Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ANKARA1529
2009-10-22 14:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
BLUE LANTERN BROKER INQUIRY: VERIFYING BONA FIDES
how-toVZCZCXYZ0009 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #1529 2951454 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 221454Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0087 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1040 INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ANKARA 001529
SIPDIS
FOR PM/DTCC JOUBERT-LIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC TU
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN BROKER INQUIRY: VERIFYING BONA FIDES
OF REGISTERED BROKER MEHMET KAAN ASENA - CASE NO. K-2274
REF: SECSTATE 99610
UNCLAS ANKARA 001529
SIPDIS
FOR PM/DTCC JOUBERT-LIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC TU
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN BROKER INQUIRY: VERIFYING BONA FIDES
OF REGISTERED BROKER MEHMET KAAN ASENA - CASE NO. K-2274
REF: SECSTATE 99610
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: PolMil officer visited Altay Corporation on
October 13 to meet with Vice President Mehmet Kaan Asena and
a number of other principal officers. Based on the site
visit, the information provided by Altay Corporation during
the meeting and a name check conducted by Post RSO, we
believe Altay Corporation is a legitimate company
appropriately licensed by the Government of Turkey to engage
in defense services. Company representatives were fully
cooperative in answering our questions and made clear that
the company does not engage in the brokering of items on the
U.S. Munitions List; it does not have a storage facility for
defense articles as it does not deal in the physical movement
of defense hardware. Company representatives stressed that
they only engage in business activities with companies in
Turkey, the U.S. and other NATO countries, and that it does
not have business dealings in countries outside of NATO. END
SUMMARY.
A Well-Established Defense Service Company
--------------
2. (SBU) According to the information provided by
representatives of the company, Altay Group was established
in 1957 and its principal officers include: M. Murad Dural
(President),M. Kaan Asena (VP Admin and Finance),Tevfik
Umut (VP Technical),Haydar Satirtav (IT Group Director),and
Hasan Gencturk (Contracts and Legal General Director). The
Altay Group is a member of the Turkish Industrialists'
& Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) and is the first Turkish
defense firm to be included in the NATO
Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG). The Altay Group has 47
employees.
Secure Facility
--------------
3. (SBU) The company is licensed by the Ministry of National
Defense to engage in defense-related business and has been
accredited by the Government of Turkey to handle Turkey's
classified information. Mr. Asena showed us the company's
NATO Clearance Certificate, the NATO AQAP-160 Certificate,
the Ministry of Defense's (MND) Facility Security
Certificate, the MND Software Development Certificate, and
the National Security Certificate. An armed guard is posted
at the entry of the facility around the clock. Visitors are
asked to present a photo identification and all visitors are
logged by the security
guard.
A Service Company that Does Not Deal in Hardware
-------------- --------------
4. (SBU) Company representatives told us that they do not
handle or store defense articles for any of their clients,
nor do they order USML components on behalf of their clients.
Altay Group's primary business is providing consulting
services for foreign defense firms. The group does not handle
the import of defense articles into Turkey nor has it applied
for an export license on behalf of itself or its clients.
While the company has helped from time to time its customers
clear items through Turkish
Customs, it is not directly involved in the import or exports
of defense articles. Company representatives stated that
they do not have a secure warehouse facility to store USML
items since they are not engaged in the import, export or
storage of defense articles.
5. (SBU) Based on the site visit, the information provided by
company representatives and a name check conducted by Post,s
RSO, post believes the Altay Corporation is a bona fide
defense services company.
JEFFREY
"Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s
gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"
SIPDIS
FOR PM/DTCC JOUBERT-LIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC TU
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN BROKER INQUIRY: VERIFYING BONA FIDES
OF REGISTERED BROKER MEHMET KAAN ASENA - CASE NO. K-2274
REF: SECSTATE 99610
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: PolMil officer visited Altay Corporation on
October 13 to meet with Vice President Mehmet Kaan Asena and
a number of other principal officers. Based on the site
visit, the information provided by Altay Corporation during
the meeting and a name check conducted by Post RSO, we
believe Altay Corporation is a legitimate company
appropriately licensed by the Government of Turkey to engage
in defense services. Company representatives were fully
cooperative in answering our questions and made clear that
the company does not engage in the brokering of items on the
U.S. Munitions List; it does not have a storage facility for
defense articles as it does not deal in the physical movement
of defense hardware. Company representatives stressed that
they only engage in business activities with companies in
Turkey, the U.S. and other NATO countries, and that it does
not have business dealings in countries outside of NATO. END
SUMMARY.
A Well-Established Defense Service Company
--------------
2. (SBU) According to the information provided by
representatives of the company, Altay Group was established
in 1957 and its principal officers include: M. Murad Dural
(President),M. Kaan Asena (VP Admin and Finance),Tevfik
Umut (VP Technical),Haydar Satirtav (IT Group Director),and
Hasan Gencturk (Contracts and Legal General Director). The
Altay Group is a member of the Turkish Industrialists'
& Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) and is the first Turkish
defense firm to be included in the NATO
Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG). The Altay Group has 47
employees.
Secure Facility
--------------
3. (SBU) The company is licensed by the Ministry of National
Defense to engage in defense-related business and has been
accredited by the Government of Turkey to handle Turkey's
classified information. Mr. Asena showed us the company's
NATO Clearance Certificate, the NATO AQAP-160 Certificate,
the Ministry of Defense's (MND) Facility Security
Certificate, the MND Software Development Certificate, and
the National Security Certificate. An armed guard is posted
at the entry of the facility around the clock. Visitors are
asked to present a photo identification and all visitors are
logged by the security
guard.
A Service Company that Does Not Deal in Hardware
-------------- --------------
4. (SBU) Company representatives told us that they do not
handle or store defense articles for any of their clients,
nor do they order USML components on behalf of their clients.
Altay Group's primary business is providing consulting
services for foreign defense firms. The group does not handle
the import of defense articles into Turkey nor has it applied
for an export license on behalf of itself or its clients.
While the company has helped from time to time its customers
clear items through Turkish
Customs, it is not directly involved in the import or exports
of defense articles. Company representatives stated that
they do not have a secure warehouse facility to store USML
items since they are not engaged in the import, export or
storage of defense articles.
5. (SBU) Based on the site visit, the information provided by
company representatives and a name check conducted by Post,s
RSO, post believes the Altay Corporation is a bona fide
defense services company.
JEFFREY
"Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s
gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"