

Currently released so far... 12553 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
APECO
ASEC
AMGT
AFIN
APER
ACABQ
AORC
AEMR
AF
AE
AR
AGMT
AU
AY
ABLD
AS
AG
AJ
APCS
AX
AM
AMEX
ATRN
ADM
AMED
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AL
ASUP
AND
ARM
ASEAN
AFFAIRS
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AODE
APEC
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AO
ABUD
AC
ADPM
ADCO
ASIG
ARF
AUC
ASEX
AGAO
AA
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AIT
AADP
ASCH
AORL
AROC
ACOA
ANET
AID
AMCHAMS
AINF
AMG
AFU
AN
ALOW
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ACS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AGR
BEXP
BR
BM
BG
BL
BA
BTIO
BO
BP
BC
BILAT
BK
BU
BD
BRUSSELS
BB
BF
BBSR
BIDEN
BX
BE
BH
BT
BY
BMGT
BWC
BTIU
BN
CA
CASC
CFED
CO
CH
CS
CU
CE
CI
CM
CMGT
CJAN
COM
CG
CIS
CVIS
CR
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTER
CIA
CLINTON
CY
CPAS
CD
CBW
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CDG
CW
CODEL
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CARICOM
CB
CONDOLEEZZA
CWC
CACS
CSW
CIDA
CIC
CITT
CONS
CL
CACM
CDB
CDC
CAN
CF
CJUS
CTM
CBSA
CARSON
CT
CLMT
CBC
CEUDA
CV
COPUOS
CTR
CROS
CAPC
CAC
CNARC
CICTE
CBE
ECON
ETRD
EIND
ENRG
EC
ELAB
EAGR
EAID
EFIS
EFIN
EINV
EUN
EG
EPET
EAIR
EU
ELTN
EWWT
ECIN
ERD
EI
ETTC
EUR
EN
EZ
ETC
ENVI
EMIN
ET
ENVR
ER
ECPS
EINT
EAP
ES
ENIV
ECONOMY
EXTERNAL
EINN
EFTA
ECONOMIC
EPA
EXBS
ECA
ELN
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENGR
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
ELECTIONS
EIAR
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
ENERG
EFIM
EAIDS
EK
ETRDECONWTOCS
EINVETC
ECONCS
EUNCH
ESA
ECINECONCS
EUREM
ESENV
EFINECONCS
ETRC
ENNP
EAIG
EXIM
EEPET
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
ERNG
ETRO
ETRN
EINVEFIN
ICTY
IN
IS
IR
IC
IZ
IA
INTERPOL
IAEA
IT
IMO
IO
IV
ID
IRAQI
IEA
INRB
IL
IWC
ITU
ICAO
ISRAELI
ICRC
IIP
IMF
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
ILO
IPR
IQ
IRS
IAHRC
IZPREL
IRAJ
IDP
ILC
ITF
ICJ
IF
ITPHUM
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
IACI
IBET
ITRA
INR
IRC
IDA
ICTR
IGAD
INRA
INRO
IEFIN
INTELSAT
INTERNAL
INDO
ITPGOV
KWMN
KSCA
KDEM
KTFN
KIPR
KCRM
KPAL
KE
KPAO
KPKO
KS
KN
KISL
KFRD
KJUS
KIRF
KFLO
KG
KTIP
KTER
KRCM
KTIA
KGHG
KIRC
KU
KPRP
KMCA
KMPI
KSEO
KNNP
KZ
KNEI
KCOR
KOMC
KCFC
KSTC
KMDR
KFLU
KSAF
KSEP
KSAC
KR
KGIC
KSUM
KWBG
KCIP
KDRG
KOLY
KAWC
KCHG
KHDP
KRVC
KBIO
KAWK
KGCC
KHLS
KBCT
KPLS
KREL
KCFE
KMFO
KV
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVPR
KTDB
KSPR
KIDE
KVRP
KTEX
KBTR
KTRD
KICC
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KDEMAF
KMRS
KRAD
KOCI
KSTH
KUNR
KNSD
KGIT
KFSC
KHIV
KPAI
KICA
KACT
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCMR
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KNAR
KNUC
KPWR
KENV
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KPRV
KOM
KBTS
KCRS
KNPP
KWNM
KRFD
KVIR
KTBT
KAID
KRIM
KDDG
KRGY
KHSA
KWMM
KMOC
KSCI
KPAK
KX
KPAONZ
KCGC
KID
KPOA
KIFR
KFIN
KWAC
KOMS
KCRCM
KNUP
KMIG
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KJUST
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MX
MCAP
MO
MR
MI
MD
MK
MA
MP
MY
MTCRE
MOPPS
MASC
MIL
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MU
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MZ
MEETINGS
MG
MW
MAS
MT
MCC
MIK
ML
MARAD
MV
MERCOSUR
MTRE
MPOS
MEPP
MILITARY
MDC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MRCRE
MAPS
MEDIA
MASSMNUC
MC
NZ
NZUS
NL
NU
NATO
NP
NO
NIPP
NE
NH
NR
NA
NPT
NI
NSF
NG
NSG
NAFTA
NC
NDP
NEW
NRR
NATIONAL
NT
NS
NASA
NAR
NV
NORAD
NSSP
NK
NPA
NGO
NSC
NATOPREL
NW
NPG
NSFO
OPDC
OTRA
OIIP
OREP
OVIP
OSCE
OEXC
OIE
OPRC
OAS
OPIC
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFFICIALS
OECD
OSCI
OBSP
OFDA
OPCW
ODIP
OFDP
OES
OPAD
OCII
OHUM
OVP
ON
OIC
OCS
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PINR
PTER
PARM
PREF
PM
PE
PINS
PK
PHSA
PBTS
PRGOV
PA
PORG
PP
PS
PGOF
PL
PO
PARMS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PAK
POL
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PBIO
PINF
PNG
PMIL
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PAO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PTBS
PCUL
PROP
PNAT
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PROG
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
PGOC
PY
PCI
PLN
PDOV
PREO
PGIV
PHUH
PAS
PU
POGOV
PF
PINL
POV
PAHO
PRL
PG
PRAM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLICY
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGGV
PHUS
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PEL
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PBT
PTERE
RS
RU
RW
RM
RO
RP
REGION
RSP
RF
RICE
RCMP
RFE
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
RUPREL
RELATIONS
ROOD
REACTION
RSO
REPORT
SENV
SNAR
SCUL
SR
SC
SOCI
SMIG
SI
SP
SU
SO
SW
SY
SA
SZ
SAN
SF
SN
STEINBERG
SG
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SAARC
SL
SEVN
SARS
SIPRS
SHUM
SANC
SWE
SHI
SYR
SNARCS
SPCE
SYRIA
SEN
SH
SCRS
SENVKGHG
TRGY
TSPL
TPHY
TSPA
TBIO
TI
TW
THPY
TX
TU
TS
TZ
TC
TH
TT
TIP
TO
TERRORISM
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TL
TV
TNGD
TD
TF
TP
TFIN
TAGS
TK
TR
UNSC
UK
UNGA
UN
US
UNHRC
UG
UP
UNMIK
UNHCR
UE
USTR
UNVIE
UAE
UZ
UY
UNO
UNESCO
USEU
USOAS
UV
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNEP
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDP
UNPUOS
UNC
UNAUS
USUN
UNCHC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCSD
UNDC
USNC
USPS
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05ISTANBUL329, MUNICIPALITY TO FUND...
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05ISTANBUL329.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05ISTANBUL329 | 2005-02-28 14:25 | 2011-02-18 08:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Consulate Istanbul |
Appears in these articles: http://naviny.by/rubrics/abroad/2011/01/27/ic_articles_118_172210/ |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ISTANBUL 000329
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR G/TIP; SKOPJE FOR LEGAD CARLIN; BUCHAREST FOR
SECI/STURM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TU BO MD PHUM KCRM PGOV KJUS TIP IN TURKEY
SUBJECT: MUNICIPALITY TO FUND...
14:25 UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ISTANBUL 000329 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR G/TIP; SKOPJE FOR XXXXXXXX; BUCHAREST FOR SECI/STURM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TU BO MD PHUM KCRM PGOV KJUS TIP IN TURKEY
¶1. Summary and comment: In recent Istanbul meetings on trafficking in persons (TIP), XXX officer XXXXXX discussed the upcoming TIP report and Turkey's Tier 2 watch list placement with Istanbul prosecutors, municipal and governorate officials and the leading Turkish NGO on TIP issues. While XXXXXXX of the Istanbul municipality confirmed another year of funding for the Istanbul TIP shelter run by HRDF, he implied that the municipality did not wish to continue supporting the shelter indefinitely. Istanbul XXXXX asserted to XXXXXX that Turkey's role in trafficking is only as a transit, not a source country, and complained that cooperation from source countries has been insufficient to combat the problem globally. Bakirkoy and Istanbul XX downplayed separately to XXXXXX and Skopje XXXXXXXX the number of TIP cases in Istanbul, noting that most TIP victims were not involuntary, and bristled at the U.S. focus on Turkey's TIP problems. Comment: Although the new shelter for trafficking victims in Istanbul is at full capacity, the prosecutors in Istanbul are downplaying the problem. End summary and comment.
Municipality Confirms Continued Funding for Shelter
¶2. (SBU) In meetings January 27 with Istanbul prosecutors, municipal and governorate officials and the leading Turkish NGO on TIP issues, XXX foreign affairs officer XXXXXX discussed the upcoming TIP report and Turkey's placement on the Tier 2 watch list. Accompanying XXXXXX on the meetings were Ankara DAO XX XXXXXXXXX, FBI XXX at SECI XXXXXXXXXX, and Istanbul poloffs. XXXXXXX of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, XXXXXXX, was the bearer of good news. He confirmed to XXXXXX that in line with the protocol signed in 2004 between the municipality and the Human Resources Development Foundation (HRDF), the NGO focusing on TIP issues in Istanbul, the municipality will continue to financially support the TIP shelter run by HRDF after the current municipality-funded one-year lease expires in June 2005. He reassured XXXXXX that the municipality's support is not temporary, and that the municipality is committed to work with HRDF to deal with TIP victims. However, XXXXXXX statement that it is essential for NGOs to develop the necessary resources to become financially independent (referred to in the municipality's report on the visit in their website, www.ibb.gov.tr) implied that the municipality's financial support of the shelter will not continue indefinitely.
Shelter at Full Capacity
¶3. (SBU) Newly-appointed HRDF XXXXXXXXXXXX and shelter project XXXXXXXXXXXX briefed XXXXXXXXXXXX on the activities of HRDF's TIP shelter, the first and only shelter in Turkey, which opened in November 2004 after signing a protocol with the municipality, which paid the first year's rent. HRDF has also received funding for the shelter from XXXXXXXXXXXX. The shelter is on the top floor of an apartment building in XXXXXXXXXXXX; in order to protect the privacy of the victims, no visitors are allowed and the location is kept secret (XXXXXXXXXXXXX said she herself has not seen the shelter). Since the shelter opened, it has been at full capacity, housing a maximum of 11-12 victims. Four HRDF employees work in the shelter, including two Turkish citizen housing counselors of Russian origin and one of Molodovan/Bulgarian origin who are on duty at all times. (ХХХХХХХХХХХХ commented that most of the victims treated at the shelter to date have been of Moldovan and Ukrainian origin.) The counselors understand the Turkish bureaucracy, so are able to counsel the victims. Before entering the shelter, the police take statements from the victims. One HRDF counselor from the shelter participates in the initial interview, but no one from the shelter accompanies the victim to the police.
¶4. (SBU) Shelter XXXXXXXXXXXX told XXXXXXXXXXXX that HRDF provides a homelike environment for the victims in the shelter; if the victims have health problems, they are taken to hospitals and treated by psychologists. HRDF X XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX said in a later meeting that at least one victim had been referred to a mental health hospital on the recommendation of the shelter psychologist. The Ministry of Health issued a circular to all state hospitals ensuring that victims of trafficking will be treated free of charge. Victims can stay at the shelter for more than a week, particularly those with serious psychological problems, such as some who have tried to commit suicide by jumping out of buildings. Some victims have stayed over two months, including one Iranian woman. Since the shelter opened in November 2004 until late January 2005, it has assisted 32 victims of trafficking, some of whom are still in the shelter. ХХХХХХХХХХХХ noted that Turkey issues a humanitarian visa to victims of trafficking for those who are repatriated. IOM prepares the safe return of the victims, including providing passports and tickets, and contacting the home country to arrange their reception at a specific city.
HRDF: Good Cooperation with Police and MinInt
¶5. (SBU) According to HRDF XXXXXXXXXXXX, HRDF has excellent cooperation with law enforcement authorities and the Ministry of Interior. HRDF has conducted five training courses in TIP with prosecutors, judges, and police officers, and has made TIP agreements with the jandarma and with the police. XXXXXXXXXXXXX welcomed FBI XXX XXXXXXXXXX suggestion that HRDF set up a videoconferencing facility to assist in prosecution of those who involved in trafficking, in order to protect the victim's privacy. He described a successful pilot program the FBI has implemented using videoconferencing, in which the trafficked woman did not talk with the police, but did speak to the camera.
¶6. (SBU) HRDF has 8 full-time project officers and staff in the Istanbul/ XXXXXXXXXXXX office, as well as part-time project coordinators. In addition to its XXXXXXXXXXXX office, HRDF has a social center in Golcuk, and project offices both in the XXXXXXXXXXXX district of Istanbul and in Ankara. HRDF is the leading NGO in Turkey working on TIP, but has a network with other NGOs. In addition to TIP, HRDF's programs have assisted 400,000 women in the area of reproductive health, and 7,500 refugees.
¶7. (SBU) XXXXXXXXXXXX meeting at the Governor's office was less productive, because XXXXXXXXXXXX at the Istanbul Governor's office, XXXXXXXXXXXX, was not well-briefed on the TIP problem in Istanbul. XXXXXXXXXXXX who had worked on XXXXXXXXXXXX for XXXXXXXXXXXX years in the XXXXXXXXXXXX office in XXXXXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXXXXXX was familiar with the six Istanbul shelters for street children and women who had been sexually assaulted, run by the municipality and by the social services division of the governor's office, but had no information on the HRDF shelter.
Istanbul Chief Prosecutor: Turkey only a Transit Country
¶8. (SBU) Meeting with Istanbul XXXXXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXXXXXX noted that TIP is a human rights issue, and discussed Turkey's placement on Tier Two of the watch list. XXXXXXXXXXXX agreed that trafficking in persons is one of the most serious violations of human rights, and his office was determined to do what it could to combat TIP. XXXXXXXXXXXX noted that Turkey has started a determined campaign to combat trafficking, and that in 2002 the penal code was amended to include trafficking – proving Turkey's determination. While some countries criticize Turkey for their lack of action in the TIP area, XXXXXXXXXXXX stressed that many countries have more serious TIP problems than Turkey.
¶9. (SBU) XXXXXXXXXXXX claimed that Turkey's role in trafficking is only as a transit, not a source, country. Turkey has been placed in an unfortunate position due to its geography: all source countries are neighbors with or close to Turkey. Because the former Soviet republics are in a state of economic crisis, their residents want to emigrate – and the demand for cheap labor is one of the main causes of trafficking. He believed that many of those from former Soviet republics who stay in Turkey do so willingly, to engage in prostitution. Others are victims of organized crime brought to Turkey by force. XXXXXXXXXXXX did not think that TIP in Istanbul was related to drug trade. He stressed that cooperation from source countries is essential to reduce the problem, but source country efforts to date have been insufficient to combat the problem globally.
¶10. (SBU) XXXXXXXXXXXX noted that human trafficking must be distinguished from illegal immigration, an overlapping problem in Turkey. The Istanbul district has handled 21 incidents of trafficking in person and 95 cases of illegal immigration since the penal code was amended in 2002. It takes a long time to reach a verdict in TIP cases: of the 21 cases, only 4 have been resolved in the Istanbul court; 3 or 4 were sent to other courts, and the remaining were still ongoing. XXXXXXXXXXXX office informs embassies of source countries about the cases. If the victims are in Turkey voluntarily, they usually are sent back to their countries. If the victims were brought to Turkey by force, they are referred to a psychologist; such cases are outside the jurisdiction of XXXXXXXXXXXX office and are generally referred to the governor's office. Deportations are the responsibility of administrative divisions of Istanbul – they are not the job of XXXXXXXXXXXX. XXXXXXXXXXXX stressed that source countries do not help Turkey resolve TIP cases, because they often do not want victims repatriated and do not provide enough money to send them back (including visa/hotel/transportation costs). Turkey thus faces huge expenses in repatriating the victims. He commented that if the other countries involved would cooperate with Turkey, the problem would not have reached such dimensions.
¶11. (SBU) XXXXXXXXXXXX responded positively to the suggestion of XXXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXXXXXX at SECI, to introduce videoconferencing to XXXXXXXXXXXX to assist in TIP cases. While videoconferencing would be useful, XXXXXXXXXXXX noted that such a decision would have to be made at a higher level in Ankara. XXXXXXXXXXXX said that XXXXXXXXXXXX already has a judicial program with SECI; he himself participated in a seminar in XXXXXXXXXXXX on XXXXXXXXXXXX.
¶12. (SBU) Bakirkoy XXXXXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXXXXXX the indictment of four men in connection with a TIP-related suicide of a Belarusian woman in Bakirkoy, met with XXXXXXXXXXXX January 27 and with TIP speaker XXXXXXXXXXXX Skopje, February 11. He shared with XXXXXXXXXXXX the documents on the indictment of four men in connection with the case of Belarusian citizen XXXXXXXXXXXX, who he said died in the hospital after jumping out of the window. XXXXXXXXXXXX, one of the two other TIP victims sharing an apartment with XXXXXXXXXXXX, witnessed the incident. XXXXXXXXXXXX asserted Turkey is a democratic country, and victims are not pressured by the police. He noted that penalties for TIP-related crimes causing trauma are heavy: 5-10 years for trafficking, 1-5 years for limiting freedom, and 1-3 years for encouraging prostitution – all of which could be added together, leading to a 25 year sentence. (Note: Under the revised penal code taking effect April 1, 2005, these penalties will be increased, including 8-12 years for trafficking.)
¶13. (SBU) XXXXXXXXXXXX stressed to both XXXXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXXXXXX that the crime rate in Istanbul is low for a city of 16 million, compared to that in large cities in other countries. According to XXXXXXXXXXXX, the Bakirkoy XXXXXXXXXXXX district handles the largest number of TIP cases in Turkey, followed by Ankara, Izmir, and the Istanbul districts of Kadikoy and Sultanahmet. Both XXXXXXXXXXXX and Istanbul XXXXXXXXXXXX downplayed the number of TIP cases in Istanbul, noting that most TIP victims were not involuntary, and that illegal immigration was the greater problem in Istanbul. They also bristled at the U.S. focus on Turkey's TIP problems, asking why we are not pressing France, Italy and Spain on the TIP issue.
¶14. (U) This cable has been cleared by Embassy Ankara.
ARNETT