BLUE LANTERN: VERIFYING BONA FIDES OF REGISTERED

UNCLAS ANKARA 001689 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KOMC ETTC TU SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN: VERIFYING BONA FIDES OF REGISTERED BROKER SEZAI CIHAN DALMIS - CASE NO. K-0828 REF: SECSTATE 99609 ¶1. (SBU) We visited the office of Helper Ltd (reftel) and met with company president Sezai Cihan Dalmis on November 24. Dalmis told us that the company is not directly involved in the import or storage of items on the US Munitions List but serves as an intermediary for U.S. and Turkish firms involved in defense-related projects. ¶2. (SBU) According to Dalmis, the company was founded by his late father in 1959 and became a limited liability company in ¶1985. In addition to Dalmis, who owns 48 percent of the company shares, the company only has two other share holders; Retired Turkish Navy Captain Emin Gultekin Fisek owns 48 percent of the shares, and Mr. Ahmet Akkacoglu owns the remaining two percent. The company is registered with the Ankara Chamber of Commerce. ¶3. (SBU) Helper's U.S. clients include Lockheed Martin's surface ship division and DRS. The company also has UK and Italian firms on its clientele list. In addition to having close contacts with the Turkish Armed Forces and the Ministry of National Defense, Helper has also facilitated contracts between U.S. and established Turkish defense firms (Havelsan, Aselsan, MIKES) on USML items. Dalmis noted that the company also does considerable import/export business for industrial machinery, but stated that this aspect of the business does not deal with USML items. ¶4. (SBU) Dalmis was cooperative and answered all of our questions related to the company and is open to answering any additional questions. Based on the information presented in the meeting we believe that the company is a bona fides company authorized to engage in defense-related activities. JEFFREY "Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"