Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE88240
2009-08-24 21:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Secretary of State
Cable title:
(C/REL TO USA, FVEY) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #8240 2362152 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P R 242135Z AUG 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 9810 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 3196 INFO RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 5358 RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 9259
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 088240
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2034
TAGS: PINR TU
SUBJECT: (C/REL TO USA, FVEY) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON
POSSIBLE LEADERSHIP CHANGES IN TURKEY,S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
(C-WP9-01486)
Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 088240
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2034
TAGS: PINR TU
SUBJECT: (C/REL TO USA, FVEY) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON
POSSIBLE LEADERSHIP CHANGES IN TURKEY,S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
(C-WP9-01486)
Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).
1. (C/NF) SENIOR POLICYMAKERS IN WASHINGTON CONTINUE TO
EXPRESS INTEREST IN TURKEY'S NUCLEAR EFFORTS, INCLUDING
LEADERSHIP CHANGES WITHIN ANKARA'S NUCLEAR COMMUNITY.
WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE SEEKING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
REGARDING ASSERTIONS MADE IN A MID-JUNE 2009 TURKISH ARTICLE
IN THE VATAN NEWSPAPER (GAZETVATAN.COM) THAT AN "APPOINTMENT
CRISIS" EXISTS AT THE TURKISH ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
(TAEK). THE CURRENT TAEK CHAIR, OKAY CAKIROGLU, REPORTEDLY
IS SEEKING TO RETIRE AFTER LEARNING FROM PRESS REPORTING THAT
THE TURKISH ENERGY MINISTER APPOINTED ZAFER ALTER TO LEAD THE
TAEK. ZAFER ALTER IS PROBABLY THE SAME ZAFER ALPER, WHO
REPRESENTED ANKARA IN INTERNATIONAL FORUMS IN 2004 WHEN HE
WAS SERVING AS THE HEAD OF THE NUCLEAR SAFETY DEPARTMENT AT
THE TAEK. AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT, ANY INFORMATION
POSTS CAN PROVIDE ON CHANGES IN TURKISH NUCLEAR LEADERSHIP
AND LEADERSHIP VIEWS ON TURKEY'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM WOULD BE
VALUABLE. MANY THANKS.
1) (SBU) PLEASE DESCRIBE THE REFERENCED "APPOINTMENT
CRISIS" AT THE TAEK. WHAT SPAWNED THE CRISIS? WHAT ARE THE
RESULTS OF THE CRISIS?
2) (SBU) WHY IS THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE TAEK, OKAY
CAKIROGLU, RETIRING? WHEN WILL HIS RETIREMENT TAKE EFFECT?
WHAT, IF ANY, FUTURE INPUT INTO TURKEY'S NUCLEAR RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS WILL CAKIROGLU HAVE?
3) (SBU) PLEASE PROVIDE BIOGRAPHIC DETAILS ON ZAFER ALTER
(ALT. ZAFER "ALPER"),TO INCLUDE HIS VIEWS OF NUCLEAR
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN TURKEY, DEVELOPMENT OF ENRICHMENT
AND REPROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES, AND/OR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
COVERT NUCLEAR FACILITIES?
4) (C/REL TO USA, FVEY) WHO MANAGES THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION
OF TURKEY'S NUCLEAR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS? WHO ARE
THE KEY PLAYERS OR ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED? WHAT ARE THEIR
VIEWS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT AND THEIR POTENTIAL TO
INFLUENCE ANKARA'S NUCLEAR PLANS?
2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-WP9-01486 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2034
TAGS: PINR TU
SUBJECT: (C/REL TO USA, FVEY) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON
POSSIBLE LEADERSHIP CHANGES IN TURKEY,S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
(C-WP9-01486)
Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).
1. (C/NF) SENIOR POLICYMAKERS IN WASHINGTON CONTINUE TO
EXPRESS INTEREST IN TURKEY'S NUCLEAR EFFORTS, INCLUDING
LEADERSHIP CHANGES WITHIN ANKARA'S NUCLEAR COMMUNITY.
WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE SEEKING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
REGARDING ASSERTIONS MADE IN A MID-JUNE 2009 TURKISH ARTICLE
IN THE VATAN NEWSPAPER (GAZETVATAN.COM) THAT AN "APPOINTMENT
CRISIS" EXISTS AT THE TURKISH ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
(TAEK). THE CURRENT TAEK CHAIR, OKAY CAKIROGLU, REPORTEDLY
IS SEEKING TO RETIRE AFTER LEARNING FROM PRESS REPORTING THAT
THE TURKISH ENERGY MINISTER APPOINTED ZAFER ALTER TO LEAD THE
TAEK. ZAFER ALTER IS PROBABLY THE SAME ZAFER ALPER, WHO
REPRESENTED ANKARA IN INTERNATIONAL FORUMS IN 2004 WHEN HE
WAS SERVING AS THE HEAD OF THE NUCLEAR SAFETY DEPARTMENT AT
THE TAEK. AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT, ANY INFORMATION
POSTS CAN PROVIDE ON CHANGES IN TURKISH NUCLEAR LEADERSHIP
AND LEADERSHIP VIEWS ON TURKEY'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM WOULD BE
VALUABLE. MANY THANKS.
1) (SBU) PLEASE DESCRIBE THE REFERENCED "APPOINTMENT
CRISIS" AT THE TAEK. WHAT SPAWNED THE CRISIS? WHAT ARE THE
RESULTS OF THE CRISIS?
2) (SBU) WHY IS THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE TAEK, OKAY
CAKIROGLU, RETIRING? WHEN WILL HIS RETIREMENT TAKE EFFECT?
WHAT, IF ANY, FUTURE INPUT INTO TURKEY'S NUCLEAR RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS WILL CAKIROGLU HAVE?
3) (SBU) PLEASE PROVIDE BIOGRAPHIC DETAILS ON ZAFER ALTER
(ALT. ZAFER "ALPER"),TO INCLUDE HIS VIEWS OF NUCLEAR
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN TURKEY, DEVELOPMENT OF ENRICHMENT
AND REPROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES, AND/OR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
COVERT NUCLEAR FACILITIES?
4) (C/REL TO USA, FVEY) WHO MANAGES THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION
OF TURKEY'S NUCLEAR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS? WHO ARE
THE KEY PLAYERS OR ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED? WHAT ARE THEIR
VIEWS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT AND THEIR POTENTIAL TO
INFLUENCE ANKARA'S NUCLEAR PLANS?
2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-WP9-01486 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON