(S) TURKEY: WILL CHECK ON TURKISH COMPANIES' ROLE

S E C R E T ANKARA 000070 EUR/SE, ISN/MTR FOR MAYES E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2019 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC MTCR TU IR SUBJECT: (S) TURKEY: WILL CHECK ON TURKISH COMPANIES' ROLE IN ASSISTING IRAN WITH PROLIFERATION-RELATED PROCUREMENTS REF: SECSTATE 3403 Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor A.F. Godfrey, Reasons 1.4 (b,c,d) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA 3. ¶1. (S) We delivered reftel information to MFA Nonproliferation and Disarmament Department Head Elif Ulgen on January 15. Ulgen expressed appreciation for the information and noted that the Turkish entities, Ak Makina Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited and Ak Makina Uluslar Arasi Ticaret. Ltd, are known to the GOT and are followed closely due to their trading activities with Iran. She said the company had applied for a number of licenses in the past to deliver machinery to Iran; some were approved while others were rejected. Ulgen said with every export license application received from Ak Makina, the GOT conducts a review of end-users (provided by the Turkish National Intelligence Organization - TNIO) which includes entities listed in relevant UNSC resolutions, checks the item against the Wisconsin Risk Report database, requests the Turkish Atomic Energy Council (TAEK) to evaluate whether the item in question is subject to NSG controls, and ensures that the item is not listed in other relevant control lists (e.g. MTCR). Only after this process does Turkey make a determination whether to approve the license. She emphasized that while Turkey is highly vigilant about shipments of high-tech machinery to Iran, Turkey also needs to strike a balance in allowing legitimate trade with a neighbor. ¶2. (S) Ulgen requested additional information on Machine Sazi Tabriz and its connection with Shahid Hemmat Industries Group (SHIG),noting it could help the MFA make the case to disapprove the license in this case and take additional measures against the companies. We agreed to follow up in the near future. ¶3. (S) ACTION REQUEST: The GOT has typically been reluctant to take action in cases involving Iranian entities not directly listed in any UNSC resolutions. We request any additional information that can be released to Turkey on the linkage between Machine Sazi Tabriz and SHIG: This could strengthen the MFA's hand in preventing this shipment. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey Jeffrey NNNN End Cable Text