This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005730
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MASS TU
SUBJECT: NINETEENTH SESSION OF U.S.-TURKEY SECURITY
COOPERATION WORKING GROUP
1. DSCA Director for Europe, Russia, the Americas, and
Sub-Saharan Africa Jeanne Farmer led a U.S. delegation to
Ankara Sept. 24 for the nineteenth session of the U.S.-Turkey
Security Cooperation Working Group (SCWG). Ms. Farmer and
her Turkish counterpart, Brigadier General Ali Akdogan,
discussed a wide range of security cooperation issues,
including Defense Industrial Cooperation, comparative
procurement procedures, Turkish use of IMET and other USG SC
funding, specific Turkish plans to purchase U.S. equipment
and programs, and Turkish concerns regarding disposal of
excess U.S.-origin materiel and USG third-party transfer
requirements. Both sides tentatively agreed to resume
Defense Industrial Cooperation (DIC) talks as well as the
twentieth SCWG meeting in early 2005. List of agreed action
items in para. three.
2. Highlights of the meeting included:
--Turkey's interest in U.S. procurement procedures. The U.S.
side advised that Turkey may wish to avail some of its
IMET funding (or its own) to take courses at the Defense
Acquisition University at Fort Belvoir, VA.
--Turkey's desire to market the capabilities of its
U.S.-origin aircraft depot level maintenance facilities.
U.S. side responded that USG cannot help Turkey market
itself, but advised Turkey to raise this issue at DIC talks
and also to consider visiting U.S. contractors who provide a
similar service to inquire as to their marketing practices.
--Turkey's ongoing problems dealing with excess U.S.-origin
equipment it obtained in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
Unfortunately, the Turks cannot provide documentation
regarding under what program these items were obtained, thus
making it difficult for them to dispose of the materiel. The
U.S. side recommended that the Turks make a one-time request
to dispose of this equipment in accordance with DoD
4160.21-M-1 (see action items para. three). This is also a
global issue with most countries that have purchased
U.S.-origin equipment under the former Military Assistance
Program (MAP).
--Turkey's desire to transfer some of this equipment to third
countries. U.S. side recommended the GOT request the
State Department to review third-party transfer statutes and
policy to deal with equipment whose transfer dates and
terms are indeterminable.
--Turkey views that the interest rates on "state-firm"
credits are above market rate. DSCA's Farmer responded
that DoD has no control over the setting of these previous
loan rates.
--DSCA's Farmer reported that a USG interagency working group
is studying the Customs and Defense Security Service
issue. She noted that Turkey was among many countries which
has run into problems with U.S. customs regulations in this
area.
3. Following is the agreed text of action items resulting
from the nineteenth U.S.-Turkey SCWG (note internal
paragraph numbering):
BEGIN TEXT
Action Items of the 19th Security Cooperation Working Group
(SCWG)
21-24 September 2004
The U.S.-Turkey Security Cooperation Working Group (SCWG) met
in Ankara, Turkey, September 21-24, 2004 and reaffirmed
the bilateral commitment to maintain a strong and strategic
bilateral defense partnership, to maintain regional
security and consultations on security issues affecting both
Turkey and the United States (US).
The following are agreed action items:
1. The GoT and USG agreed to transfer Industrial Cooperation
discussions and activities to include Depot
Level Maintenance on F-16, C-130, and KC-135 aircraft to the
Defense Industrial Cooperation (DIC) Committee. DIC
meetings tentatively scheduled January 2005.
2. USG to provide a list of Defense Acquisition Courses to
GoT, including courses that are eligible for
IMET funding.
3. GoT to provide a request to USG (DSCA) for approval to
dispose of inoperative US origin equipment received under
various programs whose transfers dates and terms are
indeterminable. This equipment will be demilitarized in
accordance with DoD 4160.21-M-1 and disposed of using the
terms and conditions of the Southern Region Amendment and
will be a one time request to relieve the burden of
maintaining and accounting for this equipment.
4. GoT to provide a letter of request from MGA to the
Department of State requesting a review of Third Country
Transfers and disposal procedures for items received under
various programs whose transfers dates and terms are
indeterminable.
5. USG to investigate the status of release of SLAM-ER
(AGM-84H) with Automatic Target Acquisition capability,
Joint Stand-Off Weapon (AGM-154C) and JASSM (Joint Air to
Surface Stand-off Missile, AGM-158).
6. Pursuant to the agenda, the US Embassy will provide an
update on outstanding Third Party Transfers cases to the
GoT by October 31, 2004.
END TEXT
4. Ms. Farmer cleared this cable.
EDELMAN