TURKEY/IRAN SANCTIONS: NO PLANS TO SUBMIT 60-DAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000935 SIPDIS EUR/SE, NEA/IR, ISN, EB, IO/UNP, VCI, P, T, ISTANBUL FOR ODLUM E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2018 TAGS: KNNP EFIN AORC ETRD UNSC TRGY IR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAN SANCTIONS: NO PLANS TO SUBMIT 60-DAY REPORT REF: A. STATE 46651 ¶B. 07 ANKARA 1210 Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Carl Siebentritt, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) We delivered ref a demarche to MFA Iranian Affairs Department Head Devrim Ozturk and MFA Nonproliferation and Disarmament Head Bora Kerimoglu on May 9. Thanking us for the report, Ozturk stated that Turkey is fully implementing UNSC Resolution 1803, as well as Resolutions 1737 and 1747. He confirmed that the text of 1803 has been translated and circulated to relevant agencies for implementation. However, Ozturk said it was the GOT's view that the reporting requirement for 1803 was not obligatory and Turkey has no plans to submit a report at this time. "Turkey will report to the Sanctions Committee when there is something to report," Ozturk stated. ¶2. (C) When asked about the status of the Council of Ministers' implementing decrees on UNSCRs 1737 and 1747 (ref b),Ozturk said that the decree for 1737 is still with the Prime Ministry, and those promulgating Resolutions 1747 and 1803 are awaiting action on 1737. Despite the absence of implementing decrees, Ozturk assured us that the resolutions are being fully implemented. He said the MFA legal department has provided guidance to the GOT interagency that the resolutions have the force of law even without a Council of Ministers' decree, and that their implementation is fully consistent with the Turkish constitution and Turkish law. However, Ozturk acknowledged that the absence of a Council of Ministers' decree may "create headaches" in situations involving asset seizures. ¶3. (C) Comment: We have no reasons to doubt Turkey's claim that it is implementing these resolutions as a matter of practice. We remain concerned whether Turkish implementation of these resolutions will withstand legal challenges if the Council of Ministers does not issue the formal implementing decrees. End Comment. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON