Cablegate: Exbs: Turkey Advisors Monthly Report (May 2005)

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 003185

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NP/ECC- PVANSON, ACHURCH, TGROEN
DEPT FOR EUR/ACE- DMARTING, DMCCORMICK
CBP/INA- PWALKER
DOC FOR PETERSON-BEARD
USCG FOR BGOLDEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM TU
SUBJECT: EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT (MAY 2005)

REF: 2004 STATE 146478

1. Summary: EXBS Advisor work this month focused
mainly on moving the Government of Turkey forward in the
Internal Control Program (ICP), Product Identification Tool
(PIT) and Commodity Identification Training (CIT). EXBS
Advisor was effective in getting the GOT to approve visits by
delegations to work directly on the CIT project and the
Second Line of Defense (SLD) in June. These visits will
greatly assist these projects to move forward. EXBS Advisor
also reviewed Turkey's participation in PSI activities and
discussed ways to maintain Turkey's engagement in this
initiative, and became the point person for discussions on
the U.S./Turkey Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy Agreement and
the impact the lack of this Agreement will have on the
exchange of nuclear fuel held by Turkey. Finally, EXBS
Advisor continued negotiations for an appropriate signing
ceremony for the NP Cooperation Agreement.

2. Completed Actions for the Reporting Period

A. Site Assessment and Meetings During Recent
Reporting Period

1) May 4- EXBS Advisor met with Department Head for
Customs Enforcement Mehmet Guzel to review EXBS program work
with the Turkish Customs, specifically CIT and the Risk
Management Workshop. EXBS Advisor reviewed the current
status of the CIT project from the U.S. prospective and
reinforced the need for a joint TAEK and Turkish Customs
meeting to review the project and identify milestones. He
also reviewed, in general, a timeline for future activities
including an overview visit by DOE personnel and the CIT
Refresher course that was previously rescheduled. Guzel
reviewed the status of the Border Crossing modernization
project at Habur Gate, which is now scheduled to begin in
June, and the recently announced project for the Cilvegozu
crossing with Syria, which could begin later this year. EXBS
Advisor informed Guzel that it appears that the NP
Cooperation Agreement could be signed soon, which will allow
further cooperation including the restart of the SLD project
and further cooperation with U.S. Customs and Border
Protection. Finally, EXBS Advisor reviewed proposed plan to
visit selected crossing with Syria, and requested assistance
from Guzel to schedule meetings with appropriate officials in
these locations.

2) May 6- EXBS Advisor met with new MFA Arms Control
and Disarmament Head of Department Osman Yavuzalp to conduct
monthly update meeting on current projects in progress in
Turkey, including Internal Control Program (ICP), Commodity
Identification Training (CIT), Product Identification Tool
(PIT) and Second Line of Defense (SLD), along with the
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). EXBS Advisor
informed Yavuzalp that the Embassy was awaiting final
official notification approving the suggested Turkish word
change and Turkish version of the Agreement. Once this was
received, a signing ceremony could be scheduled. EXBS
Advisor proposed upcoming visits by members of the Department
of Energy working on the SLD and CIT projects. Yavuzalp
agreed, once the NP Agreement was signed, it would be the
right time to begin more formal planning on these projects.
On the subject of PSI, Yavuzalp informed EXBS Advisor that
Turkey has formed an Interministerial Coordination Group
chaired by MFA and TGS. The first meeting, on May 5, was
very successful; there are plans to hold these meetings
monthly in the future. Finally, EXBS Advisor informed
Yavuzalp of his discussions with Turkish Customs of visits to
selected border crossing during the upcoming months. These
visits will allow EXBS Advisor to better support areas of
border cooperation between the United States and Turkey.
Yavuzalp was in support of this idea, but requested
notification of the timing and destination of the EXBS
Advisor proposed travel as a courtesy.

3) May 27- EXBS Advisor met with the Head of
Nuclear Safety Department of the Turkish Atomic Energy
Authority (TAEK), Aysun Yucel to discuss various issues,
including the current status of the CIT project and the
importance of the upcoming DOE CIT team visit in June. EXBS
Advisor presented several documents for use by the Core
Technical Group in preparation for the upcoming meeting.
Yucel informed EXBS Advisor that she will be meeting with
customs representatives prior to the meetings to better
prepared a one voice approach from the GOT on the CIT
project. EXBS Advisor also discussed several areas of mutual
support in the exchange of information concerning seizures
made by Turkish customs both at the Georgian and Iraq
borders. According to Yucel, the U.S. request for additional
information will be reviewed and supported if possible.
Finally, EXBS Advisor renewed the offer for a set of meetings
with members of the US DOE and TAEK to discuss areas of joint
cooperation for the Reduction of Nuclear Threats in the
region.

B. Training Conducted During Reporting Period: None

C. Equipment Delivered During Reporting Period: None
D. Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update: None

E. Significant Developments in Export Controls,
Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security:

1) Both the GOT and the U.S. have agreed to the
wording of the NP Cooperation Agreement with authority being
delegated to the Ambassador to sign on behalf of the United
States. This agreement will open the path for full
engagement of all aspects of the EXBS program with Turkey. A
signing ceremony for the NP Agreement is being proposed for
June 14th. The Agreement will require ratification by the
Turkish Parliament, which is expected by the end of the
summer.

3. Future Activities

A. Jun 1-3- EXBS Advisor to attend EXBS Program
Washington Manager's Meeting with Program Advisors in Vienna,
Austria.

B. Jun 9 - DOE NNSA to participate in CIT Overview
Meetings with TAEK and Turkish Customs officials

C. Jun 14- Signing ceremony for the United
States/Turkey Non-Proliferation Cooperation Agreement

C. Jun 15-17 - DOE SLD team visit to conduct planning
meetings and begin coordination of Implementation Agreement
for the SLD project.

4. Red Flag Issues: None

5. Contact Information for EXBS Adviser ) Kevin Lyon,
phone (90)(312) 455-5555 ext 2525, fax (90)(312) 468-4775,
email LyonK@state.gov.

MOORE

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