Wikileaks - DLVII
89623 12/15/2006 6:14 06ANKARA6661 Embassy Ankara UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY VZCZCXRO5898 RR RUEHDA DE RUEHAK #6661/01 3490614 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 150614Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0295 INFO RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1799 RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1434 RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 7661 RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0083 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 0940 RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 0249 RUEHCH/AMEMBASSY CHISINAU 0440 RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 0148 RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE 0368 RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA 1107 RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA 0254 RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 0177 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0122 UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006661
SIPDIS
DOJ/Crm/Swartz SIPDIS SENSITIVE
Ref: State 193421
E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL, KCRM, SNAR, KJUS, TU, BU SUBJECT: SECI ANTI-OC TRAINING SHOULD BE IN TURKEY
1. (SBU) Summary: Embassy Ankara recommends the U.S. take advantage of the existing advantages of Ankara-based TADOC for anti-organized crime training under the SECI umbrella as described reftel. Not only is TADOC a well-functioning international training academy but by using TADOC the USG will help reinforce Turkish engagement with SECI as well as U.S.-Turkish law enforcement cooperation, a key pillar in the bilateral relationship. End Summary.
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An Established, Well-Regarded Academy
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2. (SBU) Embassy Ankara sees little downside and much upside to pursuing the use of the Ankara-based TADOC (Turkish International Academy Against Drugs and Organized Crime) as the locus of anti-OC task force training under SECI auspices. TADOC is a state-of-the-art training facility that already offers anti-organized crime training to countries in the Balkans, Central Asia and Caucasus regions, much of it with UNODC funding. UNODC helped create TADOC and continues to support it financially. Some EU member countries (UK, Germany, Netherlands) have funded and organized training programs held at TADOC, as has the U.S. We question the use of USG funds at an untested facility when a well-functioning alternative already exists: as post understands it, the Sofia-based alternative is not yet a fully-functioning academy.
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Turkey Receptive but Unlikely to Add Funds
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3. (SBU) Our informal, preliminary inquiries with TADOC and MFA officials suggest Turkey in general and TADOC in particular would be very receptive to playing an enhanced role in organized crime training under a SECI umbrella provided the details could be worked out. Turkey's is a middle income economy under fiscal austerity and an IMF program and it has large and pressing development needs. As such, it is unlikely to provide substantial additional funding beyond what it already contributes to TADOC.
4. (SBU) Turkish MFA officials tell us this year Turkey will contribute $1.2 million to UNODC, well beyond the $500,000 required to sustain Turkey's major donor status. MFA officials told us that UNODC rules allow Turkey to use a portion of their contribution to fund TADOC when the academy has needs, thereby helping to ensure that TADOC has a reliable backstop funding source. Turkey has allocated $200,000 to TADOC this year. The MFA officials also said that Turkey is the second largest funder of SECI after the U.S., whereas other SECI countries contribute very little. Though Turkey is highly unlikely to fund travel and per diem costs for trainees from other countries, one advantage of using TADOC is the relatively low cost of lodging: currently $65 dollars per night.
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Embassy Engagement with TADOC
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5. (SBU) Multiple sections and agencies at Embassy Ankara are engaged with TADOC. DEA, FBI, Justice and State/INL have all used its facilities for training programs. TADOC's director, Celal Bodur, is a highly-respected and cooperative post contact. Going forward, if the U.S. decides to fund SECI anti-organized crime training at TADOC, Embassy Ankara will be as helpful as possible. Post reminds the Department that State Department staff available to work on these issues have been cut with the elimination in fiscal year 2007 of the junior officer position that has handled narcotics and anti-crime issues.
6. (SBU) Post sees substantial diplomatic and law enforcement advantages to using TADOC for the SECI training. First, by directing SECI training to a Turkish academy, we would help reinforce Turkey's commitment to SECI. As the largest country in SECI and the transit country for most Afghan-sourced opiates it is hard to overstate the importance of Turkish engagement to Southeastern European law
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enforcement cooperation in general and SECI in particular. (For the same reason, Turkey is a crucial partner for DEA.) The timing is good with regard to Turkey's relationship with SECI: Turkish officials seem to have gotten over their dismay at the failure of their candidate to win the SECI executive directorship in 2005 and we understand that the Turkish police are considering stationing a representative at SECI in Bucharest. MFA officials tell us Turkey's main reservation about SECI is that it does too little: they would be happy to see a stronger, more operational SECI.
7. (SBU) Second, the relationship between U.S. and Turkish law enforcement has been a pillar of the broader bilateral relationship: law enforcement cooperation has been steady throughout the recent ups and downs in the broader relationship. The Turkish law enforcement community is one constituency within the Turkish state that sees the importance of maintaining strong U.S.-Turkish relations.
Wilson
