US embassy cable - 05ANKARA3138

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PSI: MISSILE-RELATED TRANSFER TO IRAN VIA TURKEY

Identifier: 05ANKARA3138
Wikileaks: View 05ANKARA3138 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Ankara
Created: 2005-06-03 14:28:00
Classification: SECRET
Tags: PARM PREL ETTC MNUC TSPA IR TU MTCRE
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.

S E C R E T ANKARA 003138 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NP/CBM, EUR/SE, EUR/PRA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2015 
TAGS: PARM, PREL, ETTC, MNUC, TSPA, IR, TU, MTCRE 
SUBJECT: PSI: MISSILE-RELATED TRANSFER TO IRAN VIA TURKEY 
 
REF: A. ANKARA 3088 
     B. ANKARA 3053 
     C. STATE 99755 
     D. ANKARA 2836 
     E. ANKARA 2816 
 
Classified By: Acting DCM James R. Moore for reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
1. (S) MFA Deputy Director General for Disarmament and Arms 
Control Bulent Meric contacted PolMilCouns on June 3 
regarding the shipment of Chinese-origin missile-related 
equipment to Iran (reftels).  Meric said that the UK 
Ambassador had explained to MFA Deputy U/S Sensoy on June 1 
that HMG was doing its best to convince the Chinese to take 
back the shipment, but winning agreement would take time. 
Sensoy reportedly responded that Turkish authorities could 
only continue its hold on the material for a "reasonable 
amount of time."  He urged the British to redouble their 
efforts. 
 
2. (S) Meric also corrected a detail in what he told 
PolMilCouns on June 1 (ref A) -- he said the material was 
not/not in a free trade zone, but in a customs area. 
Nonetheless, the same regulations apply: unless the shipper 
applies to clear customs, the goods are not within Turkey's 
customs jurisdiction and "catch all" export controls cannot 
be applied.  Although the GOT continues to place its hope on 
the British efforts in Beijing, he confirmed, as he foretold 
previously (ref A), that at an interagency meeting on this 
issue on June 2 participants agreed to pursue an 
investigation of the various bills of lading for the shipment 
in the hope of turning up evidence of a false declaration. 
 
EDELMAN 

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