TURKEY: NO APPLICATION RECEIVED FOR LME TRANSFER

S E C R E T ANKARA 001799 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPARTMENT FOR ISN, EUR, NEA, AND T ISN/CATR FOR GANEM E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2019 TAGS: ETTC MCAP MOPS PARM PINR PREL PTER MASS SUBJECT: TURKEY: NO APPLICATION RECEIVED FOR LME TRANSFER TO SYRIA REF: A. ANKARA 1371 ¶B. STATE 95661 Classified By: Acting Pol-Mil Counselor Kami Witmer, Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (S) On December 16, we followed up our initial demarche (ref a) regarding the possible transfer of Bulgarian-origin lethal military equipment to Syria via Turkey (ref b) with MFA Nonproliferation and Disarmament Section Head Mustafa Yurdakul. Yurdakul told us that the MFA had consulted relevant GoT agencies on the possible transfer of Bulgarian-origin helicopter mines to Syria via Turkey (ref d) and found that, as of December 16, the GoT had not received any export license applications resembling the information we had provided. ¶2. (S) He noted that information from other Turkish government entities indicated that TSS Silah ve Savunma Sanayi has had a history of "problematic dealings." Without providing more details, Yurdakul said that the company's applications for export licenses or transactions involving military equipment are subject to increased scrutiny as a result of its prior problems. He agreed to inform us if the GoT were to receive an application to transship the equipment. JEFFREY "Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"