ACTION REQUEST: U.S. MILITARY MEDIVAC OF INJURED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005377

SIPDIS

BAGHDAD PLEASE ALSO PASS MOSUL AND MNF-I

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: U.S. MILITARY MEDIVAC OF INJURED
TURKISH AID WORKER FROM MOSUL



1. This is an urgent action request. Please see para. six.


2. Summary: On Sept. 20, Turkish Red Crescent worker Mustafa
Pekcan was seriously wounded in a terrorist attack and taken
to a Mosul hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
GOT is seeking U.S. assistance to medivac Pekcan to Turkey.
TFO has been to the hospital and TFO surgeon evaluated his
condition afternoon of Sept. 21. Surgeon believes Pekcan is
improving but that the hospital is adequate and that it is
not safe to move him immediately, though it may be safe on
Sept. 22. Embassy requests USG approval for MNF-I to medivac
Pekcan to Diyarbakir, Turkey as soon as it is safe for him to
travel. End summary.


3. On Sept. 20, a vehicle carrying Turkish Red Crescent
workers from Talafar--where they had been doing relief work
following recent coalition operations there--came under
insurgent fire on the road to Mosul. Three to four workers
were lightly injured but one, Mustafa Pekcan, was seriously
wounded, with injuries to his kidney, colon, and pelvis. The
workers were taken to El Salam hospital in Mosul, where
doctors performed emergency surgery on Pekcan. We understand
Pekcan was suffering serious internal bleeding following
surgery but is now doing somewhat better; the internal
bleeding seems to have slowed. TFO surgeon evaluated
Pekcan's condition afternoon of Sept. 21 and believes that
his standard of care is good and it would not be in Pekcan's
interests to move him now, though he may be in better shape
to move on Sept. 22.


4. Turkish Red Crescent, Turkish MFA, and TGS have all been
in contact with us concerning this case. MFA forwarded us a
diplomatic note (para. seven) requesting USG assistance to
medivac Pekcan to Diyarbakir, Turkey. Red Crescent is
anxious to move Pekcan now, but, acknowledging TFO surgeon's
evaluation, Turkish Special Forces Commander in Silopi told
our LNO there that Sept. 22 would be adequate for medivac.


5. The Turkish press is aware of this case and has already
been making inquiries to the Embassy press officer.


6. Action request: Request the Department coordinate with
relevant players--DoD, CENTCOM, Embassy Baghdad--to authorize
MNF-I to stand ready to medivac Pekcan to Diyarbakir o/a
Sept. 22, depending on Pekcan's condition. End action
request.


7. BEGIN TEXT OF DIPLOMATIC NOTE

2004/UKGY/395977

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey

Top Urgent

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States
of America in Ankara and concerning the recent armed attack
to a Turkish Red Crescent vehicle in Mosul has the honour to
inform of the following:

The Ministry has received a petition from Mrs. Didem Pekcan,
spouse of Mr. Mustafa Pekcan, a Turkish Red Crescent
personnel who had severely injured in the above mentioned
attack and currently under medical treatment in Al Selam
Hospital in Mosul requesting her husband's urgent transfer to
Turkey via ambulance helicopter or plane and undertaking all
the responsibilities and risks arising from this transfer. A
copy of the said petition is enclosed herewith.

In this framework, the assistance of the Esteemed Embassy in
informing the relevant American authorities on the issue with
the aim of realizing the transfer of Mr. Mustafa Pekcan from
Mosul, Iraq to Diyarbakir, Turkey at its earliest convenience
will be highly appreciated.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of
the United States of America the assurances of its highest
consideration.

Ankara, 21 September 2004

Encl.: (As Stated)

Embassy of the United States of America
Ankara

END TEXT


8. Baghdad minimize considered.
EDELMAN