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