TURKEY: PROLIFERATION-RELATED SHIPMENTS TO IRAN

S E C R E T ANKARA 000095 SIPDIS ISN/ E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC SUBJECT: TURKEY: PROLIFERATION-RELATED SHIPMENTS TO IRAN DENIED REF: A. STATE 3403 ¶B. ANKARA 70 Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor A.F. Godfrey, Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (S) MFA Nonproliferation and Disarmament Department Head followed up on January 20 regarding Turkish Firm Ak Makinasi's efforts to acquire proliferation-sensitive equipment for Machine Sazi Tabriz, an Iranian company affiliated with the Shahid Hemmat Industries Group (refs a and b). According to Ulgen, Turkey's export license committee had met in March 2008 and rejected an application from Ak Makina to export the proliferation-sensitive machines originating from Taiwan (ref a). She said that TNIO keeps a close eye on this firm and that while Ak Makina did make some legal shipments to other end users from time to time, it had sought on this and on previous occasions to engage in trade in goods and with end users in Iran subject to UNSCR restrictions and had been rejected on those occasions. She further noted that at the time the Turkish interagency met in March, TNIO provided its assessment that Machine Sazi Tabriz is affiliated with SHIG, an entity listed on UNSCR 1737, which strengthened the case for the denial of an export license. Ulgen said the GOT is not aware of further efforts by Ak Makina since March 2008 to export the equipment in question to Iran. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey Jeffrey