TURKISH MFA ON PKK TRILATERAL FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004906 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2005 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MOPS TU IZ PKK SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA ON PKK TRILATERAL FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION REF: A. ANKARA 4873 ¶B. STATE 149796 Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Timothy A. Betts, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 8. ¶2. (S) SUMMARY: Per Ref A request, PolMilCouns and Deputy PolMilCouns on Aug. 19 presented to MFA Deputy Director General (DDG) for Security Affairs Bicakli the Framework for Action resulting from the recent PKK Trilateral Talks. Bicakli confirmed that the list was consistent with the read-out provided by Director General Guven, the Turkish delegation head to the talks. He did, however, express confusion about the Iraqi request for additional information to support Turkey's case for the extradition of individuals in Iraq who were listed on Interpol Red Notices. He also inquired about the timing of the next trilateral talks and the status of the US proposal for bilateral actions against the PKK in Europe. Bicakli echoed the concerns raised by Deputy Undersecretary Sensoy two days earlier about PKK flags flying in various Iraqi cities (Ref a). Bicakli also stated that Iraq is ready to extradite to Turkey one of the two individuals wanted in connection with the 2003 Istanbul bombings. On Kongra Gel Party Chairman Zubeyir Aydar's aborted plan to announce in Brussels a temporary PKK cease-fire, Bicakli said the Belgian government had been reminded of the Interpol Red Notice on him. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (C) In the absence of Director General for Security Affairs Ambassador Hayati Guven, the Turkish delegation head to the Aug. 6 PKK trilateral talks held in Washington, who was on vacation, PolMilCouns presented DDG Huseyin Avni Bicakli with the list of follow-on actions agreed to at the talks. Bicakli confirmed that the list is consistent with the read-out provided by Guven before he went on leave and promised to share it with the Ministries of Interior and Justice. He did, however, ask why the Iraqis had requested additional information from Turkey on individuals named in Interpol Red Notices to support Turkey's extradition requests since the Red Notice alone should suffice. He questioned whether the additional information was needed in order for Iraq to arrest them or to extradite them. Drawing from reftel b, PolMilCouns noted that this likely referred to information that the Turkish judge present at the talks had agreed to transfer on specific individuals. TIMING OF NEXT TALKS? -------------- ¶4. (C) Saying he understood the next talks would take place in October, Bicakli wondered whether they would be held in Turkey or in Iraq. PolMilCouns recalled Guven saying on Aug. 8 that he understood the talks would take place on the margins of the next meeting of the Neighboring Country Interior Ministers, which was currently scheduled for January 2006, but offered to get clarification on the place and date. IRAQ READY TO EXTRADITE ONE OF TWO ISTANBUL BOMBING SUSPECTS -------------- -------------- ¶5. (S) According to Bicakli, Turkey's Ambassador to Iraq, Unal Cevikoz, reported that one of the two individuals caught in Iraq who were suspected of participating in the 2003 Istanbul bombings had been processed through the Iraqi judicial system and was ready for extradition. According to Bicakli, US, Iraqi and Turkish officials in Baghdad would meet the week of Aug. 22 to discuss the extradition arrangements. Turkey welcomed this development. PKK FLAGS EVERYWHERE -------------- ¶6. (C) Bicakli reiterated concerns raised by Deputy U/S Sensoy with Charge on Aug. 18 that Turkish sources had identified three PKK flags flying in Baghdad, Tuz Khurmatu and Mosul (ref a). According to Bicakli, the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad had confirmed that a PKK flag is flying above a Kurdistan Democratic Solutions Party (KDSP) building in Palestine Square in Central Baghdad; intelligence sources claimed a large PKK flag was located inside of the Ocalan Cultural Center in the Mansour neighborhood in Mosul and outside a building in Tuz Khurmatu. When asked whether Turkey had raised its concerns with the Iraqis, Bicakli, like Sensoy, said Turkey had not "yet" raised it with Iraq, but defensively added that the Turkish Ambassador in Iraq doesn't need to be instructed on this; he has the authority to approach Iraq on his own. BELGIAN WELCOMING COMMITTEE FOR KGK CHAIR AYDAR -------------- -- ¶7. (C) When asked about the MFA's response to Kongra Gel Party Chairman Zubeyir Aydar's announcement that he would travel from northern Iraq to Brussels to announce a one-month PKK cease-fire, Bicakli said the MFA had "reminded" Belgium of the 2004 Interpol Red Notice on Aydar. The Belgium authorities had responded by canceling Aydar's planned press conference, which had been scheduled to take place in a government facility. If Aydar did enter Belgium, Turkey was promised that he would be detained. However, according to Bicakli, Belgium would not extradite him to Turkey but would deport him to Switzerland where he has refugee status. (Note: Turkish press reported on Aug. 22 that the PKK did announce on Aug. 20 a temporary cease-fire but did not indicate where the announcement had been made. End Note.) ¶8. (S) COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST: Post requests clarification on the timing and location of the next trilateral talks and confirmation that Iraqi authorities are only looking for additional information on specific individuals discussed at the talks. We would recommend against the next trilateral meeting taking place on the margins of the next meeting of the Interior Ministers of Iraq,s neighbors because we worry about public perceptions of an appearance of US participation in the "neighbors process." Additionally, post would welcome input from Washington or Baghdad confirming that Iraq is prepared to begin the process to extradite one of the two Istanbul bombing suspects. END COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST. MCELDOWNEY