Cablegate: Turkey: Mfa Dipnote On Seebrig

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ANKARA 005961

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PM/RSAT A. BONFANTE; DSCA FOR J. TAYLOR; JCS FOR
CDR BRASWELL; OSD FOR COPSON-NIECKO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS MARR TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: MFA DIPNOTE ON SEEBRIG

1. On September 18, 2003, the Embassy received a diplomatic
note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (see para 2 for
complete text) on the South Eastern European Brigade
(SEEBRIG). Embassy faxed copy of the diplomatic note to
OSD's Maria Copson-Niecko in Istanbul.

2. Begin text of MFA note No. UNGY-II No: 7938:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States
of America and has the honor to refer to the proposed
temporary transfer of USG-provided communications information
system equipment to the Turkish company, Aselsan, which,
pursuant to a contract between the Turkish Ministry of
Defense and Aselsan, will integrate the equipment into
vehicles donated by the Government of Turkey for use by the
South Eastern European Brigade (SEEBRIG). The Government of
Turkey understands that in keeping with United States laws
and regulations, the United States Government may consider
consenting to this temporary transfer of such equipment only
upon first being furnished with assurances from the
Government of Turkey that it will not permit Aselsan to
retransfer the defense articles or any component thereof
(including technical information), by sale, lease, release,
assignment loan conveyance or any other means to any
government (with the exception of the Government of Romania,
acting as the next SEEBRIG headquarters host nation upon the
equipment's return), entity, international organization, or
person not an officer, employee, or agent of Aselsan or to
use the defense articles, or any component thereof (including
technical information), for any purpose other than for
integration into vehicles donated by the Government of Turkey
for use by SEEBRIG, pursuant to the agreement between Aselsan
and the Government of Turkey without first obtaining the
written consent of the United States Government. In
accordance with the foregoing, the Government of Turkey
hereby gives its assurances that, unless the written consent
of the United States Government is first obtained:

i) it will not permit Aselsan to retransfer this
communications information system equipment, or any component
thereof (including technical information), by sale, lease,
release, assignment, loan, conveyance or any other means to
any government (with the exception of the Government of
Romania upon the equipment's return to the SEEBRIG
headquarters host nation), entity, international organization
or person not an officer, employee or agent of Aselsan;

ii) it will not permit Aselsan the use of this communications
information system equipment, or any component thereof
(including technical information), for any purpose other than
for integration into vehicles donated by the Government of
Turkey for use by SEEBRIG, pursuant to the agreement between
Aselsan and the Government of Turkey, and,

iii) the Government of Turkey agrees to retain ultimate
responsibility for ensuring that any technical information
retained by Aselsan after all equipment furnished is returned
to the Government of Romania remains within the territorial
boundaries of Turkey and under the legal jurisdiction of the
Government of Turkey.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of
the United States of America the assurances of its highest
consideration.

Ankara, 15 September, 2003.

End of text.
EDELMAN

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