IRAQ: TURKS ALLEGE US CONTACTS WITH PKK - REQUEST

S E C R E T ANKARA 003901 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPT. FOR NEA/NGA AND EUR/SE; BAGHDAD ALSO FOR MNF-I E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2029 TAGS: PTER MARR MOPS TU IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ: TURKS ALLEGE US CONTACTS WITH PKK - REQUEST GUIDANCE TO RESPOND TO CLAIMS Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES A.I. ROBERT S. DEUTSCH, REASONS 1.4 B AND D. ¶1. (U) Urgent Action Request at Para 3. ¶2. (S/NF) On July 8, Turkish military officials passed Embassy via the Intelligence Fusion Cell a note (text to be provided septel via IIR from DAO Ankara) alleging that US officials held conversations with PKK leaders on June 17, offered to place an area of northern Iraq under the PKK's control, and asked to include PKK members in border guard units in the region. The note also says that according to PKK-front Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party (KDSP) members, US officials knew that the KDSP was a PKK front, visited its offices, was in constant contact with the PKK and was capable of arresting senior PKK members, but did not intend to do so. The note further alleges that up to 300 PKK members had been taken to Mosul by US soldiers for training. And finally, it states that US officials invited the KDSP to July's National Conference in Baghdad. ¶3. (S/NF) The charges made are extremely serious and could be explosive in Turkey if publicized. ACTION REQUEST: Embassy urgently requests guidance to respond to the contents of septel note. ¶4. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. DEUTSCH