US embassy cable - 05ANKARA6248

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006248 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2030 
TAGS: KNNP, MNUC, PARM, PREL, TU 
SUBJECT: U/S JOSEPH DISCUSSES NONPROLIFERATION IN TURKEY, 
SEPT 29-30 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nancy McEldowney, reason 
1.4 b/d. 
 
1.  (S) Summary: Under Secretary Joseph urged Turkey to take 
a resolute stand on Iran's nuclear weapons program during his 
September 29-30 visit to Ankara. Finance Minister Unakitan 
pledged to work with the United States to address 
proliferation financing and requested additional information 
on companies identified as proliferators under E.O. 13382 so 
MOF could determine what action might be taken against them. 
He secured agreement from the Turkish General Staff to invite 
Central Asian observers to the PSI exercise Turkey will host 
in May 2006, and from the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority 
(TAEK) to permit U.S. experts to test a sample of uranium 
powder seized in a sting operation in Istanbul last month. 
State Minister for Customs and Foreign Trade Tuzmen informed 
U/S Joseph of plans to reform Turkey's free zones.  End 
Summary. 
 
2.  (U) During his Sept. 29-30 visit to Turkey, Under 
Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Robert 
 
SIPDIS 
Joseph met with Turkey's Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, 
Deputy Chief of the Turkish General Staff Isik Kosaner, State 
Minister for Customs and Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen and the 
President of the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) Okay 
Cakiroglu.  The Charge also hosted a dinner for U/S Joseph 
that was attended by Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
officials: Deputy Undersecretary Nabi Sensoy, Acting Director 
General for Multilateral Affairs Fatih Ceylan and Deputy 
Director General for Arms Control Bulent Meric. 
 
Iran 
---- 
 
3.  (C) U/S Joseph led open and frank discussions during each 
of his meetings about the problems that could occur should 
Iran's nuclear weapons program continue to develop.  U/S 
Joseph noted that the IAEA board of governors recently found 
Iran in violations of its obligations under the NPT.  All of 
U/S Joseph's interlocutors asserted that Turkey has been a 
strong supporter of the EU-3, and believe that diplomacy 
needs to be given a chance.  Turkey exists in a very "tough 
neighborhood" and needs to find ways to get along with its 
neighbors.  At the same time, both Kosaner and Sensoy noted 
that the Iran's nuclear program is a danger and that they do 
not want another nuclear-armed country in this region. 
However, they also cautioned that actions against Iran should 
be undertaken so as not to cause Iran to feel threatened.  An 
insecure Iran might lash out and not only develop nuclear 
weapons but also use them. Should this occur, Turkey could 
easily be a target. 
 
Executive Order 13382 
--------------------- 
 
4.  (C) U/S Joseph highlighted in meetings with Finance 
Minister Unakitan, MFA officials and State Minister Tuzmen 
the importance of using financial mechanisms as a new tool in 
the fight against proliferators.  As almost all individuals 
who participate in proliferation have some type of profit 
motive, taking away or freezing assets can greatly reduce the 
temptation to participate in these types of activities. 
 
5.  (C) Unakitan replied that Turkey does its best to combat 
proliferators and those individuals that finance these 
activities.  He recommended that the US and Turkey establish 
a network, likely through the Turkish FIU, to ensure his 
office has the required information.  He had not seen the US 
Executive Order and did not know whether any of the companies 
listed were actually operating within Turkey.  He asked for 
the US to provide any information the US had on operations by 
these entities in Turkey so that action could be taken.  U/S 
Joseph agreed the US should get back to him with this 
information. 
 
6.  (C) Meric stated during the dinner meeting his belief 
that if sufficient information is exchanged concerning 
companies or individuals that are engaged in or profiting 
from proliferation, Turkey has sufficient laws within its new 
penal code to take action against them.  Sharing of 
intelligence is the key to decreasing the financial 
attraction of proliferation.  It will also allow all 
countries involved to take action against these companies 
sooner and more effectively. 
 
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) 
--------------------------------------- 
 
7. (C) U/S Joseph noted in each meeting that PSI is an 
important tool in the effort to catch current proliferators 
and is a deterrent to future proliferators, and that Turkey's 
active participation in PSI efforts greatly enhances the 
initiative.  U/S Joseph recalled Turkey's long desire to be 
part of the PSI Core Group, and informed both Kosaner and 
Sensoy that the Core Group had been dissolved.  U/S Joseph 
congratulated TGS on the planning of the May 2006 
comprehensive air, land and maritime exercise Turkey will 
host (Anatolian Deer). 
 
8. (C) Kosaner noted that Turkey has long been a participant 
in the fight against proliferation and that PSI is a good 
tool to continue this fight.  Kosaner stated that cooperation 
and the sharing of intelligence is very important in this 
effort and is the key for any major success. 
 
9.  (C) TGS Deputy J5 for Arms Control BG Erinmezler provided 
an overview of the upcoming PSI exercise.  He said it will be 
divided into two parts with the command post exercise taking 
place in Ankara and the live exercise portion taking place in 
the Antalya area.  Turkey has received pledges of exercise 
support from France, Portugal and the United States.  Turkey 
is considering inviting non-PSI nations to observe the 
exercise in hopes of gaining their support for the 
initiative.  U/S Joseph encouraged TGS to consider including 
the Central Asians as observers.  Kosaner agreed. 
 
Free Zones 
----------- 
 
10.  (C) Tuzmen informed U/S Joseph that Turkey is in the 
process of reforming its free zones, improving the 
organization and the controls that exist within the zones. 
The free zones in Turkey are currently in compliance with EU 
standards.  Tuzmen stated that a shipment's documentation 
into and out of the zones should be checked twice, once on 
their way in and again when they are shipped out.  However, 
the high volume of container cargo that moves through Turkey 
makes it very difficult to visually inspect every shipment. 
Tuzmen believed that zones should not be blamed because they 
are abused by criminals, but the criminals themselves were 
the problem. He also encouraged the US to focus on all free 
zones, not just in Turkey, in order to ensure that countries 
imposing reforms are not harmed economically. 
 
Uranium Powder Seized in Istanbul 
---------------------------------- 
 
11. (S) U/S Joseph informed TAEK President Okay Cakiroglu of 
the U.S.'s desire to participate in joint forensic testing of 
the uranium powder that was seized in a police sting 
operation in Istanbul on Aug. 18.  Cakiroglu stated that 
Turkey has followed all steps to properly report to IAEA and 
protect the uranium powder that was seized.  TAEK Agreed to 
provide U.S. experts with a sample of the powder for 
additional testing as long as it is done in compliance with 
all IAEA procedures. 
 
12.  (C) Cakiroglu was not aware of what Turkish enforcement 
actions have been taken against the individuals that were 
attempting to sell the powder and recommended that U.S. 
officials contact the Turkish National Police for this type 
of information. 
 
Cooperation with Iraqi Nuclear Authority 
----------------------------------------- 
 
13. (C) U/S Joseph thanked TAEK for their willingness to 
assist in the development and improvement of the Iraqi 
Nuclear Authority.  Cakiroglu briefed the U/S on his visit to 
IAEA earlier in the week where he had spoken to Iraqi 
officials and reiterated his offer to provide assistance in 
the forms of training, information exchanges or even 
equipment.  He indicated that this assistance could assist in 
internal Iraqi efforts to decrease the amount of radioactive 
material and orphan sources that approach the Turkish border 
from Iraq. 
 
Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of 
Nuclear Energy 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
14. (U) Cakiroglu informed U/S Joseph of Turkey's desire to 
have U.S. companies participate in Turkish nuclear energy 
development.  He was specifically impressed with the products 
and pricing Westinghouse was reportedly able to offer, and 
wanted to have them participate in nuclear energy development 
in Turkey.  U/S Joseph stated that he was aware of the 
hold-up with the Agreement for Cooperation Concerning 
Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and noted that it must be 
approved by the U.S. Congress to allow U.S. companies to 
participate in the Turkish market.  He hoped it would move 
forward to Congress soon following promised progress on 
nonproliferation efforts.  The meetings U/S Joseph had during 
his visit would help him build support for the Agreement with 
Congress, he said. 
 
MCELDOWNEY