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| Identifier: | 03ANKARA5187 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 03ANKARA5187 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Ankara |
| Created: | 2003-08-14 13:31:00 |
| Classification: | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY |
| Tags: | EFIN ETTC TU IZ |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ANKARA 005187
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EUR/SE AND EB
TREAUSRY FOR OASIA - MILLS AND LEICHTER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN, ETTC, TU, IZ
SUBJECT: STATUS OF IRAQI ASSET ISSUE IN TURKEY
REF: A. A) SECSTATE 217437
B. B) ANKARA 4489
C. C) SECSTATE 186972
D. D) ANKARA 1817
1. (SBU) DEPUTY ECONCOUNS SPOKE AUGUST 14 WITH UZGUR ULUDUZ,
WHO HAS TAKEN OVER THE IRAQI ASSETS ISSUE IN
THE MFA'S BILATERAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, TO FOLLOW
UP ON THE ACTION REQUEST IN REF A. ULUDUZ
EXPLAINED THAT FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF THE EMBASSY'S DIPLOMATIC
NOTE (REF B) MFA HAD DISTRIBUTED IT TO ALL
RELEVANT AGENCIES WITHIN THE GOT AND REQUESTED THESE AGENCIES
SEEK ANY RECORDS OF ASSETS IN THE NAME OF
THE INDIVIDUALS ON THE ATTACHED LIST.
2. (SBU) ULUDUZ SAID THAT TO DATE NO OFFICIAL IRAQI ASSETS
NOR ANY ASSETS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN FOUND.
THE GOT HAS NOT RESPONDED OFFICIALLY TO THE U.S. REQUEST,
HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE GOT HAS NOT YET DECIDED EXACTLY
HOW THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE WILL BE SHARED BY THE
RELEVANT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ULUDUZ EXPLAINED
THAT THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE'S ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AGENCY
(MASAK) WAS RESISTING TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR
IRAQI ASSET SEIZURES, YET THE FOREIGN MINISTRY ALSO IS
HESITATING TO TAKE THE LEAD ON AN ISSUE REQUIRING
AUTHORITY TO SEIZE FINANCIAL ASSETS. ACCORDING TO ULUDUZ, A
WEEK OR TWO AGO THE FINANCE MINISTRY WROTE THE
FOREIGN MINISTRY TO SAY THEY WILL BE PROPOSING A NEW
FRAMEWORK TO HANDLE THESE ISSUES. THE MFA AWAITS THE
MINFIN PROPOSAL.
3. (SBU) ALTHOUGH THE GOT HAS FOUND NO IRAQI ASSETS, ULUDUZ
POINTED OUT THAT ANY SUCH ASSETS THAT THEY DO
FIND ARE LIKELY TO BE SET OFF AGAINST GOT CLAIMS ON IRAQ
UNDER GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT AGREEMENTS
PRIOR TO THE GOT TURNING THESE ASSETS OVER TO THE DFI.
EMBOFF REITERATED REF A POINTS REGARDING THIS KIND
OF OFFSETTING OF IRAQI ASSETS.
4. (SBU) AS NOTED IN REF D, THE MFA TOLD EMBOFFS IN MARCH
THAT THE USD 80,000 IN IRAQI ASSETS DECLARED IN JUNE,
1991 WAS "GONE," AND SPECULATED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN USED TO
PAY TURKISH CLAIMS AGAINST IRAQ.
DEUTSCH
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