Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ANKARA7075
2004-12-21 13:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

ACTION REQUEST: AIRLIFT FOR SECURITY ATTACHE TO

Tags:  MOPS MASS PREL TU IZ 
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211308Z Dec 04
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007075 

SIPDIS

BAGHDAD PLEASE PASS TO MNF-I HQ AND TASK FORCE OLYMPIA
COMMANDER BG HAM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2014
TAGS: MOPS MASS PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: AIRLIFT FOR SECURITY ATTACHE TO
TURKISH EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD


Classified By: CDA Robert S. Deutsch for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007075

SIPDIS

BAGHDAD PLEASE PASS TO MNF-I HQ AND TASK FORCE OLYMPIA
COMMANDER BG HAM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2014
TAGS: MOPS MASS PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: AIRLIFT FOR SECURITY ATTACHE TO
TURKISH EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD


Classified By: CDA Robert S. Deutsch for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action request for State, DoD, CENTCOM,
Embassy Baghdad, and MNF-I. Please see para. three.


2. (U) On Dec. 17, AIF in Mosul attacked a convoy of four
vehicles carrying Turkish police officers assigned TDY to
provide security at the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad. Five
Turkish officers and one of their Iraqi drivers were KIA
(another Iraqi driver is missing). The Turkish security
attache to their embassy, Saadettin Kece, was WIA. TFO
transported him to the 332nd EMDG, Air Force Theater
Hospital, Balad; he is patient number 778. We understand
from email traffic that his condition has improved and that
he is ready to be released. On. Dec. 20, the GOT requested
via diplomatic note (text at para. four) that the U.S.
repatriate Kece by air.


3. (C) Comment and action request: This tragic incident has
shocked both official Turkey and the Turkish public, much
more so than the death of approximately 60 Turkish truck
drivers in Iraq since the flareup of the insurgency.
President Sezer, PM Erdogan, and CHOD Ozkok all attended the
Dec. 20 memorial service for the five murdered police
officers; Charge attended on the Embassy's behalf. Turkish
officials have expressed their gratitude to MNF-I for
assisting in collecting the remains of the Turkish officers
and for transporting them from Mosul to the Turkish border.
Embassy believes it would be an important goodwill
gesture--especially in advance of expected visits to Ankara
by Deputy Secretary Armitage as well as CDR CENTCOM General
Abizaid next month--to airlift this official to Turkey or (if
easier) close to the Turkish border at the Habur Gate.


4. (U) Action request, cont.: We understand from our Dec. 21
discussions with the Turkish MFA that we may be able to meet
their request for assistance in an easier fashion. The
Turkish embassy in Baghdad still needs a security detail, and
the Turks are tentatively planning to send a new team by air
to Baghdad as early as Dec. 22. Should this occur, they may
refine their request to airlifting the official from Balad to
BIA, where the Turks could pick him up for the return flight
home. End comment and action request.


5. (U) On Dec. 20, we received the following diplomatic note
from the Turkish MFA:

BEGIN TEXT:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States
of America and has the honor to inform the latter of the
following;

As confirmed by Embassy, Mr. Saadettin Kece, the Security
Attache of the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad who has been
wounded during the terrorist attack in Mosul on 17 December
2004, and transferred to the Multi National Force's medical
facility near Balad for emergency treatment, is now stable,
and ready for transfer to Turkey.

In view of the foregoing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
would be much obliged if the esteemed Embassy could kindly
intercede with the Multi National Force Headquarters in Iraq
to obtain the necessary permission for the transfer of Mr.
Kece to Turkey, by air, through the assets available to the
US Forces in the region, and inform the Ministry of the
outcome.

The Ministry avails itself of this opportunity to renew to
the Embassy of the United States the assurances of its
highest considerations.

Ankara, 20 December 2004

END TEXT.


6. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
DEUTSCH