TURKEY: AQ KHAN SANCTIONS REACTION, UPDATE ON CASE \

2009-01-15 11:47:00 09ANKARA71 Embassy Ankara SECRET 09STATE2519 P 151147Z JAN 09\ FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA\ TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8474\ INFO AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY \ AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY \ S E C R E T ANKARA 000071 \ \ \ EUR/SE, EUR/PRA, ISN/CPI \ \ E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2019 \ TAGS: ETTC MNUC EFIN KNNP PARM PINS PREL SZ SUBJECT: TURKEY: AQ KHAN SANCTIONS REACTION, UPDATE ON CASE \ \ REF: STATE 2519 \ \ Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor A.F. Godfrey, Reasons 1.4 (b,d) \ \ ¶1. (S) MFA Nonproliferation and Disarmament Department Head \ Elif Ulgen expressed appreciation for receiving advanced \ notification of US intentions to sanction individuals and \ companies linked with the AQ Khan network (reftel) and for \ the background information on the various sanctions. We \ praised solid Turkish cooperation on these cases and \ emphasized that the sanctions are directed at the individuals \ and firms named, not the GOT. \ \ ¶2. (S) Ulgen said she did not anticipate much public reaction \ to the sanctions and noted that the individuals (Selim \ Alguadis and Kursad Cire) continue to be monitored by Turkish \ intelligence. She agreed to check on the status of the \ plans, drawings, and documents that were in the Turkish \ companies' possession and follow up with us once she has \ additional information to share. \ \ ¶3. (S) Regarding Turkish efforts to prosecute Alguadis, Cire \ and others involved in AQ Khan network's activities in \ Turkey, including Urs Friedrich Tinner and Henk Slebos, Ulgen \ said the next hearing for the case will take place in March. \ She said that according to officials in the Ministry of \ Justice, the case cannot progress until Tinner, a key suspect \ in the case, either agrees to testify or provides a written \ deposition to the court. She noted that the GOT still has \ not received any responses to its requests to the governments \ of Switzerland and the Netherlands for their assistance in \ obtaining a written deposition from Tinner and Slebos, \ respectively. While making clear the GOT is not in position \ to influence the judicial process, Ulgen expressed concern \ that the court may eventually dismiss the case if the GOT is \ unable to obtain the needed cooperation from other \ governments. \ \ ¶4. (S) Comment: The GOT has worked hard to investigate and \ prosecute those involved in the AQ Khan network here and has \ worked closely with the USG in this case. The MFA is \ frustrated that it has not been able to obtain needed \ information from foreign governments. MFA officials are \ aware of the New York Times reporting alleging a connection \ between the Tinner family and US government agencies. \ Although they have not explicitly stated so, it is clear MFA \ officials following the case do not expect a response from \ the Swiss Government and suspect the USG has played a role in \ this. Absent a deposition from Urs Friedrich Tinner, it is \ highly likely the case against Alguadis and Cire will \ eventually be dismissed. \ \ Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at \ http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey \ \ Jeffrey \