EXBS: GOT INTERAGENCY RESPONSE TO EXBS SEMINAR

UNCLAS ANKARA 000128 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NP/ECC- YWONG, ACHURCH, BGOLDEN, JBALDWIN DEPT FOR EUR/ACE- KFITZPATRICK, BHUNT, PMALIK DOE/NNSA- TPERRY, LPARKER, EDESCHLER CBP/INA- TBAILEY, BPICKETT DOC FOR DCREED E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TU SUBJECT: EXBS: GOT INTERAGENCY RESPONSE TO EXBS SEMINAR PROPOSAL Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle appropriately. ¶1. SUMMARY: MFA Nonproliferation and Disarmament Department provided us an official response to U.S. proposals for practical nonproliferation cooperation originally put forward during the September 2008 EXBS and Nonproliferation Seminar (ref a). MFA indicated GOT is interested in pursuing limited training and equipment programs and desires to expand of professional peer exchanges concerning nonproliferation. End Summary. ¶2. We met MFA Nonproliferation and Disarmament Department Head Elif Ulgen and Section Head Mustafa Yurdakul, to discuss interagency results from the EXBS/Nonproliferation Seminar which was held in September 2008 (ref a). Ulgen reiterated that the Turkish interagency was very satisfied with the seminar as a whole and that each Turkish agency believed meeting their US counterparts and hearing about U.S. nonproliferation programs helped build trust within the Turkish interagency of U.S. offers to cooperate in nonproliferation. While the interagency saw value with all proposed activities offered during the seminar, they where interested in four specific proposals and requested further information on three others. Green Light for Some Activities -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Ulgen told us, based on an extensive interagency review, that the GOT is ready to proceed with the following activities: -- Workshop on the Analysis of Strategic Commodity Transfers (ASCOT). Both Turkish National Police (TNP) and Undersecretariet of Customs are interested in receiving this training in Ankara, pending availability of US trainers from DOE/INECP. -- Targeting and Risk Management (TRM) Training. TNP and Customs Enforcement are interested in receiving this training in Ankara and advisor recommends this training take place late spring, if possible. This should include Custom Enforcement and TNP anti-smuggling officers. -- Professional Exchange visits in U.S. and Turkey. Ulgen noted the recent VIP visit of senior Customs Enforcement officials to US training and border sights was a great success. Both TNP and Customs Undersecretariet (Enforcement and Inspections) would like to participate in additional professional exchange visits at all levels to include working, technical and senior level visits, both in the US and here in Turkey. -- Government to Industry Outreach programs. Undersecretariet for Foreign Trade (UFT) and MFA are interested in learning more about US industry outreach programs, but do not want direct US involvement in Turkish government outreach to industry. They would like to have a team of US experts on Industry Outreach visit Ankara and meet with UFT and Custom Officials to exchange information. Ulgen stated clearly that Turkey does not desire US representatives to attend any Turkish industry outreach programs, as they are concerned Turkish industry may misinterpret a US presence as a sign that the Turkish government is only pursuing industry outreach because the US demanded it. UFT intends to hold approximately ten industry outreach activities in 2009. ... Questions Regarding Others... -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Ulgen said the Turkish interagency wanted to clarify some of the proposals made during the EXBS Seminar, including the following: -- Portable X-Ray Florescence (XRF) Metal Analyzer Delivery and Training Program. The interagency would like additional information on the analyzers and the associated training program so that they can compare this program and equipment with existing equipment. The EXBS advisor has provided MFA and Customs with detailed data on this equipment and the target audience recently and will meet with Customs Enforcement and MFA again and provide additional details. The Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TEAK) currently hold all analyzers and provides technicians when suspect metals require analysis. Action Request: Request DHS/CBP and DOE provide additional information on how this equipment is used by both agencies in relation to nonproliferation detection and identification and how this equipment may differ from Turkeys metal Analyzer systems that are currently maintained by TAEK. -- Undercover/Controlled Delivery training. Ulgen noted the interagency asked for more information on why Undercover/Controlled delivery was being offered under EXBS program. They would like additional details on what it entails and who the target audience would be. Again, EXBS has shared detailed info in the past with both Customs Enforcement and TNP on this course and noted the target audience as anti-smuggling officers in TNP, Customs and possibly Jandarma. Both Customs and TNP have expressed strong interest in this training program to be held this spring and it appears that the interagency representatives for each agency may not be aware of senior level interest in this program. Advisor will meet with both TNP and Customs to clarify moving forward with the delivery of this course this spring by DHS/ICE. -- Seaport Security/Anti-Terrorism course. The interagency wanted more information on why EXBS is offering the Seaport Security/Anti-Terrorism course. Interagency requests specific information on course content and duration and target audience. EXBS has briefly discussed this type of training with Customs Enforcement, but plan to expand on this when in the maritime ports with Customs, port authorities, and Coast Guard. .. And Shelving the Rest -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Ulgen said the remaining proposals "are not viewed as priorities for the Turkish interagency" and should be shelved, at least for the near future. These included: -- DOE's SLD Portal Monitor programs. Ulgen noted that TAEK discussed at length with the interagency their current radiation detection capacity and development of indigenous Portal Radiation Detection Monitors. TAEK noted that their systems afford Turkey with the required level of radiation detection and response capabilities and that U.S. assistance or cooperation is not required at this time. According to Ulgen, TAEK was also concerned that additional engagement with the SLD program will distract from a mandate it has received to produce and deploy the indigenously produced monitors. We reiterated US desires to be cooperative partners in support of Turkey,s effort to increase its radiation detection and identification capability and that our goal was to ensure that the state-of-the art equipment we use to protect our borders are made available to close Allies such as Turkey, and pointed to the lack of portal radiation detection capability on both the Greek and Turkish sides of the western border gate at Ipsala as a good example of the potential benefit of increased US/Turkish corporation. Ulgen reiterated Turkey,s appreciation for the US offer, but said the interagency was comfortable with Turkey,s current radiation detection capability. Ulgen agreed that the recent hand-held equipment delivery and training was well received ant that we should continue this type of limited cooperative detection program. She also indicated that the MFA is still awaiting a formal TAEK response to DOE/NNSA,s invitation for TAEK Presidency Cakiroglu to visit the US (ref b). -- International Border and Rail Interdiction Training Programs in Turkey. Ulgen stated that Customs and TNP were very satisfied with the U.S. IBIT, IACIT, ISIT and IRIT training programs over the past few years, but would like to cancel the two courses scheduled for spring 2009 in Turkey. The interagency noted that Turkey learned a lot from their US visits and have incorporated many lessons learned at their border crossings, but do not believe it is necessary to conduct follow-on training in Turkey. (Note: This change in position in Undercover/Controlled Delivery and IBIT/IRIT II courses may be driven by security concerns by both TAEK and Turkish Intelligence. Director General of Customs Enforcement Neset Akkoc and his staff have been eager to have this training take place this spring. Advisor will meet with Akkoc to confirm GOT desires to cancel the training. If canceled, Turkish Customs will likely be interested in additional stateside IBIT, IACIT, or ISIT. End Note.) ¶6. Comments: Turkey,s ability to detect and deter the movement and transit of illicit materiel through its borders continues to improve as it seeks to harmonize its legal, regulatory and enforcement practices with EU standards, in line with their EU accession bid. Turkey increasingly views itself as a mature, responsible and respected player in the region on nonproliferation related matters and will continue to expect to be treated as such in any engagement with US agency peers. The cooperative activities with which Turkey seemed least comfortable were ones that they considered most intrusive on their sovereignty (e.g. SLD portal monitors) or ones based on a donor-recipient/trainer-trainee model. We will continue to look for opportunities to develop cooperative programs with Turkish government agencies. We will emphasize that: Our offers for engagement are offers, not demands; the programs we have proposed will serve our shared interests in countering proliferation; and working with Turkey will offer USG officials an opportunity to learn from experienced Turkish counterparts. In light of the continuation of GOT,s cautious and deliberate approach in working with the US on nonproliferation cooperation programs, we believe the USG must take a measured approach and limit expectations of Turkey accepting significant volume of equipment and in-country training. ¶7. 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. 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