US embassy cable - 05ANKARA2333

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002333 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2015 
TAGS: AM, ASEC, KCRM, MNUC, PARM, PINR, PTER, TU 
SUBJECT: UPDATE; CESIUM 137 CONFISCATED AT THE 
TURKISH/GEORGIAN BORDER 
 
REF: ANKARA 810 
 
Classified By: Acting Pol-Mil Counselor Maggie Nardi, reason 1.4 b/d. 
 
 1. (C) EXBS Advisor met with the President of the Turkish 
Atomic Energy Authority, Okay Cakiroglu, on April 22 to 
request an update on the status of the Cesium 137 that was 
seized in December.  Cakiroglu stated that the Cesium 137 was 
still safely stored at a Turkish secure facility near 
Istanbul while Turkey waits for further information 
concerning its origin. 
 
2.  (C) Cakiroglu informed EXBS Advisor that he had attempted 
to contact his counterpart in Armenia shortly after the 
seizure occurred, but was unable to reach him.  Cakiroglu 
also stated that IAEA informed him that they could not get a 
commitment from Armenia to properly dispose of the substance. 
 He also confirmed the information provided in reftel. 
 
3.  (C) Finally, Cakiroglu stated that the Cesium 137 would 
remain in its current location until the source country is 
willing to accept responsibility for it and to agree to 
properly dispose of it via internationally recognized methods. 
 
EDELMAN