US embassy cable - 05ANKARA3418

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003418 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, MOPS, IZ, TU 
SUBJECT: TURKS EXPRESS CONCERNS OVER WASHINGTON POST STORY 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) This is an action request -- see para 3. 
 
2. (C) MFA Deputy Director General for the Middle East Safak 
Gokturk raised with PolMilCouns on June 15 a story in the 
Washington Post that day reportedly based on a cable from REO 
Kirkuk on Kurdish authorities "extra-judicial detentions" and 
secret transfers of Arab and Turkmen detainees to Irbil and 
 
SIPDIS 
Suleymania.  Gokturk, under instructions from the Prime 
Ministry, noted that Ankara took such reports "very seriously 
at the highest levels."  Turkey had been hearing sketchy, 
similar reports.  According to some of these, families are 
too intimidated to even inquire about detainees for fear of 
the same fate befalling them.  He requested that the Kurds be 
reminded that such activity is unacceptable and should stop. 
He said he had been trying to reach the Iraqi Ambassador to 
deliver the same message, but he was busy with a visiting 
delegation and would not be able to receive the message until 
June 16. 
 
3. (C) Action Request:  Gokturk confided that the Prime 
Ministry had asked MFA "what are you doing" about the 
allegations in the article, and all MFA really could do was 
raise it with the USG and the ITG.  We have separately 
requested press guidance to respond to numerous inquiries we 
are receiving from the press.  Now, we also request guidance 
to respond to the GOT demarche. 
 
4. (U) Iraq posts minimize considered. 
EDELMAN