Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ANKARA9055
2002-12-20 07:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF

Tags:  IR KICT PREL TU 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 009055 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2012
TAGS: IR KICT PREL TU
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF
TURKEY REGARDING IRANIAN TERRORISM

REF: A. (A) SECSTATE 191487

B. (B) ANKARA 7270


(C) Classified by Ambassador W. Robert Pearson.
Reason:1.5(b)(d).


C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 009055

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2012
TAGS: IR KICT PREL TU
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF
TURKEY REGARDING IRANIAN TERRORISM

REF: A. (A) SECSTATE 191487

B. (B) ANKARA 7270


(C) Classified by Ambassador W. Robert Pearson.
Reason:1.5(b)(d).



1. (U) Action recommendation - para 5.



2. (U) Per ref B, GOT MFA has provided Embassy with court
documents involving two cases purportedly establishing and
illustrating Iranian support for terrorism in Turkey. These
cases are in the public domain; the documents, in the
original Turkish, will be sent to Department via pouch.



3. (U) According to the MFA, the cases were adjudicated
before Ankara State Security Court No.2.


- One case (documents provided by MFA are dated July 2002)
alleges a relationship between Iran and the Tevhid Group. It
refers to the murders of Ugur Mumcu, Bahriye Ucok, Muammer
Aksoy, Ahmet Taner Kisali, Abdulgani Bedevi, Victor Deam
Marwick, Ehud Sadan, and Kaya Kaman. The case involves
alleged confessions by perpetrators establishing their
relations with Iranian intelligence personnel in Ankara and
Iran. The verdict is pending; according to the MFA, no date
has been set for final decision.


- The other case, brought in 1997, purports to demonstrate
ties between Iran and the "Turkish" Hizbullah, a largely
Kurdish group operating in southeastern Turkey. The case
makes reference to the notorious events of January 31, 1997
in Sincan muncipality of Ankara, at which Islamists attending
a "Jerusalem Night" rally supported the then Iranian
Ambassador's public criticism of the secularist Turkish
State.


--------------
COMMENT AND RECOMMENDATION
--------------



4. (C) Despite MFA's assurances that the cases are admissable
in other, international court proceedings, there are
potential procedural questions which argue against the USG's
using these cases in international fora. The Tevhid case
may, for example, include uncertainties as to whether police
methods used to extract confessions were legal. As for the
"Turkish" Hizbullah case, we note that the "Jerusalem Night"
events in question became the focal point of the "February 28
Process" -- the military-orchestrated ouster later that year
of the then Islamist-led government of Turkey -- and the
start of what is widely regarded as Turkey's "post-modern"
coup d'etat. As such, it probably reflects in part the MFA's
diplomatic defense to the world of Turkish State efforts to
control or interfere with elected civilian governments having
Islamic coloration -- and is thus even more problematic
regarding both the utility of such a case and its
implications for USG-GOT relations.



5. (C) Action recommended: with regard to para 4, post
recommends against USG including these materials in any
action before the Hague (per ref A) regarding Iranian support
for terrorism.
PEARSON