US embassy cable - 04ANKARA4212

S E C R E T ANKARA 004212 
 
SIPDIS 
 
BAGHDAD ALSO FOR MNF-I 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2024 
TAGS: PTER, PINR, MARR, MOPS, TU, IZ 
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA CLAIMS PKK SEEKS TO INTIMIDATE TURKISH 
COMPANIES IN KIRKUK 
 
REF: USDAO ANKARA IIR 6 898 0541 04 
 
Classified By: Acting DCM James Moore for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (S) MFA Director for Counterterrorism Ahmet Yildiz called 
in PolMilOff July 26 to discuss PKK/Kongra Gel activities in 
northern Iraq.  Specifically, he brought to our attention a 
report from Turkish intelligence that in early July the PKK 
sent a group of 25-30 terrorists to Kirkuk to attempt to 
intimidate Turkish companies and businesspeople there.  He 
believed their intent was either to drive off the companies 
and/or extort money.  He did not know whether Turks in Kirkuk 
had actually experienced any intimidation, however. 
 
2. (S) Yildiz said that the Turkish mission in Baghdad had 
presented this information to the Iraqi Interim Government in 
early July, but has received no response.  Noting that 
Turkish contact with the U.S. military had been reduced since 
the handover of sovereignty to the Iraqis, Yildiz asked that 
we bring this information to the attention of the U.S. 
military.  Yildiz would not say (or did not know) whether 
this information had been passed to us via intel channels. 
 
3. (S) ODC and DAO have confirmed that this information has 
not/not been passed through any military channel here in 
Ankara (including normal ops and intel channels as well as 
the EUCOM Intel Fusion Cell here in Ankara that interacts 
weekly with the TGS J2 personnel on Iraqi issues).  However, 
DAO has received a different but similar report through 
Turkish Special Forces regarding eight PCDK individuals 
seeking to sabotage Turkish companies in Kirkuk with TNT, as 
reported reftel. 
 
4. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
DEUTSCH