US embassy cable - 04ANKARA7059

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 06 ANKARA 007059 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y (CHANGED CLASSIFIED BY REASONS) 
 
STATE FOR S/CT AND TTIC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2014 
TAGS: ASEC, PGOV, PREL, PTER, TU 
SUBJECT: TURKEY: 2004 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Robert S. Deutsch; reasons 1.4 (b 
) and (d). 
 
 
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OVERVIEW 
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1. (U) Combating terrorism has long been a priority for the 
Government of Turkey (GOT).  In 2004, Turkey continued its 
strong support of the coalition in the global war against 
terror in Afghanistan by agreeing to assume command of the 
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan 
for a second time.  It will command ISAF VII from February to 
August 2005, contributing up to 1,500 troops. 
 
2. (U) Domestic and transnational terrorist groups have 
targeted Turks and foreigners, occasionally including USG 
personnel, for over 40 years.  International and domestic 
terrorist groups operating in Turkey include 
Marxist-Leninist, radical Islamist, separatist, and 
pro-Chechen groups.  In response to these threats, GOT has 
developed both strong determination and the capability to 
fight most domestically-based terrorism.  Overall, Turkey 
continues to support the USG's international, coordinated 
approach, but that support can be modulated, particularly 
when Turkish citizens are part of investigations. 
3. (U) A criminal trial is underway for dozens of defendants 
allegedly involved in the November 2003 Istanbul bombings. 
The lead defendants have admitted to contacts with Al-Qaeda 
and warned of further attacks if Turkey continues to 
cooperate with the U.S. and Israel.  However, most of the 
other defendants denied any responsibility for or knowledge 
of the bombings.  Verdicts and sentences are not expected 
until sometime next year. 
4. (U) On March 9, a suicide attack against an Istanbul 
Masonic lodge killed two and wounded seven.  There appear to 
be connections between this attack and the murder of a Jewish 
dentist in Istanbul in 2003, as well as with the November 
2003 bombings (one of those arrested and charged after this 
attack is also a defendant in that trial).  The circumstances 
of this attack, moreover, suggest that it may have been 
executed by Islamic extremists against what they believed was 
a "Zionist" or Jewish target.  Thirteen suspects were 
originally charged and a criminal trial is underway. 
U.S. Designated Terrorist Organizations 
 
5. (U) On October 8, 1997, the Secretary of State named the 
separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the 
Marxist-Leninist Revolutionary People's Liberation 
Party/Front (DHKP/C, formerly known as Revolutionary Left, 
Dev-Sol) terrorist organizations, making them subject to the 
Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996.  (The 
PKK changed its name to the Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy 
Congress, or KADEK, and in November 2003 changed names again, 
becoming the Kurdistan People,s Congress, KHK.  The USG 
quickly indicated that the group will continue to be viewed 
as a terrorist organization.) 
 
Marxist-Leninist 
 
6. (U) The main radical-left terror organization, DHKP-C, 
conducts small-scale operations against Turks and foreigners 
alike (armed attacks on uniformed police, suicide and other 
bombings, assassinations).  This organization continued to 
target Turkish and western interests after the Iraq war and 
continues to organize itself predominantly within Europe. 
According to government authorities, DHKP-C cooperates with 
other groups in Europe by providing support, shelter, and 
arms to them.  Turkish authorities believe there has been a 
resurgence in membership attributed to the left's 
dissatisfaction with the current government, which has 
Islamist roots.  DHKP-C claimed responsibility for more than 
30 bombing attacks against Turkish targets in 2004.  They 
continue to attack U.S. foreign policy in their rhetoric, 
especially with regard to Iraq, and credible reporting 
continues to suggest that American interests remain on their 
target list.  In a series of attacks launched prior to the 
2004 NATO Summit, DHKP/C and the Marxist-Leninist Communist 
Party (MLKP) placed or attempted to place IEDs on the fringes 
of the pre-Summit security perimeters to signal their 
displeasure with political events in Iraq and embarrass the 
GOT prior to hosting NATO members.  A Turkish policeman was 
seriously injured when one of these IED's planted near the 
hotel where the U.S. President was to stay was detonated. 
 
7. (U) The second active far-left terrorist organization is 
the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP).  MLKP conducts 
small-scale terrorist operations, usually using IEDs called 
"sound bombs," within metropolitan areas.  MLKP continues to 
conduct a low-level bombing campaign against western 
businesses in all the major Turkish cities in 2003.  In each 
instance, a sound bomb was placed on a doorstep or in the 
vicinity of a business in the evening hours when injury to 
innocent bystanders was least likely.  These sound bombs 
result in minimal damage.  MLKP is deemed responsible for a 
sound bomb attack on the Ankara Turkish American Association 
in 2004.  Other far-left terrorist organizations that have 
followings in Turkey include the Turkish Communist 
Party/Marxist-Leninist (TKP/ML), Turkish Workers'and the 
Peasants Liberation Army (TIKKO).  TKP/ML and TIKKO primarily 
operate in the areas of Ordu, Tokat, and Samsun. 
 
Radical Islamist 
 
8. (U) The primary radical Islamist terror group of Turkey is 
Turkish Hizbullah.  Known to fight its rivals, namely the PKK 
(and its successors) and rival Islamic groups, Turkish 
Hizbullah has avoided confrontations with authorities. 
Turkish Hizbullah has not carried out any major operations in 
2004 but, according to state authorities, continues to 
maintain the capability to conduct operations.  Local press 
has speculated that Hizbullah may have played a role in the 
November bombings in Istanbul. 
 
9. (U) Other Islamic groups include the Great Eastern 
Raider's Front (IBDA-C), Federal Islamic State of Anatolia 
(Kaplancilar), Selam Group, Islamic Movement Organization 
(IHO), the Jerusalem Warriors, Selefiler, Sofular, and 
Beyyiat-I El-Imam.  Both IBDA-C and Beyyiat-I El-Imam are 
sympathetic to Al Qaida.  IBDA-C claimed to have conducted 
the Istanbul bombings in November 2003, but Turkish 
authorities said publicly that the group could not have 
conducted the operation without the assistance of a larger 
organization such as Al Qaida, and IBDA-C has a track record 
of claiming responsibility for a range of terrorist actions.. 
 
Separatist 
 
10. (U) KHK or Kongragel, formerly known as the PKK and, 
later, KADEK, is the largest separatist organization in 
Turkey.  The group has stated that it intends again to launch 
attacks against the GOT in Turkey's western cities.  The 
group's capabilities for such activities remain an open 
question.  KHK,s capability to operate has been drastically 
reduced due to vigorous and on-going counter-insurgency 
efforts of the Turkish Armed Forces, Jandarma, Turkish 
National Police (TNP), and village guards (a paramilitary 
guard force recruited from local villagers).  This effort 
ultimately led to the arrest and conviction of PKK leader 
Abdullah Ocalan in 1999.  The European Union (EU) designated 
the PKK a terrorist organization in May 2002.  In April 2002 
the group changed its name and organization.  Renamed the 
Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK), the 
organization expanded its operations by focusing more on 
political activities.  In November 2003, KADEK changed its 
name to the Kurdistan People,s Congress (KHK or Kongragel) 
and now claims to be an organized political group advocating 
Kurdish rights. 
 
11. (U) In the summer of 2004, KADEK renounced its 
self-proclaimed cease-fire and threatened to renew its 
separatist struggle in both the Southeast and Turkey's 
western cities.  Turkish press subsequently reported multiple 
incidents in the Southeast of PKK/KADEK/KHK terrorist actions 
or in which Turkish security forces clashed with 
PKK/KADEK/KHK militants.  From June 1 to October 28, 2004, 60 
Turkish security personnel, 13 civilians, and 58 terrorists 
were killed and 865 terrorists captured, according to 
information from the GOT.  PKK/KADEK/KHK maintains 
approximately 500-armed militants in Turkey and up to 5,000 
armed militants in Northern Iraq, according to Turkish 
government experts and NGOs.  As part of the GWOT, the U.S. 
is committed to eliminating the threat to Turkey posed by the 
PKK/KADEK/KHK in Iraq. 
 
Chechens in Turkey 
 
12. (U) Although Chechen terrorists did not conduct any major 
operations in Turkey in 2004, they maintain the capability to 
do so, according to Turkish officials.  Large numbers of 
Turks, many with roots in the Caucasus, are sympathetic to 
Chechen ambitions.  In April 2002, Mustafa Yilmaz, a Turkish 
citizen of Chechen origin, seized the Marmara Hotel in 
Istanbul and held 13 hostages for approximately twenty 
minutes until he surrendered without incident.  This followed 
an April 22, 2001 seizure of Istanbul's Swiss Hotel by 13 
pro-Chechen Turkish citizens who held 150 hostages, including 
37 Americans, for approximately 12 hours. 
 
13. (U) The capitalized titles below correspond to reftel 
questions. 
 
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GOT ACTIONS SUPPORTING THE GLOBAL COALITION AGAINST TERRORISM 
(A) 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------- 
 
14. (U) Turkey remained a strong and active contributor to 
the Global War on Terrorism effort.  A number of factors make 
U.S. policies, notably affecting Iraq, unpopular in Turkey. 
Over time, this could undermine Turkey's strong support of 
the GWOT.  Turkey agreed to assume command of the 
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan 
for a second time.  It will command ISAF VII from February to 
August 2005, contributing up to 1,500 troops. 
 
15. (U) Turkey permitted the transport to Iraq of 
humanitarian goods, contributed humanitarian goods and 
services and sold vital material such as fuel, food and water 
to U.S. forces in Iraq.  They also allowed Incirlik to be 
used for the outbound rotation of US troops returning from 
Iraq.  Turkey was also active in reconstruction efforts, 
including the provision of electricity to Iraq and the 
training of Iraqi diplomats.  Some 70 Turkish citizens have 
been killed while supporting U.S. forces or reconstruction in 
Iraq.  It has contributed headquarters personnel to the NATO 
training mission in Iraq and offered senior military 
leadership training in Turkey as a further contribution to 
NATO's Iraq training mission. 
 
16. (U) Turkey has also been an active partner on other 
fronts in the global war on terrorism and international 
security: Our militaries coordinated assistance to Georgia 
and Azerbaijan, improving their abilities to protect 
important energy transportation routes.  Turkey subscribes to 
every arms control arrangement it is eligible to join, 
including the Proliferation Security Initiative.  Ankara has 
been supportive of international efforts to convince Iran to 
meet its commitments to the IAEA.  The Turkish military's 
Partnership for Peace Training Center provides counterrorism 
and other training to personnel from PFP partner countries. 
The military also established a NATO Center of Excellence for 
the Defense Against Terrorism that will provide more 
specialized training opportunities for both NATO partner 
nations and alliance members beginning in 2005. 
 
17. (SBU) In compliance with UN Security Resolution 1373, 
Turkey has ratified all United Nations conventions on 
combating terrorism.  However, Turkey has acted (by Council 
of Ministers decrees) to freeze the assets only of those 
terrorist organizations, persons, and entities designated 
pursuant to UN Security Council resolution 1267 (relating to 
Taliban and Al-Qaida), because Turkish law does not currently 
permit it to freeze the assets of other such organizations, 
persons, and entities.  The initial decree, No. 2001/3483, 
dated December 22, 2001, has been updated by decree Nos. 
2002/3873, dated March 21, 2002, 2002/4206, dated May 16, 
2002, 2002/4896, dated October 1, 2002, and 2002/5426, dated 
March 28, 2003.  Turkey needs to pass laws that will: 1) 
explicitly criminalize the financing of terrorism; 2) resolve 
jurisdictional disputes between courts; 3) make it easier to 
seize terrorists, assets; 4) improve functioning of MASAK 
(the Turkish financial intelligence analysis unit); and 5) 
strengthen the Suspicious Transaction reporting regime.  The 
US and EU have begun assisting Turkey in drafting legislation 
and implementation that Turkish officials say will meet these 
needs. 
 
18. (U) Turkish efforts to seize the assets of those who fund 
terrorist organizations have been further hampered by 
insufficient training and limited cooperation between 
agencies.  The U.S. and EU assistance referenced above is 
intended as well to address these deficiencies.  The success 
of these efforts will in large part be dependent on political 
support from top levels of the GOT. 
 
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RESPONSE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM (B) 
----------------------------------- 
 
19. (U) Parliament in June adopted legislation closing the 
State Security Courts (DGM), special courts designed to try 
cases involving terrorism and other "crimes against the 
State."  Under the legislation, the Government created new 
specialized heavy penal courts to take on most of the former 
DGM caseload.  The new courts have special powers similar to 
those of the DGMs.  Average trial times run more than a year, 
and defendants in the specialized courts are usually 
incarcerated during their trials. 
 
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EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS (C/D) 
----------------------------------------- 
 
20. (U) In 2004, the Republic of Turkey did not seek the 
extradition of any suspects from the United States on 
terror-related charges, nor did the United States seek the 
extradition of such suspects from Turkey.  There are no 
impediments to host government prosecution and/or extradition 
of suspected terrorists.  In several instances where 
countries in the region have sought rendition/extradition of 
suspected terrorists located on Turkish territory, the 
process has proven difficult. 
 
21. (U) In the past, Turkey has faced difficulty in 
extraditing terror-related suspects from European countries. 
According to government officials, Turkey has requested the 
extradition of 245 high level administrators of terrorist 
organizations since 1991.  Sympathy with Kurdish political 
and cultural aspirations in some European states, allegations 
of torture by Turkish officials, and Turkey's legal provision 
for the death penalty have all proved impediments to such 
extraditions.  However, in August 2002, as a part of the 
European Union reform package, the Turkish Parliament passed 
a law banning the use of the death penalty. 
 
------------------------------------ 
RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECUTION (E) 
------------------------------------ 
 
22. (U) Turks see themselves to be among the world's primary 
victims of terrorism.  They cite the 15-year insurgency of 
the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and the worldwide 
assassination campaign against the Turkish diplomats and 
their families by Armenian activists of the 1970s and 1980s. 
They have long complained about European countries' harboring 
Kurdish (PKK), leftist (DHKP-C) and Islamist (Hizbullah, 
Kaplanists) terrorists.  The Turkish government and media 
were quick to respond to the events of September 11.  At all 
levels, there was an outpouring of sympathy and solidarity. 
There was widespread public sentiment that now others were 
beginning to experience what Turks had lived with for years. 
Turkey's pre-9/11 historic cooperation with the U.S. in law 
enforcement, military and intelligence activities has 
increased over the last two years.  There has been visible 
support for the security of Americans at our mission's 
buildings by local police. 
 
23. (U) The Turkish stand on terrorism has been somewhat 
softer in the case of the Chechens.  There are cultural and 
religious ties between Turks and Chechens, and both have had 
a long-time rivalry with Russia.  The media treated the 
takeovers of a ferryboat in 1999 and a hotel in 2001 in 
Istanbul more like protests than terrorist attacks. 
 
24. (U) The leftist and Islamic fringe press sometimes 
portrays Chechen rebels, Palestinian suicide bombers and even 
Al Qaida members of Anti-Iraqi forces as "freedom fighters." 
Terrorism has long been an interest of academics and writers 
in Turkey.  In recent years there have been several 
conferences on the topic.  Those organized by institutions of 
the State have been seen as tools in the fight against 
terrorism.  Privately funded academic programs have focused 
more on analyzing the impact of terrorism and the root causes 
of terrorism. 
 
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MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS BY THE GOT (F) 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
25. (U) The Government of Turkey continued its aggressive 
counterterrorism efforts in 2004.  In addition to sharing 
intelligence information on various groups operating in 
Turkey, the Turkish National Police and the National 
Intelligence Organization (MIT) conducted an aggressive 
counterterrorist campaign and detained numerous suspected 
terrorists in scores of raids, disrupting these groups before 
terrorist acts could be carried out.  They committed a high 
level of resources to insuring the security surround the NATO 
Summit in Istanbul was a success.  Working in partnership 
with their NATO allies, the GOT carried out nurmeous 
pre-emptive raids against suspected Al-Qa'ida-affiliated 
plotters.  Possiblty, as a result, there were no terrorist 
incidents directly affecting the Summit.  A similar but more 
limited operation took place prior to the December visit of 
Russian President Putin. 
 
26. (U) The GOT continues its active suppression of the 
PKK/KADEK/KHK, though its security operations tempo has been 
significantly reduced in line with a reduction in the 
conflict.  It continues to monitor the organization's 
political movements in an effort to stem any potential 
disturbances. 
 
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GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM (G) 
----------------------------------- 
 
27. (U) The GOT consistently and strongly opposes both 
domestic and international terrorism.  Turkey does not view 
its maintenance of diplomatic or economic/commercial 
relations with Cuba, Iran, Libya, Sudan, and Syria as 
constituting support for international terrorism. 
--------------------------------------------- - 
SUPPORT STATEMENTS FOR TERRORIST COUNTRIES (H) 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
28. (U) Turkey shares borders with, and has been an historic 
trading partner of Syria and Iran.  It balances a 
condemnation of terrorist activities in those countries 
(including providing havens for the PKK) with the need to 
access historic trade routes.  Public statements against 
state-supported terrorism are clear.  It has security 
relations aimed principally at PKK/KADEK/KHK terrorists with 
both Syria and Iran. 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN ATTITUDES TOWARDS TERRORISM (I) 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
29. (U) Since the attacks of September 11, the GOT has taken 
an active role in the worldwide opposition against terrorism. 
 In November 2004, the High Military Council (YAS) announced 
that the National Security Policy would be re-written to note 
a shift in defense strategy from one focused on regional 
threats to a focus on international terrorism, fundamentalist 
and separatist threats.  In May 2002 the European Union 
placed the PKK and DHKP/C on its list of terrorist groups 
after an intensive push by the GOT, with U.S. support, for 
the EU to adopt tougher measures against Turkish terror 
groups operating in Europe. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
USG COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES WITH GOT (J) 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
30. (U) Turkey remains a staunch ally in the War on 
Terrorism.  The Turkish National Police (TNP) continues to 
provide excellent protection of U.S. diplomatic and military 
facilities throughout Turkey.  Prior to the June 2004 POTUS 
visit and NATO Summit in Istanbul, Turkish National Police 
were extremely active and aggressive in monitoring and, in 
some cases, proactively detaining suspected terrorists. 
 
31. (U) In September and October 2003, USG officials met with 
interagency Turkish teams to work out a joint action plan to 
eliminate the threat posed by the PKK/KADEK/KHK presence in 
northern Iraq.  Turkey agreed to consider an information 
campaign to ensure that the terms of its "Reintegration Law" 
and the conditions to which Turkish refugees in Iraq and 
PKK/KADEK/KHK operatives surrendering under the law would 
return were well known in northern Iraq.  The U.S. pledged to 
use all the elements of statecraft in eliminating the 
PKK/KADEK/KHK threat.  S/CT Coordinator Cofer Black announced 
that the terrorist group had no future in northern Iraq.  To 
generate momentum for returns to Turkey, the USG worked with 
the Turks and UNHCR in November to accelerate the voluntary 
repatriation of Turkish refugees in northern Iraq.  Assistant 
Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration 
 
SIPDIS 
Dewey met with Turkish and UNHCR reps in Ankara in late 
November to move this process forward.  We continue to share 
information on PKK/KADEK/KHK in order to limit their global 
activities and in the expectation that circumstance in Iraq 
will allow for trilateral collaberation (Turkey, Iraq, 
U.S./MNF-I) on the safehavens and front parties there. 
 
32. (U) As noted above, Turkey is now in the process of 
modifying its domestic laws to comply with the UN Convention 
on Suppression of Terrorist Financing, which the GOT adopted 
in 2002. 
 
33. (U) Turkey is an active participant in the Department's 
Anti-Terrorism Assistance program.  Since 2001, the Turks 
have participated in 27 ATA courses, to include the recently 
developed Capstone series of anti-terror courses and 
practical exercise, and a seminar on transnational terrorism 
conducted at the ILEA Center in Budapest. 
 
(Information for the Report's classified annex) 
 
34. (S) The Turkish Government continued to allow the use of 
Incirlik AFB to support U.S. operations in and out of 
Afghanistan and Iraq, including: 
 
- Allowed the U.S. to use Incirlik Air Base to transit cargo 
flights bound for Afghanistan and to a lesser extent those to 
Iraq; 
 
- Authorized the U.S. to use Incirlik Air Base to transit 
Taliban and Al-Qaida detainees from Afghanistan to GTMO; and 
for the transit of released GTMO detainees back to their 
country of origin. 
 
- Allowed the U.S. military to station tankers at Incirlik 
Air Base to support OIF- and OEF-related refueling missions; 
- Contributed KC-135 tankers to support OEF-related 
operations; 
 
- As a result of S/CT Coordinator Black,s enhanced 
intelligence sharing regarding PKK/KADEK/KHK as part of the 
joint action plan to eliminate the PKK/KADEK/KHK threat from 
Northern Iraq. 
 
- In March 2004, the Turkish General Staff's Intelligence 
Directorate (J-2) began participating in a bilateral US-TU 
"Intelligence Fusion Cell" designed to assist USCENTCOM 
intelligence gathering against the PKK/KGK in northern Iraq. 
TGS J-2 also responded quickly to US requests for information 
on possible terrorist locations and some merchant ships of 
interest. 
 
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COOPERATION-INVESTIGATION/PROSECUTION (K/1) 
------------------------------------------- 
 
(Information for the Report's Classified Annex) 
 
35. (C) The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the United 
States and Turkey, which entered into force in January 1981, 
governs investigative cooperation.  The GOT has processed 
requests for investigative access to evidence under this 
treaty.  However, in some cases the GOT has left requests 
unanswered for over three years. 
 
---------------------------- 
COOPERATION-PREVENTION (K/2) 
---------------------------- 
 
36. (U) The GOT coordinates closely with the USG on 
anti-terrorist financing initiatives.  In response to USG 
requests to freeze terrorist-related financial assets, the 
GOT has added to its domestic asset freeze list all names of 
individuals and firms designated under UNSCR 1267 (names 
related to financing of Taliban and al-Qaida).  The GOT also 
investigates these names and freezes assets found in Turkey. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
COOPERATION DURING PAST FIVE YEARS-PREVENTION (L) 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
37. (U) Overall, in the last five years, the GOT has worked 
closely with the USG in the apprehension, conviction, and 
punishment of those responsible for terrorist attacks in 
Turkey.  GOT response is always immediate and substantial 
when alerted to threat or incident involving US interests. 
DEUTSCH