BRIEFING THE TURKS ON USG FOLLOW-UP WITH EU

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007791 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2013 TAGS: PREL PTER EFIN ETTC TU SUBJECT: BRIEFING THE TURKS ON USG FOLLOW-UP WITH EU REGARDING TERRORIST DESIGNATION OF KADEK/KONGRA GEL REF: STATE 344619 (U) Classified by Polcouns John Kunstadter; reasons: 1.5 (b,d). ¶1. (C) On receipt of reftel text we briefed MFA DDG for counter-terrorism Asya on new USG follow-up with EU capitals to press for EU designation of PKK morphs KADEK and KONGRA GEL as terrorist organizations. Thanking us for continuing USG efforts with the EU, Asya said designation of KADEK is no longer of interest since it has ceased to exist; the key is for the EU to designate KONGRA GEL in a timely manner. ¶2. (C) Noting the USG's shoulder-to-shoulder cooperation against the PKK for almost 20 years and at the same time the EU's day-late-dollar-short terrorist designation for the PKK, we asked whether Asya could explain the continuing criticism of the U.S. and absence of more vigorous reproaches of the EU. Initially shrugging his shoulders, Asya eventually acknowledged with an embarrassed look that anti-U.S. criticism emanates in part from various disgruntled sections of the deeper parts of the Turkish State. EDELMAN