INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Blue Lantern: Verifying Bona Fides of Registered

Published: Tue 24 Nov 2009 10:15 AM
VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHAK #1687 3281015
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241015Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1307
INFO RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU
UNCLAS ANKARA 001687
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KOMC ETTC TU
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN: VERIFYING BONA FIDES OF REGISTERED
BROKER AHMET OSMAN MAYATEPEK- CASE NO. K-0071
REF: SECSTATE 99472
1. (SBU) We visited the office of Elsan Defense and
Communications (reftel) and met with Murat Unluturk (vice
president for contracts) and Ambassador (retired) A. Hikmet
Alp (senior advisor) on November 23. Unluturk told us that
the company does not engage in manufacturing or storage of US
Munitions List items, and is not a distributor of such
equipment. Rather, Elsan's core business is to serve as an
intermediary for U.S. and Turkish defense firms to identify
opportunities for U.S. clients in the Turkish market and to
help the Turkish armed forces and Turkish defense companies
locate sources and partners for defense-related projects.
2. (SBU) According to Unluturk, Elsan was founded in 1983.
The company is registered with and licensed by the Ministry
of Commerce to engage in business activities. The company
has registered with PM/DTCC since at least 2004, according to
Unluturk, and its registration has been renewed on an annual
basis since. In addition to founder and chairman Osman
Mayatepek, principal officers in the company include:
- Mr. Ersoy Volkan (CEO and CFO)
- Ambassador (retired) Ali Hikmet Alp (senior advisor to the
chairman)
- Murat Unluturk (Contracts Vice President)
- Deniz Findik (Administrative Manager)
3. (SBU) Elsan's U.S. clients include Boeing, Pratt and
Whitney, Force Protection, Global Seating Systems, Hydraulics
International, and Delex Systems. The company also has
clientele from Canada, Jordan, Israel and the Czech Republic,
although, Unluturk stressed, its relationship with non-U.S.
companies never involves USML items. Unluturk underscored
that the company only deals with established Turkish defense
firms, the Turkish Armed Forces and the Ministry of National
Defense on USML items.
4. (SBU) The company relocated its office in September 2009
and its new contact information is as follows:
Iran Caddesi 47/4-5
Ankara 06700 Turkey
Tel: (90) 312-428-8812
Fax: (90) 312-428-8801
Website: www.elsangroup.com
5. (SBU) The company representatives were cooperative and
answered all of our questions related to the company and are
open to answering any additional questions. Based on the
information presented in the meeting we believe that the
company is a bona fides company authorized to engage in
defense-related activities.
JEFFREY
"Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s
gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"
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