AVOIDING DEHAP CONTACTS WITH PKK/KADEK, KDP, PUK,

S E C R E T ANKARA 004848 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR A/S JONES AND NEA A/S BURNS. NSC FOR BRYZA. OSD FOR ISA AND ISP. E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2013 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS PTER TU IZ SUBJECT: AVOIDING DEHAP CONTACTS WITH PKK/KADEK, KDP, PUK, AND THE USG REF: A. ANKARA 4787 ¶B. ANKARA 4017 AND PREVIOUS (U) Classified by Charge d'Affaires Robert Deutsch. Reason: 1.5 (B and D). ¶1. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. ¶2. (S) Action Request: MFA DG for Middle East Affairs Burcuoglu called July 31 to inform Charge that members of DEHAP (the political front of the PKK/KADEK) had entered Iraq via Jordan and had already met with refugees at UNHCR's Mahmour Refugee Camp. According to the information, which originally came from TGS, the DEHAP politicians also planned to meet with KDP, PUK, PKK/KADEK, and possibly US officials. Burcuoglu relayed U/S Ziyal's request that the Embassy prevent any meeting with the PKK/KADEK. Embassy Ankara does not see any USG or GOT benefit in meeting the DEHAP officials, thereby adding to their credibility. DEHAP has been unsupportive of the GOT's "amnesty" law and cannot be relied upon to persuade PKK/KADEK members to take advantage of this opportunity and avoid confrontation with US security forces in Iraq. Further it is clear that by meeting with PKK/KADEK, DEHAP will: - create pressure against implementation of the GOT's reintegration law, - increase pressure to ban DEHAP in Turkey with a resultant impact on Turkey's political reform effort, - and increase questions about the US attitude toward the PKK/KADEK in Iraq. Embassy requests US officials in Iraq not meet with the DEHAP delegation or, at least use any contact to argue against DEHAP's meeting with PKK/KADEK. Furthermore, we request the KDP and PUK to advise the DEHAP del not to meet with the PKK/KADEK. ¶3. (S) A/PolCouns called DEHAP Vice Chairman Veli Buyuksahin and made the following points 1) we understand the DEHAP delegation was planning to meet with PKK/KADEK, which we regard as a terrorist group; 2) the US Embassy will never meet with any delegation member who has met with the PKK/KADEK; 3) by meeting with PKK/KADEK, DEHAP as a party will damage and could destroy its relationship with the US Embassy; and 4) the relationship between DEHAP and the USG will not protect the party from GOT retaliation. He acknowledged the points but made no comment. DEUTSCH