TURKISH MFA READY TO START TALKS ON PKK/KADEK

S E C R E T ANKARA 004864

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA READY TO START TALKS ON PKK/KADEK

REF: ANKARA 4787


(U) Classified by Charge d'Affaires Robert S. Deutsch.
Reason: 1.5 (b,d)



1. (S) In a Aug. 1 meeting, MFA Deputy Undersecretaries Baki
Ilkin and Nabi Sensoy told Charge that the Turkish side will
be ready to begin discussing cooperation on the presence of
PKK/KADEK in Northern Iraq after the "re-integration" law
(reftel) is signed by President Sezer and published in the
Official Gazette. Ilkin said he believes Sezer will sign the
law "within the next couple of days." Ilkin told Charge that
Sensoy will head the Turkish delegation, which will be
composed of MFA DDG for Intelligence Kemal Asya -- who, we
understand, handles PKK/KADEK-related issues -- and
representatives from the Turkish General Staff (TGS),the
Jandarma, and the Turkish National Intelligence Organization
(TNIO). Ilkin asserted that the MFA will work to keep the
activities of the delegation participants -- including both
Turkish and American names -- out of the press, although the
fact of cooperation should be known.



2. (S) Sensoy sought Charge's clarification of USG ultimate
intentions are regarding PKK/KADEK. "You have used the word
'elimination;' what do you mean by that?" he asked. Sensoy
thanked Charge for Embassy's efforts to discourage a
delegation from the Kurdish DEHAP from meeting with PKK/KADEK
in Northern Iraq. He also thanked Charge for publicly
denying the recent "Hurriyet" article that claimed PKK/KADEK
leaders will be granted asylum in Norway. He, nevertheless,
noted that the article had generated some "concern," which is
likely "to linger in Turkish minds."



3. (S) Charge stressed that, as we have noted before, the new
Iraq will be neither a sponsor of nor a safe haven for
terrorists. The U.S. intent, Charge emphasized, is to
eliminate Iraq as a safe haven for terrorists of any kind.
Part of this is getting the PKK/KADEK militants to return to
Turkey -- voluntarily with the impetus the "re-integration"
law provides or involuntarily. With regard to the latter,
Charge said, the U.S. is considering options and will be
interested in sharing intelligence with the Turkish forces in
Iraq. He noted that U.S. forces have a number of priority
tasks in Iraq, which could also impact the planning for
PKK/KADEK. Charge asked Ilkin and Sensoy to provide
information on what the MFA considers as the PKK/KADEK
leadership cadre, so that we can be better informed and have
an opportunity to respond should these individuals seek to
disperse in Iraq or depart the region.



4. (S) Both Ilkin and Sensoy emphasized that allowing
PKK/KADEK militants to escape to Europe is not an option.
Ilkin said that the leadership "would be even more dangerous
to Turkey in Europe than they are right now in Iraq."
DEUTSCH