US embassy cable - 05ANKARA7071

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 007071 
 
SIPDIS 
 
TREASURY FOR OTI 
NSC FOR BROOKS AND MERKEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2015 
TAGS: PTER, KTFN, PREL, TU, PKK 
SUBJECT: OFFERS TO BRING TEAM ON PKK IN EUROPE, TREASURY 
EXPERT 
 
 
Classified By: Economic Counselor Thomas Goldberger for reasons 1.4 (b) 
 and (d). 
 
This is an action request. See paragraphs 8 and 9. 
 
1. (C) Summary: Given the inability of the GOT to produce 
hard facts on PKK criminal activities in Europe, Econ/C 
discussed with MFA DDG for Security Affairs Huseyin Bicakli 
the utility of sending a law enforcement team to Ankara to 
meet with GOT counterparts on enhanced cooperation against 
PKK networks in Europe.  Bicakli was appreciative of our 
offer, and is contacting other GOT agencies, aiming for the 
week of December 12.  Separately, Econcouns also provided a 
copy of U/S Levey's letter to both MFA and the head of the 
Turkish FIU, and discussed the offer of a visit by a Treasury 
expert to discuss terror finance designations. End Summary. 
 
------------------------------ 
Visit of Team on PKK in Europe 
------------------------------ 
 
2. (C) In a meeting November 30 with MFA Deputy Director 
General for Security Affairs Huseyin Bicakli, Econcouns and 
Econoff discussed the utility of a visit to Ankara of 
Department of Justice (and possibly FBI) experts to help move 
forward on enhanced law enforcement cooperation against PKK 
networks in Europe.  He noted that the information the 
Turkish side had provided so far has not been useful since it 
relates to PKK terrorist actions in Turkey or evidence of PKK 
affiliation.  Econcouns explained that the visitors could 
discuss with Turkish counterparts how best to put together 
dossiers that would be sufficiently compelling to European 
law enforcement agenceis to result in police action against 
PKK criminal activities in Europe. 
 
3. (C) Bicakli was quite receptive, seemed to understand 
these points, and undertook to coordinate an interagency 
group to receive the visitors.  In a follow-up telephone 
conversation December 1, he told Econcouns he had already 
written the other agencies and was calling around to follow 
up, recognizing the short time available. 
 
------------------- 
Roj TV, Trilaterals: 
------------------- 
 
4. (C) Bicakli thanked the USG for its efforts vis-a-vis Roj 
TV.  He was quite familiar with Embassy Copenhagen's actions 
in this regard.  He asked whether there was any truth to 
press report that President Bush had written a letter to 
Danish leaders about Roj. 
 
-------------------------------- 
U/S Levey Letter, Treasury Visit 
-------------------------------- 
 
5. (C) Econcouns also provided Bicakli with a copy of 
Treasury U/S Levey's letter to Finance Minister Unakitan, 
proposing to send a U.S. Treasury expert to present U.S. and 
third-country experience with terrorist finance designations, 
and issues in developing a domestic designations capability. 
Econoff made the point that having such a capability might 
help Turkey with PKK in Europe, since Turkey could use 
intelligence information to present statements of case for 
European governments to designate PKK individuals.  Bicakli 
was also interested in the idea of the Treasury visit. 
 
6. (C) In a separate meeting with Genc Osman Yarasli, 
President of MASAK, Turkey's anti-money laundering agency and 
financial intelligence unit, Econcouns passed on the letter 
and discussed the idea of a visit. Yarasli suggested it might 
be more useful to have a high-level--rather than a 
technical-level--meeting.  He said discussions on a technical 
level are easy once there has been a higher-level decision. 
 
7. (C) Econcouns explained that having the ability to present 
statements of case to other countries could help stop the 
flow of funds to terrorists in Turkey.  Yarasli reminded 
Econoffs of the sentiment expressed by a police official at 
the September 15 interagency bilateral meeting that the 
"brain" of the PKK is in northern Iraq, yet we are leaving 
the brain alone and concentrating on financial sources in 
Europe.  Yarasli said this was a widely-held view in Turkey, 
including in state agencies.  Econcouns responded that, just 
as in the fight against Al-Qaida, there need to be multiple 
tracks; using military, intelligence and financial 
techniques.  In addition to going after the brain of the PKK, 
we can go after its blood supply: financing from Europe. 
Yarasli, agreed that financial techniques could be useful but 
urged that all methods be used in parallel.  Econcouns said 
he looked forward to receiving the GOT's response to U/S 
Levey's letter. 
 
-------------- 
Action Request 
-------------- 
 
8. (C) FBI Director Mueller's visit provides a major 
opportunity for the U.S. to be seen by both the GOT and 
public opinion as taking action on PKK.  Announcement by the 
FBI director of the visit of a team the following week would 
be an important deliverable and reinforce his other messages. 
 
 
9. (C) Post recommends FBI agree to send a case management 
expert, as we understand DOJ already has.  Post also 
recommends CIA send a PKK expert, both for continuity 
purposes and because of his expertise on the PKK names in 
question. 
MCELDOWNEY