TERRORIST FINANCING:ANKARA:APPROACH TO EU ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004021 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EB/ESC/TFS (EGOFF) S/CT (TNAVRATIL) NSC (MRUPPERT) TREASURY (JZARATE) OFAC DIRECTOR (RNEWCOMB) E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2014 TAGS: PREL PTER EFIN ETTC TU SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCING:ANKARA:APPROACH TO EU ON PKK/KADEK/KONGRA GEL TERRORIST FINANCING ACTIVITIES REF: SECSTATE 144223 Classified By: A/DCM JAMES MOORE. REASONS: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) On 8 July, Econ Counselor delivered ref demarche to MFA Research and Intelligence DDG Hakan Okcal, who is responsible for both PKK and terrorist financing issues. Okcal described the USG intervention with EU countries as furthering the USG/GOT common strategy, and said that it was "very helpful." Okcal also noted that PKK fundraising efforts in Europe were "substantial"; that GOT has long been asking EU countries to prevent PKK fundraising; and that GOT has increased the pressure on those governments since 9/11. ¶2. (C) Immediately following the meeting with Okcal, Econ Counselor met with MFA Americas Desk DDG Suna Ilicak, who likewise welcomed the USG intervention. Ilicak emphasized, however, that while GOT greatly appreciated the support provided by USG against PKK over the years, direct action against the PKK in northern Iraq was now needed. ¶3. (C) On 13 July, PolMil Counselor shared ref demarche with TGS/J5 Strategy Chief MGen Cengiz Arslan. Arslan expressed appreciation for the effort with the EU, but lamented that it was not more. He recalled D/CHOD Gen Ilker Basbug,s comments at his 8 July press conference at which he said that the Turkish military was satisfied with the USG,s attitude toward the PKK, but that the U.S. had not met Turkey,s expectations regarding action against PKK terrorists in Iraq. While Arslan would have preferred that the US act against terrorists in Iraq, he acknowledged that the effort with the EU was useful. DEUTSCH