US embassy cable - 05ANKARA6849

S E C R E T ANKARA 006849 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2030 
TAGS: PTER, TU, US 
SUBJECT: PKK TERRORISM: TURKS PROVIDE MORE INFO ON HIGH 
VALUE PKK INDIVIDUALS IN EUROPE 
 
REF: A. ANKARA 6634 
 
     B. ANKARA 6448 
     C. ANKARA 6233 
     D. STATE 207914 
     E. ANKARA 4230 
 
Classified By: Political Military Counselor Timothy A. Betts 
for reasons 1.4 (b, c, d). 
 
1. (S) Summary:  MFA provided us with additional information 
on the seven high value PKK individuals in Europe, responding 
to our earlier request (ref B), and thought Ankara could 
accommodate a visit by a technical team from Washington to 
develop further information the week of November 28. 
Security DG Guven informed us that the Turkish Embassy in 
Washington would soon be delivering information on the PKK 
ties of two US-based institutes to the Department.  He 
requested a road map of our approaches to European countries 
on the PKK, praising the demarche on the Belgians (ref D). 
He reported that an arrested PKK member claimed that he 
received his target from Roj TV broadcasts.  Guven shared a 
CD of photos that he stated showed the PKK collecting duties 
in a market just across the border from Turkey.  He also said 
he intended to share with the USG a draft agreement on law 
enforcement cooperation among the Iraq neighbors' group; he 
was particularly interested in receiving our comments on the 
extradition section.  End summary. 
 
2. (S) On November 18, MFA Security Affairs Director General 
Hayati Guven called in PolMilCouns and acting EconCouns to 
pass additional information on the seven prominent PKK 
individuals in Europe.  This information was developed 
following the Charge's complaint to MFA Deputy Undersecretary 
Sensoy about the quality of the files passed earlier (ref B). 
 (Note: We have passed the documents Guven gave us to the 
Department -- EUR/SE.  End note.)  Regarding plans for a 
technical team to visit Ankara sometime in the future to 
develop files on PKK members crimes committed in Europe, 
Guven thought the Turks could be ready to meet as early as 
the week of November 28, provided we confirmed dates soon. 
 
3. (S) Recalling his discussion with visiting EUR/SE Director 
Silliman several weeks earlier, Guven said 
he had sent to the Turkish Embassy in Washington information 
on two Kurdish institutes in the US that the Turks claim are 
fronts for the PKK.  He had not yet heard that this 
information had been delivered, suggesting the need for 
translation as a likely reason for the delay. 
 
4. (S) Guven expressed appreciation for the US's ongoing 
efforts with European governments on the PKK.  Emboffs 
encouraged Turkey to engage the Europeans as well.  Guven 
said that was his intent.  In fact, he had requested dossiers 
from the Turkish National Intelligence Organization of the 
PKK presence in each EU member which he intended to use to 
develop demarches.  To be more effective, he thought the 
Turkish approaches should be made around the time of US 
demarches.  To that end, he requested a road map of our 
effort in Europe (who we are going to approach when and at 
what level).  Meanwhile, he reported that on November 16 he 
had sent to the Turkish Embassy in Copenhagen news that a PKK 
member recently arrested in Izmir for planning to strike at a 
"soft target" (NFI) claimed he received targeting 
instructions via Roj TV.  The Embassy had instructions to 
share this information with the Danes. 
 
5. (S) Guven also gave emboffs a CD with images of the PKK 
collecting customs duties in a market just across the border 
from the Turkish village of Gulyali, Sirnak.  Another CD was 
being sent to the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad where it may be 
shared with our Embassy.  He said that, because of the 
clandestine means of collection in Iraq, Ankara was not 
prepared to share the photos with the Iraqis and asked that 
we not do so either.  (Note: We are forwarding the CD to the 
Department -- EUR/SE. End note.) 
 
6. (S) MFA has completed a draft of the agreement that the 
neighbors, interior ministers agreed to work on during their 
last meeting in Istanbul (ref E), according to Guven.  Once 
the draft has been cleared by other GOT agencies and before 
circulating it to the neighbors' group, Guven intended to 
share it with us.  He was particularly interested in getting 
US views on the section on extradition. 
MCELDOWNEY