US embassy cable - 05ANKARA6478

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 006478 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, PKK 
SUBJECT: TURKISH RESPONSE TO US OFFER AGAINST PKK 
 
 
Classified By: POL-MIL COUNSELOR TIMOTHY A. BETTS 
 
 1. (S) On October 27, ODC-Turkey received the letter in para 
2 from the Turkish General Staff.  The letter provides the 
Turkish position on various proposals regarding actions 
against the PKK made during the September 9 visit to Turkey 
of EUCOM CDR GEN Jones and CENTCOM DCDR LT GEN Smith, as well 
as those made earlier by EUR DAS Bryza.  In essence, TGS 
indicates a willingness to explore cooperative action against 
the PKK outside of Turkey, but does not want the US-offered 
assistance within Turkey.  (Note: internal numbering of TGS 
document). 
 
2. (S) BEGIN TEXT 
 
REPUBLIC OF TURKEY 
TURKISH GENERAL STAFF 
ANKARA 
 
HRK.:    1700-403-05/Pl.Hrk.D.MMHS.(DZ.)16/3138236 
 
14 Oct 05 
 
SUBJECT:  US Proposals on PKK/Iraq 
 
OFFICE OF DEFENSE COOPERATION TURKEY 
 
1. The US proposals made by the US side during the visits 
made to the TGS Headquarters by the US commanders (USCENTCOM 
and USEUCOM) on 9 September 2005 are attached, including the 
Turkish views. 
 
2. The attached table has been created based on the notes 
taken during the said visit. 
 
3. Mr. Matt Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for 
European and Eurasian Affairs made proposals similar to the 
ones stated in the attached table during his visit to the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 25 Aug 2005. 
 
4. It will be appropriate to evaluate Mr. Matt Bryza,s 
proposals together with the activities of the USEUCOM Team 
who visited TGS on 3 October 2005 for the purpose of 
discussing INFO OPS. 
 
5. It is evaluated that a productive working environment 
could be provided if the necessary coordination to conduct 
activities can be established between the State Departments 
and military authorities of both parties. 
 
6. Request ODC Turkey coordinate with the related US 
authorities to review the attached table and submit the 
additions/amendments to the Turkish General Staff in order to 
establish agenda items which are agreed by both countries. 
Subsequently, it will be possible to follow up, coordinate 
and guide the activities to be conducted in a best way after 
the conversion of the agenda items into an action plan. 
 
7. POC at TGS is Navy Captain Mustafa Inanc, National Joint 
Operations Branch Chief.  Discussions with ODC will be 
conducted in accordance with the existing principles. 
 
FOR THE CHIEF TGS 
 
//Signed// 
Mehmet EROZ 
MG 
Chief Plans and Operations 
 
ENCLOSURE: Issues Evaluated to be worked with the US side 
mutually 
 
END TEXT. 
 
 
3. (S) The following enclosure was attached. 
 
BEGIN TEXT. 
 
ISSUES EVALUATED TO BE WORKED WITH THE US MUTUALLY 
 
1. U.S. Proposal: 
To make Weekly Intelligence Cell Meetings more 
productive/efficient.  (During Breakfast/Office Call-General 
Jones) 
 
Turkey's Views: 
The meeting that is currently restricted only to the 
activities of the PKK/Kongra-Gel in Northern Iraq should be 
more generalized such as all activities of PKK/Kongra-Gel 
activities. 
 
Except the weekly meetings, a communication system is 
required to be established for time sensitive 
information/documents/intelligence changes. 
 
2. U.S. Proposal: 
In order to define the border infiltrations we may provide 
more recon/intelligence information.  If you let us know the 
areas we will take images. (During Breakfast/Office 
Call-General Jones and LTG Smith) 
Turkey's Views: 
Air intelligence gathering activities over Turkish soil is 
not needed. 
In regard to the flights to be conducted over TU soils: 
      Border Infiltration Points 
      Bases close to the borders 
      Fixed Facilities 
      Air Defense Facilities 
It will be beneficial to define a way of communication for 
time-sensitive intelligence requests. 
 
3. U.S. Proposal: 
We are monitoring the money movement of the terrorists.  PKK 
is also included.  We may work on this subject. 
(Breakfast/Office Call LTG Smith) 
 
Turkey's Views: 
Positive approach for cooperation 
 
Both sides should define the existing information on the 
issue and the measures to be taken.  A mechanism should be 
developed to share information. 
 
Cooperation towards an action should be established.  US and 
Turkey should take parallel actions to initiate with the 
countries where the activities are conducted. 
 
Activities within this scope should be related to the 
Department of State proposals (Mr. Bryza,s proposals) 
 
4. U.S. Proposal: 
To conduct activities to encourage the actions of the partner 
countries to take strict measures and put pressure on the 
businessmen, companies, and organizations supporting the 
terrorist organization. (EUCOM Briefing) 
 
Turkey's Views: 
Positive approach for cooperation 
 
Both sides should define the existing information on the 
issue and the measures to be taken.  A mechanism should be 
developed to share information.  (Businessmen, companies, and 
organizations providing support to the terrorist organization 
are required to be listed based on the countries they are 
located) 
 
Cooperation towards an action should be established.  US and 
Turkey should take parallel actions to initiate with the 
countries where the activities are conducted. 
 
Activities within this scope should be related to the 
Department of State proposals (Mr. Bryza,s proposals). 
 
5. U.S. Proposal: 
To develop strategies to assist the efforts for neutralizing 
the foreign media support provided (such as ROJ TV in 
Denmark) (EUCOM Briefing) 
 
Turkey's Views: 
Positive approach for cooperation 
 
Both sides should define the existing information on the 
issue and the measures to be taken.  A mechanism should be 
developed to share information (Such media,s relation with 
the terrorist organizations and their propaganda activities 
are required to be documented) 
 
Activities within this scope should be related to the 
Department of State proposals (Mr. Bryza,s proposals) 
 
6. U.S. Proposal: 
To provide support for Turkey,s INFO OPS conducted for the 
PKK,s recognitions as a terrorist organization globally. 
(EUCOM Briefing) 
 
Turkey's Views: 
Positive approach for cooperation 
 
Cooperation on EUCOM proposal should continue.  First 
coordination meeting on the proposal was held. 
 
Cooperation towards an action within the joint understanding 
to be established should be realized. 
 
Activities within this scope should be related to the 
Department of State proposals (Mr. Bryza,s proposals). 
 
7. U.S. Proposal: 
To support Turkey at its activities against PKK within the 
borders of Turkey. (EUCOM Briefing) 
Turkey's Views: 
Turkey does not need any support for the operations conducted 
within the country. 
8. U.S. Proposal: 
Timing for the coordinated activities against the PKK in 
northern Iraq and the phase to be monitored should be defined 
together. (EUCOM Briefing) 
 
Turkey's Views: 
Positive approach for cooperation 
 
Studies should be initiated ASAP. 
 
A mutual vision should be defined in a meeting to be 
conducted after the parties prepare their proposals. 
 
9.U.S. Proposal: 
To guide the Iraqi leaders to declare the PKK as a terrorist 
organization and to shut off the organization,s political 
bureaus (CENTCOM Briefing) 
 
Turkey's Views: 
Positive approach for cooperation 
 
Both Turkey and US should set forth a thesis that "Iraqi 
officials contacts with the PKK elements can classify Iraq as 
a country supporting terrorism." 
 
US should put a pressure on the Iraqi leaders in regard to 
this issue. 
 
The issue should be kept on the agenda within the scope of 
the trilateral meetings. 
 
10. U.S. Proposal: 
To arrange semi-annual meetings between the military 
authorities in order to increase dialogue between the 
security forces of the Turkish Armed Forces and Iraqi forces 
(CENTCOM Briefing) 
 
Turkey's Views: 
Proposal is approached positively. 
 
Issue should be on the agenda during the trilateral meetings. 
 
Turkeys proposal after the evaluations should be discussed 
with the US side and start to implement upon the mutual 
decision to be taken. 
 
END TEXT. 
MCELDOWNEY