TERRORISM DISCUSSION WITH MFA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001667

SIPDIS

TREASURY FOR FINCEN, OFAC AND A/S ZARATE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2010
TAGS: PTER KTFN PREL TU
SUBJECT: TERRORISM DISCUSSION WITH MFA


Classified By: DCM ROBERT C. DEUTSCH FOR REASONS

1. 4(B) AND (D).


1. (C) Summary: In a wide-ranging discussion of terrorism and
terror finance issues, recently-appointed DG of Security
Affairs Guven expressed appreciation of past USG cooperation
against terrorism and looked forward to more of the same. He
expressed frustration with EU countries' weak and ineffective
cooperation against the PKK, took the point not to release
Uzbek terrorist Ibragimov, and hoped that the new Iraqi
government would be on the lookout for PKK leaders. On
terrorism finance he worried about the possibility that
Turkish courts would find in favor of UN-designated
terrorists whose assets have been frozen in Turkey. End
Summary.


2. (C) Ambassador Hayati Guven, the new Director General for
Security Affairs, and two of his staff met with DCM, econoff
and poloff, in a wide-ranging discussion of terrorism-related
issues. Guven,s Directorate, formerly known as Intelligence
and Research, has responsibility for terrorism, including
terrorism finance, as well as narcotics, and allegations of
genocide against Armenians.

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Uzbek Terrorist:
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3. (C ) Regarding Uzbek terrorist Oybeck Ibragimov, DCM
emphasized importance of not releasing him, noting that in
the past released members of this group had gone back to
terrorist activities. Guven kept referring to the problems
the GOT has had with the European Court of Human Rights which
has objected in the past to the GOT turning people over to
Uzbekistan. To Guven,s surprise, his subordinate Celal
Dogan had attended meetings with MOJ officials at which they
implied the Uzbek might be released. Guven seemed concerned
but insisted he thought it very unlikely Ibragimov would be
released. DCM stressed our hope that he not simply be
released and our willingness to assist if necessary. We are
continuing our engagement to try to prevent release.

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PKK in Europe:
--------------


4. (C) Guven expressed appreciation for US efforts to help
Turkey with the PKK. On Roj TV in Denmark, Guven and Celal
said the focus of their efforts in trying to convince the
Danes that the station should be closed has been on the
content of the broadcasts being an incitement to violence
(basically the PKK message). The DCM suggested they might
also consider making the case based on ownership and
financing sources that the station is linked to terrorist
groups. He also suggested the Turkish Embassy may wish to
discuss the issue with the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen.


5. (C) More broadly, Guven described the problems the GOT has
with Western European countries. In a case in Norway, the
Ministry of Justice is hesitating about extraditing Nouriyeh
Karbir to Turkey, despite a high court ruling in Turkey,s
favor. Germany has released Remzi Kartal, despite his being
wanted in Turkey. Fehriye Erdal, the Turkish woman who
assassinated Ozdemir Sabanci in Istanbul is in Belgium and
has not been turned over to Turkey.

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PKK in Iraq:
--------------


6. (C) Guven informed that list of PKK officials has been
sent to Baghdad and the GOT expects the new Iraqi gov,t,
once formed, to take this list into consideration. Guven
claimed Osman Ocalan had been sighted in Baghdad.

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Terror Finance:
--------------


7. (C) Guven noted that the impending changes to Turkish law
would explicitly define the financing of terrorism as a
crime. He made a general complaint that the UN did not
provide sufficient background information on 1267
designations, saying his Minister always asks for more
information when proposing a decree to the Council of
Ministers that would freeze any assets in Turkey.


8. (C) Guven mentioned the legal cases (Al-Kadi and
Nasreddin) in Turkey that could go against the Government for
freezing these names, assets without evidence sufficient to
stand up in court.

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Narcotics:
--------------


9. (C) Econoff mentioned the Paris Pact (countries combating
flow of drugs from Afghanistan) and asked whether Turkey
would host a meeting later this year, as expected. Guven was
open to it, but did not seem to be familiar with the issue.


10. (C) Guven also talked about the importance of Turkey
being reelected to the UNODC Board in Vienna. He ted that
Spain had now put forward its candidacy, the third from an EU
country. He said this had the potential to jeopardize
Turkey,s candidacy, despite Turkey being much more directly
affected by narcotics flows, especially from Aghanistan.

Baghdad Minimize Considered.
EDELMAN