US embassy cable - 04ANKARA4021

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004021 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EB/ESC/TFS (EGOFF) 
S/CT (TNAVRATIL) 
NSC (MRUPPERT) 
TREASURY (JZARATE) 
OFAC DIRECTOR (RNEWCOMB) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, EFIN, ETTC, TU 
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCING:ANKARA:APPROACH TO EU ON 
PKK/KADEK/KONGRA GEL TERRORIST FINANCING ACTIVITIES 
 
REF: SECSTATE 144223 
 
Classified By: A/DCM JAMES MOORE. REASONS: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
1. (C) On 8 July, Econ Counselor delivered ref demarche to 
MFA Research and Intelligence DDG Hakan Okcal, who is 
responsible for both PKK and terrorist financing issues. 
Okcal described the USG intervention with EU countries as 
furthering the USG/GOT common strategy, and said that it was 
"very helpful." Okcal also noted that PKK fundraising efforts 
in Europe were "substantial"; that GOT has long been asking 
EU countries to prevent PKK fundraising; and that GOT has 
increased the pressure on those governments since 9/11. 
 
2. (C) Immediately following the meeting with Okcal, Econ 
Counselor met with MFA Americas Desk DDG Suna Ilicak, who 
likewise welcomed the USG intervention. Ilicak emphasized, 
however, that while GOT greatly appreciated the support 
provided by USG against PKK over the years, direct action 
against the PKK in northern Iraq was now needed. 
 
3. (C) On 13 July, PolMil Counselor shared ref demarche with 
TGS/J5 Strategy Chief MGen Cengiz Arslan.  Arslan expressed 
appreciation for the effort with the EU, but lamented that it 
was not more.  He recalled D/CHOD Gen Ilker Basbug,s 
comments at his 8 July press conference at which he said that 
the Turkish military was satisfied with the USG,s attitude 
toward the PKK, but that the U.S. had not met Turkey,s 
expectations regarding action against PKK terrorists in Iraq. 
 While Arslan would have preferred that the US act against 
terrorists in Iraq, he acknowledged that the effort with the 
EU was useful. 
DEUTSCH