Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ANKARA1828
2009-12-23 14:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

SAFE DEPARTURE OF HEU FROM TURKEY ADVANCES

Tags:  KNNP PREL ENRG TU 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAK #1828 3571427
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 231427Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1549
INFO RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 6677
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001828 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE, DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2019
TAGS: KNNP PREL ENRG TU
SUBJECT: SAFE DEPARTURE OF HEU FROM TURKEY ADVANCES
NONPROLIFERATION GOAL

Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Anthony Godfrey, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001828

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE, DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2019
TAGS: KNNP PREL ENRG TU
SUBJECT: SAFE DEPARTURE OF HEU FROM TURKEY ADVANCES
NONPROLIFERATION GOAL

Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Anthony Godfrey, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Officials from Department of Energy/National Nuclear
Safety Administration (DOE/NNSA) along with contractors
oversaw on December 14 the removal of Turkey's stockpile of
highly enriched uranium (HEU) spent fuel elements from the
Cekmece Nuclear Research and Training Center located in
Istanbul. The elements moved from the Cekmece Center under
police escort, boarded a ferry to cross the Dardenlles
Strait, and were loaded onto a vessel chartered by the DOE,
which departed Turkish territorial waters in the early hours
of December 15. This action completes the MOU signed between
the Department of Energy and the Turkish Atomic Energy
Authority in September 2008 to replace Turkey's HEU fuel with
an equivalent amount of LEU. The removal of the HEU ensures
that the facility will only operate on LEU and eliminates a
potential proliferation risk in Turkey. As agreed to in the
2008 MOU, one unirradiated HEU fuel element remains in
Cekmece, which will be used for scientific testing and
instrumentation purposes.


2. (C) The shipment of HEU represents the final step in the
long-standing U.S. effort to remove all weapons-grade nuclear
material from Turkey. The USG had proposed to accept the
spent HEU from Cekmece as early as 1996, but the GoT had
linked the signing of a bilateral Peaceful Uses of Nuclear
Energy (also known as "123") Agreement to its willingness to
ship the HEU spent fuel to the U.S. With the entry into
force of the 123 Agreement between the U.S. and Turkey in
June 2008, the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) agreed
to proceed with the shipment, concluding the MOU in September
2008 with DOE/NNSA.


3. (C) The shipment became politically complicated because it
was combined with a nuclear shipment from Israel. The rising
tensions in Turkish-Israeli relations in 2009 had threatened
to turn the presence of nuclear material from Israel in
Turkish waters into a political issue. To its credit, the
GoT kept the matter out of the press and proceeded with the
terms of the shipment as agreed to in 2008. The GoT provided
the logistical and security support needed to ensure the safe
movement of the material. Although there were technical and
bureaucratic bumps along the way, TAEK and the MFA, in
collaboration with Post and DOE/NNSA representatives and
contractors, worked closely to overcome the challenges and
made sure the shipment remained on schedule.


4. (C) The HEU removal is a tangible step in reducing the
risk of nuclear proliferation in Turkey and the region. Post
deeply appreciates the Department of Energy/NNSA for its
close cooperation and coordination over the course of this
project. Post wishes to thank in particular Charles "Chuck"
Messick, who served as Post's primary interface with
DOE/NSSA, for his tireless efforts in making this shipment
possible.
SILLIMAN

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