Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 04ANKARA5168, TURKEY: AFTER FOURS YEARS, THE STATUS OF THE TOXIC

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.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

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. #04ANKARA5168.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
04ANKARA5168 2004-09-14 10:11 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Ankara
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

141011Z Sep 04
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005168 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SE, EUR/PCI, OES/PCI, OES/ETC, OES/SAT, 
NEA/PPR 
PLEASE PASS USDA/FOREST SERVICE, EPA/OIA 
 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV TBIO TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY:  AFTER FOURS YEARS, THE STATUS OF THE TOXIC 
CARGO OF THE MV ULLA HAS BEEN SOLVED - IT SANK 
 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  After nearly four years in which Turkish 
officials avoided confronting the problem, the Spanish ship 
MV Ulla, moored in Iskenderun harbor and loaded with 2.2 
tons of ash laden with toxic heavy metals, sank just days 
before it was scheduled to depart for Spain.  Environmental 
NGOs' led by Greenpeace and the captain of the ship had 
warned Turkish authorities that the risk of the ship sinking 
was were very high.  Following the sinking, Turkey's 
Forestry and Environment Ministry banned fishing in the area 
and is analyzing the damage to prepare for removing the 
toxic waste and mitigating environmental damage.  Who will 
pay has not been decided.  End Summary. 
 
A LONG PROCESS THAT DEGRADES THE VESSEL 
--------------------------------------- 
 
2.  The Spanish cargo ship, MV ULLA, was stuck in legal 
limbo for four years as Spain and Turkey argued over who 
should take responsibility for the hazardous cargo and local 
Turkish officials insisted on payment for port services - 
and according to the press, some bribes.  The long delay 
meant that the ship was increasingly unsafe. It finally sank 
this week in the Turkish Mediterranean port of Iskenderun, 
with its 2.2 tons of toxic fly ash cargo. 
 
3.  The issue started in 2000 when MV ULLA, loaded with fly 
ash from Spanish coal-fired power plants, arrived at 
Turkey's Mediterranean port of Iskenderun after Algeria 
turned away the cargo, which was intended as filler in a 
construction project.  Scientific analysis of the cargo 
revealed that the waste contained levels of chromium 
exceeding the legal standards set by Turkish law. 
Importation of such hazardous waste in Turkey is banned 
under the Basel Convention, which governs - and severely 
restricts - transboundary movements of hazardous wastes. 
 
4.  Turkish officials fined the ship and asked Spain to take 
back "MV ULLA" and the hazardous waste on board.  Turkey 
also asked the assistance of the Basel Convention 
Secretariat to find a solution for this issue.  To avoid any 
 
SIPDIS 
damage to the sea and coastal environment, the Turkish 
Environment Ministry (MOEF) asked the local court to keep 
the ship in the port of Iskenderun until the Spanish 
government agreed to accept the ship.  In the meantime the 
Turkish ship agent Mavi Sea Transportation Co. asked the 
court to sequester the ship until it received compensation 
for its losses. 
 
COULD IT BE A SABOTAGE, ASKS THE TURKISH MINISTER 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
5.  As news of the September 6 sinking hit the press, 
Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe said that Spain 
and Turkey had recently reached an agreement that would have 
returned the vessel to Spain in just a few days.  He voiced 
his suspicion that because the ship sank right before its 
scheduled departure, it might have been the result of 
sabotage.  The press reported that Pepe asked Spain to pay 
compensation for the damage and the clean-up. According to 
recent press articles, Spanish officials offered help to 
Turkey to cope with the pollution. 
 
6.  The Deputy Governor of Hatay (the province where 
Iskenderun is located) Cafer Odabasi rejected the 
allegations for of sabotage on the grounds that the sinking 
of the vessel was normal after staying four years at sea. 
The ship's captain said he had warned authorities over three 
months ago of the dangerous situation, and a Greenpeace 
official told us the group had repeatedly warned officials 
about the degraded state of the vessel, and that it posed an 
immediate risk of marine contamination. 
 
RESULT: THE MARINE LIFE THAT SUFFERS 
------------------------------------ 
 
7.  The extend extentof the damage to the local environment 
and the cost of the clean up are not known.  The ship is 
completely submerged, but it is not known whether the ship 
is broken up and to what extent the cargo has escaped. 
 
8.  Environmental NGOs, headed by Greenpeace Mediterranean, 
Environment Protection Association, and Eastern 
Mediterranean Environment Associations, protested the slow 
bureaucracy and diplomatic actions and requested that the 
area to be cleaned-up immediately through cooperation with 
Spanish authorities.  Greenpeace Mediterranean Toxic Wastes 
Campaign Director Banu Dokmecibasi said both Turkish and 
Spanish governments were warned about the bad conditions 
under which the vessel was waiting and the possibility of 
sinking.  She said the governments did not consider this a 
serious issue. 
 
9.  A Turkish MFA official told Embassy Environmental 
Specialist that it became the responsibility of the MOEF 
after the vessel sank. The official said that a crisis desk 
had been established in the MOEF in order to carry out the 
necessary biological and chemical analysis and on-site 
investigations. The extent of the harm will be identified 
and the appropriate mitigation measures will then be 
determined on the basis of the findings.  The official also 
said MOEF banned fishing and water sports around the sunken 
vessel. 
 
10.  Around 10,000 people in the region who depend on the 
sea to make a living will suffer the immediate impact of the 
accident.  The long-range damage to the environment and 
human health are not known.  Greenpeace Mediterranean Toxic 
Wastes Campaign Director Banu Dokmecibasi said fly ash 
contained chromium (Cr+6), which is a heavy metal that 
causes cancer and harms marine life.  The press reported 
that 80 years would be needed to erase all traces of damage 
to the environment. 
 
IS TURKEY SEEN AS THE TOXIC WASTE DISPOSAL POINT? 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
11.  COMMENT: MV ULLA is not the only toxic waste problem 
that GOT is struggling with.  Embassy's Regional 
Environmental Office reported the cases of Italian toxic 
barrels on the Black Sea shores and Sea Beirut several times 
in the past. Unfortunately, no solid steps to solve these 
problems can be reported at the moment. End comment. 
EDELMAN