Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ISTANBUL1356
2003-09-15 11:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Istanbul
Cable title:  

PM ERDOGAN CALLS FOR U.S. ACTION AGAINST PKK/KADEK

Tags:  PREL PGOV TU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 001356 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU
SUBJECT: PM ERDOGAN CALLS FOR U.S. ACTION AGAINST PKK/KADEK


Classified By: Acting Consul General Stuart Smith for reasons 1.5 (b&d)




C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 001356

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU
SUBJECT: PM ERDOGAN CALLS FOR U.S. ACTION AGAINST PKK/KADEK


Classified By: Acting Consul General Stuart Smith for reasons 1.5 (b&d)





1. (U) Summary: In a September 12 public speech, Prime
Minister Tayyip Erdogan called for a leading U.N. role in
Iraq, Turkish contributions to Iraq's stability and
reconstruction, and U.S. action against PKK/KADEK. Without
attaching any specific pre-conditions, the PM said that
Turkey is still considering whether to send troops to Iraq.
End Summary.



2. (U) Speaking at a September 12 dinner hosted by the
Turkish-American Business Association (a group that includes
mostly Turkish businesses),Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
said that despite occasional disagreements, U.S.-Turkish
relations are strong and broad-based. Though anti-Turkish
lobbies have worked in Washington to undermine these
relations, he said, Turkey and the U.S. have had close
political, economic, and security relations for decades and
will continue to enjoy such relations.



3. (U) On Iraq, Erdogan noted that the U.S. and Turkey share
an interest in rebuilding a stable, democratic Iraq and that
Turkey is already making contributions to that effort. He
argued that the United Nations should play a lead role in
this project, and said that Turkey is still studying whether
to send Turkish troops to participate in a stabilization
force. If necessary, the PM said he would send a bill to
parliament for its consideration.



4. (U) On terrorism, Erdogan criticized both the U.S. and the
West for "not taking the necessary attitude towards KADEK."
While acknowledging the tragedy that occurred in the U.S. on
9/11, Erdogan argued that Turkey has also been the victim of
a terrorist campaign that claimed 40,000 lives. The U.S.
should act against PKK/KADEK in the same manner that they
would expect Turkey to act against terrorists threatening the
U.S. If this is done, he added, everything will work out.



5. (C) Comment: It appears that the PM may have departed from
his prepared script during his remarks on terrorism and the
PKK/KADEK. Many of the 500-plus participants in the dinner
(who included numerous Turkish businessmen and Turkish
representatives of U.S. businesses) were taken aback at the
"harshness" of his comments on that topic. At the same time,
they were impressed by Erdogan's grasp of the range of other
issues in the relationship, as reflected not just in the
speech but in comments to attendees during the hour plus he
spent moving from table to table before departing.
ARNETT