Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ANKARA5962
2003-09-22 11:27:00
SECRET
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

NORTHERN IRAQ: NEXT STEPS WITH TURKEY ON PKK/KADEK

Tags:  PTER PREL MOPS MARR TU IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T ANKARA 005962 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2013
TAGS: PTER PREL MOPS MARR TU IZ
SUBJECT: NORTHERN IRAQ: NEXT STEPS WITH TURKEY ON PKK/KADEK
- GETTING AT THE LEADERSHIP


REF: A. STATE 261988

B. ANKARA 5919 (NODIS)

C. ANKARA 5745


Classified by Ambassador Eric Edelman. Reasons 1.5 b and d.
Recommendation at Para
S E C R E T ANKARA 005962

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2013
TAGS: PTER PREL MOPS MARR TU IZ
SUBJECT: NORTHERN IRAQ: NEXT STEPS WITH TURKEY ON PKK/KADEK
- GETTING AT THE LEADERSHIP


REF: A. STATE 261988

B. ANKARA 5919 (NODIS)

C. ANKARA 5745


Classified by Ambassador Eric Edelman. Reasons 1.5 b and d.
Recommendation at Para 1.



1. (S) As we prepare for S/CT Black's visit and the next
round of talks with Turkey on the PKK/KADEK presence in Iraq,
Post believes we need to take into account a number of the
Turkish positions expressed to DAS Pascoe on Sept. 12 (Ref
B). RECOMMENDATION: To demonstrate the seriousness of the US
commitment, even before military COAs are developed, we
recommend Washington consider the following possible steps
that we could share with the Turks as evidence of our intent
to actively make good on our commitment to eliminate the
PKK/KADEK from northern Iraq in the short-term:


-- issue to US military units in the region names and photos
of the top 32 PKK/KADEK leaders with instructions that they
be apprehended if sighted (possibly with a rewards program
for information leading to their capture). We should widely
publicize the names of the top 32 we will be looking for;


-- track the movement of these leaders so that if there is a
gathering of several or more of them that we learn of in
advance, we could consider a "decapitation strike;"


-- immediately develop and implement a psyops campaign
focused on the PKK/KADEK leadership in Iraq (including in the
Makhmour Camp) but conveyed to rank and file elements as well
with a firm message that the window for peaceful surrender is
rapidly closing, that the US and Turkey are of one purpose in
our commitment to end the threat to Turkey posed by the
PKK/KADEK presence in Iraq, and that we urge them to turn
themselves in now or face the very real possibility of
military action against them in the near future;
-- immediately hold talks with UNHCR on how to separate out
the PKK/KADEK elements from the rest of the Makhmour camp
population and relocate those individuals while ensuring they
have no access to the camp population. The camp population
would also need to have visible and credible security to
protect them from reprisals should they opt to return to
Turkey; and


-- take diplomatic/law enforcement steps in cooperation with
the GOT to seek the arrest and extradition to Turkey of
PKK/KADEK leaders located in countries other than Iraq and
the estimated 5 PKK/KADEK operatives said to be working in
the US.



2. (S) The Turkish press and Turkish officials have given the
Sept. 12 talks mixed reviews, with some voices saying an
action plan had been agreed and others that the US is still
doing nothing. Turks also continue to tie US action against
PKK/KADEK to the possibility of Turkey contributing troops to
a stabilization force. We look forward to S/CT's visit and
hope we can move forward as aggressively and decisively as
possible against this terrorist organization for the good of
Iraq, Turkey and the US.



3. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
EDELMAN