TURKEY: 2002 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 ANKARA 008305



S/CT FOR REAP



E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2012

TAGS: PTER, TU

SUBJECT: TURKEY: 2002 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT



REF: STATE 201772



1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY DCM ROBERT S. DEUTSCH; REASONS 1.5 (B)

AND (D).



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OVERVIEW

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2. (U) COMBATING TERRORISM HAS LONG BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE

GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY (GOT). IN ITS EARLY AND STRONG SUPPORT

OF THE COALITION IN THE GLOBAL WAR AGAINST TERROR AND ITS

SUBSEQUENT TAKING-OVER OF ISAF LEADERSHIP, THE GOT HAS

REAFFIRMED ITS COMMITMENT TO FIGHTING DOMESTIC AND

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. 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. IN RESPONSE TO THESE THREATS,

GOT HAS DEVELOPED BOTH STRONG DETERMINATION AND THE

CAPABILITY TO FIGHT TERRORISM. TURKEY CONTINUES TO SUPPORT

THE USG'S INTERNATIONAL, COORDINATED APPROACH.



3. (U) FOLLOWING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, TURKEY'S INTERNAL

TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS ALTERED THEIR OPERATING PROCEDURES.

WITH THE WORLD PUBLIC OPINION STRONGLY AGAINST TERRORISM AND

THE GLOBAL COALITION INCREASING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION,

THESE ORGANIZATIONS ENTERED INTO A PERIOD OF LITTLE OR NO

ACTION. ACTING AS INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS, MANY OF THESE

GROUPS HAVE REVERTED TO RECRUITMENT OF SUPPORTERS AND

STRATEGY PLANNING.



U.S. DESIGNATED TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS



4. (U) ON OCTOBER 8, 1997, THE SECRETARY OF STATE NAMED THE

SEPARATIST KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY (PKK) AND THE

MARXIST-LENINIST REVOLUTIONARY PEOPLE'S PARTY/FRONT (DHKP/C,

FORMERLY KNOWN AS REVOLUTIONARY LEFT, DEV-SOL),MAKING THEM

SUBJECT TO THE ANTI-TERRORISM AND EFFECTIVE DEATH PENALTY ACT

OF 1996. ON OCTOBER 11, 2001, THE SECRETARY OF STATE RENEWED

THOSE DESIGNATIONS FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS. (THE PKK HAS SINCE

CHANGED ITS NAME TO THE KURDISTAN FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY

CONGRESS, KADEK.)



MARXIST-LENINIST



5. (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 HAS NOT

CONDUCTED ANY MAJOR EVENTS WITHIN TURKEY IN 2002, ALTHOUGH IT

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 EACH OTHER'S ORGANIZATIONS. TURKISH AUTHORITIES

SEIZED DHKP/C WEAPONS FROM A CAR AT THE KAPIKULE BORDER IN

SEPTEMBER 2002. THESE WEAPONS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE USED IN

OPERATIONS CAUSING DISTURBANCES PRIOR TO THE TURKISH NATIONAL

ELECTIONS HELD IN NOVEMBER 2002.



6. (U) OTHER FAR-LEFT TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS STILL ACTIVE

INCLUDE THE TURKISH COMMUNIST PARTY/MARXIST-LENINIST

(TKP/ML),THE TURKISH WORKERS' AND PEASANTS LIBERATION ARMY

(TIKKO),AND THE MARXIST-LENINIST COMMUNIST PARTY (MLKP).

TKP/ML AND TIKKO PRIMARILY OPERATE IN THE AREAS OF ORDU,

TOKAT, AND SAMSUN. MLKP CONDUCTS SMALL-SCALE TERRORIST

OPERATIONS, USUALLY USING PIPE BOMBS, WITHIN METROPOLITAN

AREAS.



RADICAL ISLAMIST



7. (U) THE PRIME, RADICAL ISLAMIST TERROR GROUP OF TURKEY IS

THE TURKISH HIZBULLAH. ALTHOUGH KNOWN TO FIGHT RIVALS,

NAMELY THE PKK AND OTHER RIVAL ISLAMIC GROUPS, IN FAVOR OF

CONFRONTATIONS WITH AUTHORITIES, TURKISH HIZBULLAH HAS NOT

CARRIED OUT ANY MAJOR OPERATIONS IN 2002. IT STAGED A

SPECTACULAR JANUARY 2001 AMBUSH IN DIYARBAKIR THAT TOOK THE

LIFE OF DIYARBAKIR SECURITY DIRECTOR GAFFAR OKKAN AND FIVE OF

HIS BODYGUARDS. TWO UNDERCOVER POLICE WERE KILLED IN ANOTHER

HIZBULLAH ATTACK IN OCTOBER 2001. ACCORDING TO STATE

AUTHORITIES, HIZBULLAH CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN ITS ACTIVITIES

ON A THEORETICAL BASIS.



8. (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

KNOWN TO BE SYMPATHETIC TO AL QAIDA.



SEPARATIST



9. (U) KADEK, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE PKK, REPRESENTS THE

LARGEST SEPARATIST ORGANIZATION GROUP IN TURKEY, THOUGH ITS

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.



10. (U) IN APRIL 2002 THE GROUP UNDERWENT A RE-ORGANIZATION

AND NAME CHANGE. RENAMED THE KURDISTAN FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY

CONGRESS (KADEK),THE ORGANIZATION HAS EXPANDED ITS

OPERATIONS BY FOCUSING UPON MORE POLITICAL ACTIVITIES. KADEK

RETAINS THE SAME SYMBOL AND PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP

OF THE PKK, THOUGH IT HAS EXPANDED THIS COUNCIL TO ELEVEN

INSTEAD OF NINE MEMBERS. ACCORDING TO TURKISH GOVERNMENT

EXPERTS AND NGOS, KADEK ALSO MAINTAINS APPROXIMATELY

500-ARMED MILITANTS IN TURKEY AND UP TO 5000 ARMED MILITANTS

IN NORTHERN IRAQ. WHILE THE ORGANIZATION LARGELY CONTINUES

TO FOLLOW THE PKK'S SELF-PROCLAIMED SEPTEMBER 1, 1999,

CEASE-FIRE, IT HAS ISSUED WARNINGS VIA SUPPORTIVE NEWSPAPERS

OF FUTURE ARMED ATTACKS IF CERTAIN ACTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

SMALL CELLS AND SYMPATHIZERS REMAIN THROUGHOUT TURKEY, BUT

THESE HAVE BEEN SUPPRESSED TO THE POINT THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT

OFFICIALS, RATHER THAN THE MILITARY, OVERSEE MOST OPERATIONS

AND INVESTIGATIONS.



CHECHENS IN TURKEY



11. (U) IN APRIL 2002, MUSTAFA YILMAZ SEIZED THE MARMARA

HOTEL IN ISTANBUL AND HELD 13 HOSTAGES FOR APPROXIMATELY

TWENTY MINUTES UNTIL HE SURRENDERED WITHOUT INCIDENT.

YILMAZ, WHO IS OF CHECHEN ORIGIN, IS BELIEVED TO HAVE STAGED

THE RAID TO PROTEST RUSSIAN ACTIONS IN CHECHNYA. HE IS

PRESENTLY IN CUSTODY AND ON TRIAL IN THE ISTANBUL BEYOGLU

SECOND HEAVY CRIMINAL COURT UNDER A VARIETY OF CHARGES,

ALTHOUGH NOT UNDER TURKEY'S TOUGH ANTI-TERROR LAW. THIS

FOLLOWS 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. LARGE

NUMBERS OF TURKS, MANY WITH ROOTS IN THE CAUCASUS, ARE

SYMPATHETIC TO CHECHEN AMBITIONS.



12. (U) THE CAPITALIZED TITLES BELOW CORRESPOND TO REFTEL

QUESTIONS.



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GOT ACTIONS SUPPORTING THE GLOBAL COALITION AGAINST TERRORISM

(A)

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13. (U) TURKISH SUPPORT FOLLOWING THE ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11

CEMENTED GOT'S COMMITTED POLICY ON FIGHTING TERROR. GOT

ISSUED STRONG PUBLIC STATEMENTS CONDEMNING THE ATTACKS. IN

THE FACE OF STRONG PUBLIC OPPOSITION, PARLIAMENT, UNDER THE

LEADERSHIP OF PM ECEVIT, PASSED A RESOLUTION ALLOWING THE

GOVERNMENT TO SEND TURKISH TROOPS ABROAD AND TO PERMIT THE

STATIONING OF FOREIGN TROOPS ON TURKISH SOIL IN SUPPORT OF

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF). TURKEY WAS ONE OF THE

FIRST COUNTRIES TO CONTRIBUTE FORCES TO ISAF AND ASSUMED THE

LEADERSHIP ROLE IN JUNE 2002.



14. (U) THE ARREST OF THREE AL QAIDA SUSPECTS IN THE

SOUTHEASTERN CITY OF VAN IN FEBRUARY 2002 AND ONE IN ISTANBUL

IN AUGUST 2002 HIGHLIGHT TURKISH NATIONAL POLICE (TNP)

EFFORTS TO COMBAT TERRORISM. FIRAS SULEYMAN, YUSUF SALIM

HUSAYN, AND AHMAD MAHMUD WERE ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH

ENTERING TURKEY ILLEGALLY VIA IRAN IN FEBRUARY 2002. MEMBERS

OF BAYT AL-IMAM, A JORDANIAN GROUP WITH CLOSE TIES TO AL

QAIDA, THE THREE MEN WERE FOUND TO HAVE MET AND RECEIVED

MATERIAL SUPPORT FROM USAMA BIN LADEN AND HAD BEEN PLANNING

BOMBING ATTACKS ON ISRAELI AND US TARGETS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

THESE MEN WERE RETURNED TO JORDAN IN SEPTEMBER 2002. AHMET

ABDULLAH WAS ARRESTED IN ISTANBUL IN AUGUST 2002 AFTER AN

OPERATION CONDUCTED BY THE ISTANBUL SECURITY FORCES BECAUSE

OF HIS LINKS TO BAYT AL-IMAM.



15. (U) TURKEY HAS FULLY COMPLIED WITH UN SECURITY RESOLUTION

1373, RATIFYING ALL UNITED NATIONS CONVENTIONS ON COMBATING

TERRORISM. THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS HAVE FROZEN THE ASSETS

OF THOSE TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, PERSONS, AND ENTITIES FOUND

ON UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS BY ISSUING A DECREE TO

FREEZE ALL FUNDS AND RELATED ASSETS. THE INITIAL DECREE, NO.

2001/2483, DATED DECEMBER 22, 2001, HAS BEEN UPDATED BY NO.

2002/3873, DATED MARCH 21, 2002, AND NO. 2002/4206, DATED MAY

16, 2002.



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RESPONSE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM (B)

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16. (U) STATE SECURITY COURTS (DGM) IN EIGHT PROVINCES, WITH

JURISDICTION FOR ALL CRIMES THAT FALL WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF

THE ANTI-TERROR LAW, TAKE A VIGOROUS APPROACH TOWARDS

PROSECUTING TERROR-RELATED CRIMES. AVERAGE TRIAL TIMES RUN

MORE THAN A YEAR, AND DEFENDANTS ARE USUALLY INCARCERATED

DURING THEIR TRIALS.



17. (U) ABDULLAH OCALAN, THE LEADER OF THE PKK CONVICTED OF

TREASON IN JUNE 1999 AND SENTENCED TO DEATH. FOLLOWING THE

EU REFORM PACKAGE PASSED BY THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL

PARLIAMENT IN AUGUST 2002 OUTLAWING THE DEATH PENALTY,

OCALAN'S SENTENCE WAS CONVERTED TO LIFE IN PRISON.



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EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS (C/D)

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18. (U) IN 2002, 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.



19. (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 FOR 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.



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RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECUTION (E)

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20. (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 LIBERAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES'

HARBORING KURDISH (PKK),LEFTIST (DHKP-C) AND ISLAMIST

(HIZBOLLAH, KAPLANISTS) "TERRORISTS." THEY FEEL OTHER

NATIONS DO NOT APPRECIATE TURKEY'S SUFFERING AT THE HANDS OF

THESE PARTIES. THUS, 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.

BUT THERE WAS ALWAYS THE CONSTANT REMINDER THAT NOW OTHERS

WERE BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE WHAT TURKS HAD LIVED WITH FOR

YEARS. TURKEY'S PRE-9/11 HISTORIC COOPERATION WITH THE US IN

LAW ENFORCEMENT, MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES HAS

ONLY INCREASED IN THE LAST YEAR WITH PUBLIC COMMITMENTS OF

SUPPORT FOR THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM FROM THE PRESIDENT,

THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE MILITARY. THERE HAS BEEN VERY

VISIBLE SUPPORT FOR THE SECURITY OF AMERICANS AT OUR

MISSION'S BUILDINGS BY LOCAL POLICE. AS THE STORM BROKE ON

THE NOVEMBER 17 ARRESTS IN GREECE, THERE WAS INTENSE COVERAGE

WITH A NEW "I TOLD YOU SO" IMPLICATION IN THE GOVERNMENT

PRINT MEDIA.



21. (U) THE TURKISH STAND ON TERRORISM HAS BEEN "SOFTER" IN

THE CASE OF THE CHECHENS. CHECHENS ARE, OF COURSE, MUSLIMS

AND THERE ARE CULTURAL TIES BETWEEN TURKS AND CHECHENS AND

LONG TIME RIVALRY WITH RUSSIA. THE ARMED, BUT NOT VIOLENT,

TAKEOVERS OF A FERRYBOAT IN 1996 AND A HOTEL IN 2001 IN

ISTANBUL WERE TREATED MORE LIKE PROTESTS THAN LIKE TERRORIST

ATTACKS BY THE MEDIA. THAT CHANGED WITH THE OCTOBER 23, 2002

CAPTURE OF A THEATER IN MOSCOW WITH OVER ONE HUNDRED DEAD.

TURKEY DID CONDEMN THE HOSTAGE-TAKING, BUT WITH THE MEDIA

STILL ADDRESSING THE SUFFERING OF THE CHECHEN PEOPLE.



22. (U) TURKEY HAS A FREE PRESS. IN THE LEFTIST AND ISLAMIC

FRINGE PRESS, CHECHEN REBELS, PALESTINIAN SUICIDE BOMBERS AND

EVEN AL QAIDA MEMBERS CAN BE PORTRAYED 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 BECOME

MORE FOCUSED ON ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF TERRORISM AND THE

ROOT CAUSES OF TERRORISM.



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MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS BY THE GOT (F)

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23. (U) THE GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY CONTINUED ITS AGGRESSIVE

COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS IN 2002. FOR EXAMPLE, IN A JOINT

OPERATION, THE TURKISH CUSTOMS GUARD AND THE NATIONAL

INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (MIT) SEIZED NINE KALASHINIKOV RIFLES AND

ONE SCORPION ASSASSINATION PISTOL WITH SILENCER FROM A CAR AT

THE KAPIKULE BORDER GATE IN SEPTEMBER 2002. THESE WEAPONS

ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN INTENDED TO BE DELIVERED TO THE

DHKP/C TO BE USED IN SUPPOSED OPERATIONS TO CREATE

DISTURBANCES PRIOR TO THE TURKISH GENERAL ELECTIONS HELD IN

NOVEMBER 2002.



24. (U) ADDITIONALLY, THE GOT APPREHENDED THREE SUSPECTED AL

QAIDA OPERATIVES NEAR THE IRANIAN BORDER (NEAR VAN). THE GOT

FOLLOWED UP BY ARRESTING DOCUMENT FORGERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE

THREE, NEAR BURSA IN NORTHWESTERN TURKEY.



25. (U) THE GOT CONTINUES ITS ACTIVE SUPPRESSION OF THE

PKK/KADEK, 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)

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26. (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, IRAQ, LIBYA, SUDAN, AND SYRIA AS

CONSTITUTING SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.



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SUPPORT STATEMENTS FOR TERRORIST COUNTRIES (H)

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27. (U) TURKEY SHARES BORDERS WITH, AND HAS BEEN AN HISTORIC

TRADING PARTNER OF SYRIA, IRAN AND IRAQ. IT BALANCES A

CONDEMNATION OF TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IN THOSE COUNTRIES

(INCLUDING PROVIDING HAVENS FOR THE PKK) WITH THE NEED TO

ACCESS HISTORIC TRADE ROUTES. THUS TURKEY WILL PROVIDE BASES

FOR OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SENDING

LARGE TRADE DELEGATIONS TO BAGHDAD AND TEHRAN. PUBLIC

STATEMENTS AGAINST STATE-SUPPORTED TERRORISM ARE CLEAR.



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SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN ATTITUDES TOWARDS TERRORISM (I)

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28. (U) SINCE THE ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, THE GOT HAS TAKEN

AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE WORLDWIDE OPPOSITION AGAINST TERRORISM.

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 FOR THE EU TO ADOPT TOUGHER MEASURES AGAINST TURKISH

TERROR GROUPS OPERATING IN EUROPE. IT CONTINUES TO PRESS THE

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO RECOGNIZE KADEK AS THE SUCCESSOR

OF THE PKK AND THUS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.



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USG COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES WITH GOT (J)

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29. (U) TURKEY REMAINS A STAUNCH ALLY IN THE WAR ON

TERRORISM. IN THE FACE OF STRONG PUBLIC OPPOSITION,

PARLIAMENT, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PM ECEVIT, PASSED A

RESOLUTION ALLOWING THE GOVERNMENT TO SEND TURKISH TROOPS

ABROAD AND TO PERMIT THE STATIONING OF FOREIGN TROOPS ON

TURKISH SOIL TO SUPPORT OEF. AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE

RESOLUTION, TURKEY OFFERED A 90-MAN SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIT

FOR DUTY IN AFGHANISTAN. THE TURKISH NATIONAL POLICE (TNP)

CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT PROTECTION OF US DIPLOMATIC AND

MILITARY FACILITIES THROUGHOUT TURKEY.



30. (U) IN 2002, TURKEY RATIFIED THE UN CONVENTION ON

SUPPRESSION OF TERRORIST FINANCING. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS

CONVENTION, TURKEY ADDS TO ITS DOMESTIC ASSET FREEZE LIST ALL

NAMES ADDED TO THE ASSET FREEZE LIST MAINTAINED BY THE UN

SANCTIONS COMMITTEE UNDER UNSCRS 1267 AND 1373.



31. (U) TURKEY IS ALSO AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE

DEPARTMENT'S ANTI-TERRORISM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. SINCE 1999,

THE TURKS ACCEPTED ELEVEN ATA COURSES, TO INCLUDE A SENIOR

LEVEL FINANCIAL UNDERPINNINGS OF TERRORISM SEMINAR AND A

FOLLOW-ON FINANCIAL UNDERPINNINGS OF TERRORISM SEMINAR FOR

INVESTIGATORS.



(INFORMATION FOR THE REPORT'S CLASSIFIED ANNEX)



32. (S) THE TURKISH MILITARY HAS ALSO OFFERED THE USE OF AN

ADDITIONAL AIRBASE TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD ON INCIRLIK AFB AND

EASED FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS TO EASE US SUPPORT OF FORCES

OPERATING IN AFGHANISTAN. OTHER TURKISH ACTIONS IN SUPPORT

OF OEF INCLUDE:



- ONE OF THE FIRST COUNTRIES TO AUTHORIZE DEPLOYMENT OF

TROOPS ABROAD AND STATIONING OF ADDITIONAL FOREIGN TROOPS IN

TURKEY IN SUPPORT OF THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM;



- ONE OF THE FIRST COUNTRIES TO OFFER SPECIAL OPERATIONS

FORCES (OFFER OF 90)



- ALLOWED THE US TO USE INCIRLIK AIR BASE AS THE KEY

TRANSIT POINT FOR HUMANITARIAN AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE

(INCLUDING LETHAL MUNITIONS) TO THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE AND US

SPECIAL OPERATION FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN;



- OFFERED THE USE OF ADDITIONAL AIR BASES IN TURKEY FOR

OEF-RELATED OPERATIONS;



- AUTHORIZED THE US TO USE INCIRLIK AIR BASE TO TRANSIT

TALIBAN AND AL-QAIDA DETAINEES FROM AFGHANISTAN TO GTMO;



- STREAMLINED CUSTOM PROCEDURES AND GRANTED BLANKET

OVERFLIGHT CLEARANCES FOR US OEF-RELATED AIRCRAFT (OVER 5,000

FLIGHTS TO DATE);



- PROVIDES KC-135 TANKER SUPPORT AND BASING FOR THE WAR

ON TERRORISM. TURKEY ALREADY HAS CONTRIBUTED CLOSE TO 80

KC-135 OEF-RELATED MISSIONS FROM TURKEY.



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COOPERATION-INVESTIGATION/PROSECUTION (K/1)

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(INFORMATION FOR THE REPORT'S CLASSIFIED ANNEX)



33. (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. CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN THE

TURKISH MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

JUSTICE CONTINUE IN AN EFFORT TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS.



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COOPERATION-PREVENTION (K/2)

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34. (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 RELATED TO UNSCRS 1267 AND 1373 (NAMES

RELATED TO FINANCING OF TALIBAN AND AL-QAIDA.) THE GOT

ALSO INVESTIGATES THESE NAMES AND FREEZES ASSETS FOUND IN

TURKEY. TO DATE, THESE EFFORTS HAVE RESULTED IN FREEZING

ABOUT USD 2 MILLION IN FINANCIAL ASSETS OWNED BY AN

INDIVIDUAL ON AN USG EXECUTIVE ORDER FREEZE LIST. THE GOT IS

REVIEWING THE POSSIBILITY OF AMENDING ITS LEGAL PROCESS FOR

FREEZING FINANCIAL ASSETS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE QUICK

REACTION TO NEW INFORMATION.



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COOPERATION DURING PAST FIVE YEARS- PREVENTION (L)

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35. (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.





PEARSON