This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ANKARA 006085
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EB/TRA/OTP AND EUR/SE
ROME FOR CBP ROBERT STIRITI
PARIS FOR TSA
DHS FOR CSI - TODD HORTON
DEPT PASS TRANSPORTATION DEPT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT PTER ETRD PREL ETTC KTIA PBTS TU
SUBJECT: Turks Interested in Pursuing CSI
Ref: (A) Horton/Sirotic Email 10/15/04
(B) Ankara 5691 (C) State 198802
1. Basat Ozturk, Head of the MFA Maritime Department,
told Econoff on October 26 that GOT agencies had agreed
to respond "positively" to the proposed inclusion of
Turkey in the Container Security Initiative (CSI), and
asked that Embassy relay this official response to
Washington agencies. Ozturk cautioned that the GOT
needs to sort out internally how to reconcile CSI with
domestic legislation restricting access to customs areas
in Turkey. He noted this will likely require a
bilateral agreement, and possibly the approval of
Turkey's Parliament. Ozturk also said Turkish agencies
were gathering information requested ref C on customs
organization and on trade handled by the Port of Izmir,
and would provide this to us.
2. Ozturk told us that the GOT would welcome a visit by
U.S. officials to discuss CSI, including a visit to the
port of Izmir, though he emphasized that the GOT needs
some time to prepare so that the visit would be of
maximum use to both sides. Ref A states that an
interagency group would like to visit Turkey in November
or December. We recommend that DHS propose dates for a
visit after the end of the Ramazan holiday ending
November 16. Edelman