CONTINUING TURKISH CONCERNS ABOUT ALLEGED USG-PKK

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000618 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2013 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS TU SUBJECT: CONTINUING TURKISH CONCERNS ABOUT ALLEGED USG-PKK TIES REF: ANKARA 549 (U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch; reasons: 1.5 (b,d). ¶1. (U) Action request--para 5. ¶2. (U) Jan. 24 MFA DDG for anti-terrorism Asya called us in to discuss Turkish concerns that the USG has links with, and is supporting, PKK/KADEK. ¶3. (C) Handing over copies of Embassy's and Department spokesman's denials of any USG-PKK link and recalling Ambassador's Jan. 23 statement on NTV (reftel),we reiterated our call for an official Turkish denial of this story, which claims to be supported by information from official sources. ¶4. (C) Asya undertook to pass our request up the chain. He then said that what is bothering the Turkish General Staff (Asya also strongly intimated that this TGS concern is driving the current press campaign) are reported contacts with PKK reps by former U.S. Ambassador Peter Galbraith in the context of pro-Kurdish work by a Norwegian NGO. Asya said that, at TGS request the MFA had looked into the matter and concluded that, given Galbraith's status as a retired ambassador he has no official connection with the USG. However, Asya said, the TGS remains convinced that Galbraith has an official USG connection. ¶5. (C) Action request: that the Department call in Turkish Ambassador Logoglu at an appropriate senior level and, confirming that -- as we understand -- Galbraith has no official (including contract) connection with any agency of the USG, reiterate (1) USG concern at the press campaign of assertions of USG-PKK collaboration against Turkish interests based on reported TGS and intelligence service reports; and (2) that Turks issue a strong official denial of the story. PEARSON