TURKS EXPRESS CONCERNS OVER WASHINGTON POST STORY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003418 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2015 TAGS: PREL PINS MOPS IZ TU SUBJECT: TURKS EXPRESS CONCERNS OVER WASHINGTON POST STORY Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request -- see para 3. ¶2. (C) MFA Deputy Director General for the Middle East Safak Gokturk raised with PolMilCouns on June 15 a story in the Washington Post that day reportedly based on a cable from REO Kirkuk on Kurdish authorities "extra-judicial detentions" and secret transfers of Arab and Turkmen detainees to Irbil and SIPDIS Suleymania. Gokturk, under instructions from the Prime Ministry, noted that Ankara took such reports "very seriously at the highest levels." Turkey had been hearing sketchy, similar reports. According to some of these, families are too intimidated to even inquire about detainees for fear of the same fate befalling them. He requested that the Kurds be reminded that such activity is unacceptable and should stop. He said he had been trying to reach the Iraqi Ambassador to deliver the same message, but he was busy with a visiting delegation and would not be able to receive the message until June 16. ¶3. (C) Action Request: Gokturk confided that the Prime Ministry had asked MFA "what are you doing" about the allegations in the article, and all MFA really could do was raise it with the USG and the ITG. We have separately requested press guidance to respond to numerous inquiries we are receiving from the press. Now, we also request guidance to respond to the GOT demarche. ¶4. (U) Iraq posts minimize considered. EDELMAN