US embassy cable - 04ANKARA1317

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001317 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT. FOR S/CT, EUR/SE AND NEA/NGA; BAGHDAD ALSO FOR CJTF-7 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, MOPS, TU, IZ 
SUBJECT: IRAQ: TGS DEPUTY J-3 REPORTS KONGRA-GEL FRONT 
KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC SOLUTION PARTY PLANNING MARCH 16 
RALLY, ASKS U.S. TO PREVENT IT, CLOSE KDSP OFFICES 
 
 
(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch.  Reasons 1.4 (a) and 
(b). 
 
 
1. (C) In a March 1 meeting between the Turkish General Staff 
(TGS) Deputy J-3, MG Kalyoncu, and Chief, Office of Defense 
Cooperation Turkey, MG Peterson, MG Kalyoncu made the 
following points: 
 
 
--The Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party, the political 
front for the PKK/Kogra-Gel, has opened twenty offices (eight 
PKK political offices in Kirkuk alone) in Northern Iraq.  MG 
Kalyoncu questioned why the U.S., which has sovereign 
responsibility for Iraq, would allow a terrorist organization 
to maintain offices throughout the country. MG Kalyoncu said 
the political wing of the PKK was on the rise and intended to 
exploit the situation in Iraq in order to eventually become a 
major political player in the country.  MG Kalyoncu hoped the 
U.S. would take action to close these offices. 
 
 
--MG Kalyoncu claimed that the Kurdistan Democratic Solution 
Party intended to hold a rally in Kirkuk on March 16.  He 
asked that the U.S. intervene to prevent the rally. 
 
 
--MG Kalyoncu noted that the TGS D/CHOD General Basbug, will 
expect an update on U.S. operational planning against 
PKK/Kongra-Gel elements in northern Iraq during his upcoming 
counterpart visit to the United States later in March. 
 
 
2. (C) Action request.  Post requests that the Department and 
CPA work with appropriate authorities to prevent the rally 
planned for March 16 in Kirkuk and consider taking action 
against political offices known to be supporting PKK 
terrorist planning/logistics/operations. 
 
 
3. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
EDELMAN