JUSTICE MINISTER CICEK VOWS COOPERATION ON TERROR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004795 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2025 TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL PTER TU PKK SUBJECT: JUSTICE MINISTER CICEK VOWS COOPERATION ON TERROR FINANCE, CALLS FOR ACTION AGAINST PKK REF: ANKARA 04622 Classified By: (U) CDA Nancy McEldowney; E.O. 12958, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request, see paragraph 3. ¶2. (C) During an August 10 meeting with Charge, Turkish Minister of Justice Cemil Cicek stressed the desire of the GOT to cooperate with the U.S. on counterterrorism issues, including counterterrorism financing. The Minister expects the Turkish parliament to pass a new anti-terrorism financing law after the parliament reconvenes on October 1. The Charge welcomed the recent decision by Cicek and the Finance Minister to propose to the Council of Ministers that the GOT accept the USG's offer to form a joint U.S.-Turkish counterterrorism financing working group (REFTEL). The Charge also expressed her desire to expand MOJ-DOJ exchanges and training programs. ¶3. (C) Cicek invited U.S. Attorney General Gonzales to visit Turkey. Cicek visited the U.S. about two years ago and met with U.S. Attorney General Ashcroft. Cicek believes that high level visits between justice ministers help to facilitate cooperation at lower levels within the ministries. (Action request: We request that the Department convey Cicek,s invitation to the DOJ and inform us of the response. End action request.) ¶4. (C) Cicek asserted that the lack of U.S. action against the PKK is creating an anti-American atmosphere in Turkey. Because of this, Cicek claimed that America's friends in Turkey -- a group in which he included himself -- are having a difficult time defending the U.S. He encouraged the USG to pressure KDP leader Barzani to take steps against the PKK in northern Iraq. The Charge noted the history of U.S.-GOT cooperation against the PKK and highlighted the importance of the U.S. and Turkey working together with our European friends to close down PKK-connected organizations in Europe. ¶5. (C) Comment. Although polite, Cicek was clearly tense during the meeting. He started the meeting by stating that "our American friends are making us tired." As a founding member of center-right ANAP in 1983 and a state minister in former PM Ozal's governments during the 1980s, Cicek considers himself one of the more pro-American ministers in AKP. Although he has complained about the lack of US action against the PKK before in meetings with senior U.S. officials, his demeanor in this meeting reflected the growing tensions on the PKK issue and the universal expectation of some USG action against the PKK in northern Iraq. Cicek repeated what has now become the mantra, i.e. "kinetic" military action is not essential in the near term, but some demonstration of our bona fides is. End Comment. MCELDOWNEY