Cablegate: Turkey - Usaid and Ai Assistance Period

VZCZCXRO3817
RR RUEHDA
DE RUEHAK #6743 3601353
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261353Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0422
INFO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 1620
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 6610
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 1438
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1464
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1850
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1527
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS ANKARA 006743

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO FOR STUDZINSKI AND LANGE
USAID FOR PEREIRA, BLANCHET AND CARROLL
HHS FOR WSTEIGER/PBUDASHEWITZ
FAS FOR ITP/MACKE/THOMAS, CMP/DLP/WETZEL, FAS/JDEVER
FAS PASS FSIS AND APHIS
VIENNA PASS APHIS
BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ
GENEVA PASS HEALTH ATTACHE
ROME FOR US MISSION TO FAO
TREASURY FOR PLANTIER

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: EAGR TBIO PREL EAID TU KFLU
SUBJECT: TURKEY - USAID AND AI ASSISTANCE PERIOD

REF: A: ANKARA 6417
B: ANKARA 2708

1. Summary and Action Request: By diplomatic note, the GOT asked
for an extension of the one-year period for using the USAID avian
influenza related grant in an amount of $1 million for restructuring
of the backyard poultry sector in the east. We recall that this
question was discussed previously with World Bank officials and
USAID suggested that as long as the project was substantially
started and/or funds were earmarked on a multi-year basis, there
would be no problem. We request that USAID provide clarification
for us to provide to the GOT and WB. End Summary.

2. Diplomatic Note 2006/IEGY/533691 dated December 20, 2006 (marked
urgent) text follows:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey presents
its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and,
concerning the cooperation between Turkey and the USA on the
struggle against Avian Influenza, has the honor to inform the
Embassy of the following.

The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs informs that
the USAID has donated an amount of USD 1 million to the project of
the World Bank on the struggle against Avian Influenza in Turkey.
The amount of USD 250.000 of the said donation would be utilized for
raising the public awareness. The remaining USD 750.000 has been
allocated for the restructuring of poultry sector in Turkey.
However, the timetable for using the donation envisaged by USAID,
which already started as of September 2006 for a period of one year
is not compatible with that of World Bank covering the period
between 2008-2010 for the implementation of the project in this
field. Hence, pointing to the fact that the said donation could
hardly be used within the presumed period, the Turkish Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Affairs proposes either an extension in the
implementation period of the project, or a new understanding to be
agreed by the USAID and the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Affairs which will enable to use this donation in areas other
than the poultry sector as well.

It would be highly appreciated if the Embassy could be kind enough
to transmit this proposal to the USAID and inform this Ministry of
the result.

Wilson

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