VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAK #1721/01 2701325
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 261325Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7576
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 1337
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 3192
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001721 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018 
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU EXBS
SUBJECT: TURKS INTERESTED BUT CAUTIOUS IN FURTHERING EXPORT 
CONTROL AND BORDER SECURITY COOPERATION WITH US 
 
REF: ANKARA 950 
 
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor A. Godfrey, Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: A 17-18 September 2008 Seminar co-sponsored 
by the EXBS program (State ISN/ECC) and the Turkish MFA 
highlighted opportunities for bilateral cooperation to 
strengthen Turkey's nonproliferation regime and engage with 
Turkey in outreach to promote stronger nonproliferation 
efforts in the region.  MFA DDG for Nonproliferation Ahmet 
Muhtar Gun welcomed the US presentations, pledged to conduct 
an internal "needs assessment" to deconflict activities 
Turkey is undertaking with the EU, and promised a GOT 
interagency-agreed response to the various areas of possible 
engagement with the US.  Gun emphasized the need for timely 
and accurate intelligence to ensure effective coordination in 
cases involving sensitive shipments, and urged the U.S. to 
press countries of origin to do more to prevent the shipment 
of proliferation-sensitive goods.    End Summary. 
 
Seminar Reinvigorates Nonproliferation Cooperation 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶2. (SBU) The 17-18 September EXBS seminar, co-sponsored by 
the International Security and Nonproliferation Bureau's 
Office of Export Control Cooperation (ISN/ECC) and the 
Turkish MFA, brought together fifteen US and over thirty 
Turkish officials with nonproliferation, export control and 
border security responsibilities.  The seminar provided an 
opportunity following the conclusion of the bilateral 
nonproliferation agreement in June to present to the GOT 
interagency an overview of the EXBS program as well as other 
USG efforts to support international nonproliferation 
cooperation. 
 
¶3. (SBU) MFA Deputy U/S Unal Cevikoz, who made opening 
statements along with the Ambassador, emphasized that the 
threats of terrorism and proliferation cannot be fought alone 
in a post-9/11 world.  He said that Turkey needs to adopt a 
multilateral, holistic, and comprehensive approach to these 
challenges.  He welcomed the conclusion of the Peaceful Uses 
of Nuclear Energy (or 123) Agreement and the bilateral 
Nonproliferation Agreement and called the seminar an 
invaluable opportunity for and a celebration of the 
cooperation between the two governments.  Cevikoz expressed 
his hope that the seminar would help strengthen already 
strong bilateral cooperation in this field. 
Ongoing Turkish CT and NP Efforts 
 
¶4. (SBU) MFA Deputy Director General A. Muhtar Gun, who 
co-chaired the Seminar with ISN/ECC Director Yvette Wong, 
echoed Cevikoz's remarks, stating that international 
cooperation with the US, EU, NATO, OSCE and other countries 
and organizations is key to counterterrorism (CT) and 
nonproliferation (NP) success.  He stated that Turkey views 
the CT and NP challenge as going hand in hand. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Gun highlighted Turkey's long-standing struggle 
against terrorism and its ongoing contributions in 
international counterterrorism and nonproliferation efforts. 
Gun specifically noted GOT contributions to the NATO mission 
in the Mediterranean under "Operation Active Endeavour" and 
its presence in the Black Sea as important deterrents to 
terrorism and regional proliferation.  In his wrap up, Gun 
took the opportunity to express hope that improved US-Turkey 
intelligence sharing on the PKK threat would continue. 
 
Passage of Export Control Legislation a Priority 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Gun said that his immediate priority is passage of 
draft legislation on foreign trade controls of dual use and 
sensitive goods currently with the Turkish parliament 
(reftel).  He noted that even though the draft law is not yet 
in force, the Turks are already taking practical actions 
called for in the draft legislation, including regular 
meetings of the interagency Export Control Board (ECB). 
While welcoming the numerous possibilities for engagement 
presented by the US side, Gun stressed that Turkey will need 
some time to digest the information presented at the seminar, 
and said that Turkey will evaluate these options in the 
coming months, following the anticipated passage of the 
Export Control law and in light of ongoing cooperation with 
the EU, to determine the areas of bilateral cooperation that 
will be most fruitful. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Turkish officials stated that the ECB, which first 
met in 2005, has streamlined the bureaucracy and led to 
improved effectiveness.  Gun expressed hope that the EXBS 
Seminar would help reinforce Turkish interagency 
coordination.  The ECB, chaired by the MFA, is comprised of 
representatives from the Ministry of National Defense, 
Customs Directorate, National Intelligence Agency, 
Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade (UFT), Ministry of Justice, 
Turkish National Police, Turkish Atomic Energy Authority 
(TAEK), and other relevant agencies (see reftel for ECB's 
role). 
 
¶8. (SBU) Working-level Turkish officials from UFT, the 
Customs Directorate, and TAEK briefed the US delegation on 
ongoing Turkish efforts to fight terrorism and proliferation, 
and noted the extensive history of working with US agencies 
in strengthening their work.   In its presentation, UFT 
highlighted their outreach to industry as a key component of 
their success in improving export control, and credited the 
US with assistance in Turkey's indigenous efforts to develop 
a commodity identification training program for customs 
officials.  Turkish Customs noted the extensive work Turkey 
has already undertaken with the EU to ensure that Turkey's 
standards and practices were in line with EU standards as 
part of Turkey's participation in the EU Customs Union, 
including the placement of a network of x-ray equipment on 
all major border crossings with EU funding.  Participating 
officials from both countries eagerly absorbed the 
information presented at the seminar on how their counterpart 
agencies do business in the export control area. 
 
Call for Better Intel, More Equal Burden Sharing 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶9. (C) Throughout the course of the presentation, Gun noted 
the need for timely, accurate intelligence to allow Turkey to 
support US requests to stop proliferation-sensitive 
shipments.  He also claimed repeatedly that Turkey does not 
produce high-end proliferation-sensitive technology, but has 
worked hard to prevent the transit of such technology from EU 
countries to countries of concern.  Citing examples of EU 
countries asking Turkey to take action when there were 
opportunities to prevent problematic shipments while they 
were still in the EU, Gun urged the U.S. to do more to 
prevent such shipments at the country of origin, and called 
for more equal burden sharing in this effort. 
 
US: Ready for More Intensive Bilateral Non-Pro Engagement 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶10.  (SBU)  In opening remarks, Ambassador Wilson echoed 
Cevikoz's comments on the entry into force of the 123 
Agreement and hoped that the Seminar would help strengthen 
already strong bilateral cooperation on nonproliferation 
matters.  The Ambassador noted that broad US interagency 
participation in the seminar reflected the importance the US 
attached to an intensified partnership.  ISN/ECC Director 
Wong underlined US interest in receiving Turkish agencies' 
comments on US agency program presentations and in lauching 
an active dialogue about potention nonproliferation-related 
joint activites under EXBS and related programs as presented 
by the US interagency. 
 
Comment: The Way Forward 
------------------------ 
 
¶11. (C) We consider the seminar a successful first step in 
reinvigorating US-Turkey cooperation on export controls, 
border security, and nonproliferation more broadly.  MFA's 
co-sponsorship of and the number of Turkish official 
participating in the seminar reflects a new willingness to 
work with the U.S. on a bilateral basis on nonproliferation 
issues; this development became possible in large part due to 
the approval of the 123 Agreement in June and the overall 
improvement in bilateral relations since the commencement of 
intelligence sharing against the PKK.  We anticipate the GOT 
will continue to focus its export control and border security 
efforts on harmonization with EU standards and practices, and 
will look to US programs as a means to supplement this work. 
As Turkey prepares to assume a seat in the IAEA Board of 
Governors in October, the proposed bilateral nonproliferation 
consultations at the DAS or acting Assistant Secretary level 
this fall would be a useful next step in our engagement. 
 
¶12.  (SBU) Participants: 
Turkey delegation: 
 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
-A. Muhtar Gun, Minister-Plenipotentiary Deputy Director 
General 
-Elif Comoglu Ulgen, Head of Department 
-Ozkan Ilhan, Attache 
 
TAEK 
 
-Aysun Yucel, Head of Nuclear Safety Department 
-Anil Bolme, Head of Technology Department 
-Ugur Bezdegumeli, Expert 
-Metin Koksal, Expert 
-Hayri Akbiyik, Expert 
-Muhammed Barik, Expert 
-Nilgun Gerceker, Expert 
-Belgin Onat, Expert 
-Burcin Okyar, Expert 
 
Customs Undersecretariat 
 
-Ender Gurleyik, Head of Office of Customs Enforcement 
-Mesut Ugur, Chief of Section 
-M. Fatih Karabulut, Assistant Customs Expert 
-Mehmet Uylukcu, Expert-Customs Directorate General 
-Adem Ogultarhan, Expert-Customs Directorate General 
-Ibrahim Atasoy, Expert-Customs Directorate General 
 
Turkish National Police 
 
-Kanbi Apaydin, Superintendent 
-Zafer Akkus, Superintendent 
-Mehmet Yucel Karahasanoglu, Superintendent 
-Erdal Argin, Inspector 
 
Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade 
 
-Cigdem Samiloglu Erkoc, Expert 
-Hacim Kosaoglu, Engineer 
 
Prime Ministry Security Affairs 
 
-Huseyin Yildiz, Expert 
-Yasin Albayrak, Assistant Expert 
-Sezgin Hatipoglu, Assistant Expert 
 
National Intelligence Agency 
 
-Murat Tukel, Expert 
 
Turkish General Staff 
 
-Lt. Colonel Hakan Ozbulbul, Officer 
-Asude Guler, Expert 
 
Ministry of National Defense 
 
-Muammer Kosaci, Expert 
-Aygul Yumurtaci, Expert 
 
Coast Guard 
 
-Captain Tayfun Sargin, Officer 
 
US delegation: 
 
-Yvette Wong, ISN/ECC Director Office of Export Control 
Cooperation 
-Brett Golden, ISN/ECC Program Manager for Caucasus and Black 
Sea 
-Rebecca Joyce, DOC/BIS Executive Officer, Office of 
Nonproliferation and Treaty Compliance 
-Loretta Weiss, DOE/INECP Loas Alamos National Laboratory 
-Bobby Picket, DHS/CBP EXPS Program Manager and North African 
Regional Team Lead 
-Shewit Habtemichael, DHS/USCG Non-Proliferation Programs 
Manager 
-Eric Deschler, DOE/SLD Project Manager 
-Jake Mentz, ISN/NESS Foreign Affairs Officer 
-Lt. Colonel Bryan Lee, DOD/DTRA Chief Counterproliferation 
Branch 
-Lt. Colonel Stephen Bruce, DOD/DTRA Chief Strategy Section, 
Security Cooperation Branch 
-Brent Eastman, ISN/WMDT National Security Analyst 
-Dave Froman, EUR/ACE Security and Law Enforcement Officer 
-Jim Stitzel, DHS/ICE 
-Jane Purcell, ISN/CPI 
-Chris Rich, Deputy Chief/Political-Military Affairs Section, 
US Embassy Ankara 
-Robert Cieslinski, EXBS Advisor, US Embassy Ankara 
-Robert Lee, Political-Military Affairs Section, US Embassy 
Ankara 
-Kevin Cummings, TDY EXBS Advisor, US Embassy Ankara 
-Kris Keele, Political-Military Affairs Section, US Embassy 
Ankara 
-Christian Oslund, Political-Military Affairs Section, US 
Embassy Ankara 
-Erhan Mert, EXBS Coordinator, US Embassy Ankara 
 
¶13.  (SBU) ISN/ECC has cleared this telegram. 
 
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey 
 
WILSON