproliferation and
Disarmament Elif Ulgen. We reviewed with Ulgen Golden's
meetings with other GOT agencies and requested an update on
the status of the EXBS agreement. Elif noted that while MFA
welcomed news that the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (PUNE
or 123) Agreement is now at the White House, the acceptance
note for the EXBS Agreement would most likely be issued
simultaneously or immediately following U.S. ratification of
the PUNE Agreement.
f) EXBS Advisor took intermit leave locally from 17 - 28 Dec,
2007.
B. Training Conducted During this Reporting Period: - None.
C. Equipment Delivered During this Reporting Period: - One
Z-Backscatter van was formally transferred to Turkish Customs
Enforcement on December 7th, 2007. Customs Enforcement has
obtained the required Turkish licenses and picked up the van
on January 11th, 2008.
D. Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update:
1) 8 ea- CT-30 Kits and 200 ea- Gerber tool kits
w/flashlights are at Ankara Airport in bonded storage at a
special warehouse for radioactive materials and MFA has
informed us that they have obtain all required licenses for
Customs clearance. Anticipate delivery to Customs
Enforcement in 1-2 weeks. As noted in last month's report,
Los Alamos Technical Associates (LATA) will need to provide
funding for storage fees upon the equipment's release from
the bonded warehouse. Expected storage cost will be
approximately $25 per day for all materials in storage, or
approximately $1,125 in total.
2) In cooperation with EXBS, DOE/SLD has scheduled 6- two day
hand-held radiation detection training sessions for up to 48
Turkish National Police officers at the TNP,s Golbasi
Training facility for February 1 - 18, 2008. This will be
conducted by three DOE Pacific Northwest Laboratory
instructors.
E. Significant Developments in Export Controls,
Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security: The
Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade continues to work with
Parliament to harmonize current export control Laws with EU
Export Control Laws. UFT expects these new laws to be enacted
later in 2008.
3. Future Activities: EXBS Advisor requested MFA approval to
visit several southern ports of entry in mid-to- late January
2008. Advisor also made a request to attend the
commissioning ceremony in the port of Izmir for a new x-ray
unit which was donated by the EU to Turkish Customs
Enforcement.
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
WILSON
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- (DECEMBER
2007)
REF: ANKARA 02962
1. Summary: The EXBS Program Manager for Turkey met with
post and Turkish officials to review the state of the
program. EXBS Advisor completed transfer of the
Z-Backscatter Van (ZBV) to Turkish Customs. Turkish Atomic
Energy Agency (TAEK) has requested a joint proliferation
"threat" assessment. Progress continues for ongoing
enforcement training and equipment deliveries.
2. Completed Actions for the Reporting Period
A. Meetings During Recent Reporting Period
1) Brett Golden, EXBS Program Manager for Turkey, held the
following meetings during his December 7-8 visit to Ankara:
a) Turkish Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK) Director Okay
Cakiroglu. Cakiroglu continues to promote indigenous
development and deployment of radiation detection equipment,
to include portal monitors at key border crossings, hand-held
detectors, and personal pagers for Customs Enforcement
Officers. He asserted the new Turkish portal monitors would
provide a more secure system for Turkey and reduce the risk
of "backdoor" access by "other" entities. TAEK already has
built over 100 portal monitors to date. He proposed a joint
US/Turkish threat assessment to identify specific
nonproliferation risks for Turkey (reftel),and based on the
assessment, to work cooperatively with the U.S. to develop a
suitable radiation detection equipment program for
implementation in Turkey. We believe it will be difficult to
obtain TAEK buy-in for future EXBS and SLD initiatives
without conducting such an assessment. Request update from
Washington on progress toward convening a threat assessment
team to travel to Ankara within the next few months.
On Commodity Identification Training (CIT),Okay noted that
TAEK, Foreign Trade, and Customs have delivered training for
the US/Turkish developed CIT software program to over 50
Customs officials since its inception last year. There are
plans to train an additional 400 officials in the coming
year. TAEK also indicated that they have begun integration of
WMD related content into their CIT curriculum.
b) Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade (UFT) Department Head
for Foreign Agreements Atilla Bastimaci. Atilla noted that
UFT is working closely with Turkish Parliament to harmonize
Turkey's export control laws with EU legislation. As a
result, Atilla said it would be difficult for UFT to co-host
the Transshipment Forum this year. Atilla suggested UFT
would be better positioned to co-host this conference in 2009
or 2010. We agreed EXBS would consider Turkey as a potential
co-host in the future.
c) Turkish National Police (TNP) Organized Crime and
Smuggling Section Head Mehmet Keskinkilic. Keskinkilic
expressed appreciation for the assistance and training that
EXBS has provided to his officers through U.S. Customs and
Border Security training programs. He noted his officers
have incorporated this training into training programs in
Turkey. His biggest concern now is to obtain enforcement
equipment and training that would assist his officers in
performing searches for WMD related items. Keskinkilic
expressed interest in the possibility of some of his officers
attending the October 2008 Controlled Delivery training
course offered by US/DHS Immigration and Customs Enforcement
officers.
d) Acting Director General for Customs Enforcement Hayrettin
Cevher. We discussed past and current EXBS/Customs
cooperation and signed the property grant documents for the
formal turnover of the AS&E Z-Backscatter van to Turkish
Customs. They plan a more public announcement of this new van
and U.S. assistance following future successful seizures by
Customs.
e) MFA Head of Department for Nonproliferation and
Disarmament Elif Ulgen. We reviewed with Ulgen Golden's
meetings with other GOT agencies and requested an update on
the status of the EXBS agreement. Elif noted that while MFA
welcomed news that the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (PUNE
or 123) Agreement is now at the White House, the acceptance
note for the EXBS Agreement would most likely be issued
simultaneously or immediately following U.S. ratification of
the PUNE Agreement.
f) EXBS Advisor took intermit leave locally from 17 - 28 Dec,
2007.
B. Training Conducted During this Reporting Period: - None.
C. Equipment Delivered During this Reporting Period: - One
Z-Backscatter van was formally transferred to Turkish Customs
Enforcement on December 7th, 2007. Customs Enforcement has
obtained the required Turkish licenses and picked up the van
on January 11th, 2008.
D. Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update:
1) 8 ea- CT-30 Kits and 200 ea- Gerber tool kits
w/flashlights are at Ankara Airport in bonded storage at a
special warehouse for radioactive materials and MFA has
informed us that they have obtain all required licenses for
Customs clearance. Anticipate delivery to Customs
Enforcement in 1-2 weeks. As noted in last month's report,
Los Alamos Technical Associates (LATA) will need to provide
funding for storage fees upon the equipment's release from
the bonded warehouse. Expected storage cost will be
approximately $25 per day for all materials in storage, or
approximately $1,125 in total.
2) In cooperation with EXBS, DOE/SLD has scheduled 6- two day
hand-held radiation detection training sessions for up to 48
Turkish National Police officers at the TNP,s Golbasi
Training facility for February 1 - 18, 2008. This will be
conducted by three DOE Pacific Northwest Laboratory
instructors.
E. Significant Developments in Export Controls,
Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security: The
Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade continues to work with
Parliament to harmonize current export control Laws with EU
Export Control Laws. UFT expects these new laws to be enacted
later in 2008.
3. Future Activities: EXBS Advisor requested MFA approval to
visit several southern ports of entry in mid-to- late January
2008. Advisor also made a request to attend the
commissioning ceremony in the port of Izmir for a new x-ray
unit which was donated by the EU to Turkish Customs
Enforcement.
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
WILSON