TURKEY: DEMARCHE ON IMO CANDIDACY DELIVERED

UNCLAS ANKARA 001466 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR IO/T THOMAS JOHNSON LONDON FOR EST J WHITTLESEY USCG FOR CG-52 AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC IMO EWWT PHSA TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: DEMARCHE ON IMO CANDIDACY DELIVERED REF: STATE 98012 This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) We delivered reftel demarche and aide-memoire to Haldun Tekneci, Maritime Department Head at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He recognized the ongoing and active participation of the United States in the IMO and observed that Turkey and the United States have a long history of excellent cooperation on maritime issues in general and at the IMO in particular. While making no commitments, he said that he expected Turkey would be supportive of the U.S. candidacy. ¶2. (SBU) Tekneci noted that the Turkish Embassy in Washington had already demarched IO/T requesting support for Turkey's own candidacy as a Category "C" member of the IMO Council and provided a copy of the aide-memoire on that topic (a copy should have also been delivered to Embassy London). He understood that the U.S. does not enter into formal mutual support agreements, but expressed his hope that the U.S. would view Turkey's candidacy favorably. He stated that Turkey has already obtained over forty commitments of support from other Member States, but that "we cannot rest on our laurels" and that U.S. support would be welcome. JEFFREY "Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"