VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHIT #0398 2891334
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY ADC5E192 MSI8643-695)
P 161334Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL ISTANBUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9286
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ISTANBUL 000398
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION
USAID FOR FMOORE/NNICHOLSON/JHILL/ANGASI; USAID/ASIA FOR
MELLIS; USAID/COO FOR TOM BRIGGS; USAID/ODP FOR KAREN
TURNER; AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN TASK FORCE FOR CHARLES NORTH
AND TOM GRAMAGLIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE TU UZ
SUBJECT: USAID AND TIKA PUSH FOR TRILATERAL COOPERATION
1. (SBU) Summary. In an October 6 meeting on the sidelines
of the IMF/WB summit with the leadership of Turkey's aid and
development organization, TIKA, the members of the USAID
delegation discussed food security in Central Asia and
Africa. They also discussed opportunities for trilateral
cooperation involving universities and NGOs from Turkey and
the United States in third country projects. USAID's
Assistant Administrator for Africa Franklin Moore emphasized
the long-term relationships built and maintained in such
trilateral projects - relationships that continue long after
the initial funding from international organizations ends.
USAID's Coordinator for Bilateral and Multilateral Affairs
Norm Nicholson also addressed the anticipated follow-up from
SRAP Holbrooke's office on a recent meeting on
Afghanistan/Pakistan in Washington. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Food Security in Africa: TIKA President Musa
Kulaklikaya introduced TIKA's activities in Africa, spanning
food security, climate change, poverty, health, and capacity
building. The development organization's Africa programs
constitute 20 percent of TIKA's budget and its African
Agricultural Development program operates in 13 countries
(Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Mali,
Senegal, Comoros Islands, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya,
Rwanda, and Uganda) although TIKA only has offices in
Ethiopia, Senegal, and Sudan. In the realm of food security,
the program focuses on forestry, fisheries, food production
and packaging. Kulaklikaya emphasized a focus on capacity
building in areas of weakness and the implementation of small
and medium-sized projects. An example of such an SMP is the
agricultural training of 235 people in Sudan over the last
two years. TIKA's work in Africa also addresses vocational
training - providing one to three months of training; potable
water and bore holes; and providing health services. TIKA
has treated close to 100,000 people over the last three years
in over 37 African countries through its projects in the
region.
3. (SBU) Central Asian Priority: The remaining 80 percent of
TIKA's budget is spent largely in the Balkans, Central Asia,
and the Middle East, with agriculture, health and
e-Governance capacity building constituting the majority of
its efforts in the regions. Moore agreed with Kulaklikaya's
sentiment that Central Asian food security is of extreme
concern and he congratulated TIKA's initiative to work in a
place that attracted few donors. Kulaklikaya listed among
TIKA's projects agricultural training projects in
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as well as agricultural and
fisheries projects in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. He noted
noting that it cooperates with the Swedish International
Development Agency in that region.
4. (SBU) Trilateral Cooperation: Moore proposed greater
trilateral cooperation with Turkey and the U.S. through joint
projects between the country's respective civil society or
universities in third countries. Moore and Kulaklikaya both
agreed that packaging and food security were two areas in
which trilateral work would be easiest and most effective.
Moore asked what links existed between US and Turkish
universities and suggested exploiting existing links and
promoting additional inks for trilateral work in Ethiopia or
Sudan, for example. Moore emphasized that the importance of
such projects lies in the relationship that continues after
the initial funding from international organizations ends.
While agreeing that such relationships were crucial to
international development, Kulaklikaya made an effort to note
that the relationship between USAID and TIKA in Uzbekistan
was "very bad" because TIKA did not receive the contribution
anticipated from USAID. Moore promised to follow up and see
how both sides
could nurture a better relationship.
5. (SBU) Afghanistan: Nicholson explained to Kulaklikaya
that he was waiting for a response to the recent meeting on
Afghanistan/Pakistan from SRAP Holbrooke's office.
Kulaklikaya noted that Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu met
with SRAP Holbrooke in New York and looks forward to the
follow up. Nichsolson added that he, too, would like Kabul's
response to a list of proposed projects.
WIENER