EUCOM/CENTCOM OFFER TURKS HELP WITH PKK; ASK FOR

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 005346

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2030
TAGS: PTER MARR PREL TU IZ PKK
SUBJECT: EUCOM/CENTCOM OFFER TURKS HELP WITH PKK; ASK FOR
PATIENCE

Classified By: Charge Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S/rel UK and AUS) Summary: At talks with EUCOM Commander
Gen James Jones and CENTCOM Deputy Commander Lt.Gen. Lance
Smith on Sept. 8-9, TGS Chief GEN Hilmi Ozkok indicated that
Turkish cross border operations targeting the PKK in northern
Iraq were not imminent, but that Turkish patience was
"almost" exhausted and Turkey wanted a solution before
reaching that point. He asked for the US to take some small
steps that could be touted to the Turkish public, such as
arresting PKK leaders, stopping PKK and its front
organizations' political activities "that incite Turkish
public opinion," or pressuring the Iraqi Kurds to crack down
on the PKK in their regions. Our generals urged continued
patience, emphasizing the overarching need to get Iraq right,
and encouraged greater efforts by TGS to improve public
opinion in Turkey. They offered specific assistance to help
the Turks fight the PKK in Turkey, while the Charge pointed
to US initiatives to tackle PKK media and financing streams
in Europe. While the MFA participant in the talks believed
the Turkish military and public were disappointed because a
dramatic new initiative against the PKK in Iraq was not
announced, the visit by leaders of the two combatant commands
demonstrated the USG's commitment to Turkey and in helping it
with the PKK terrorist threat. Embassy Ankara appreciates
the time and energy put into preparations for the visit by
EUCOM and CENTCOM. End summary.


2. (S/rel UK and AUS) EUCOM Commander Gen James Jones and
CENTCOM Deputy Commander Lt.Gen. Lance Smith, together with
members of the staff of the two commands, visited Ankara
Sept. 8-9. Gen Jones signed an MOU on US support to the
Turkish military's NATO Center of Excellence - Defense
Against Terrorism on Sept. 8. Both generals, their senior
staff and the Charge participated in a TGS-hosted dinner
Sept. 8 and a meeting with the TGS leadership the morning of
Sept. 9. Staff presented briefings afterwards. Before the
meeting and briefings, Generals Jones and Smith had a private
breakfast with TGS Chief GEN Hilmi Ozkok, Deputy Chief GEN
Isik Kosaner, and TGS/J3 LTG Bekir Kalyoncu. Gen Jones had a
brief press encounter following the talks.

--------------
Senior Staff Meeting, Sept. 9
--------------


3. (S/rel UK and AUS) Ozkok began the Sept. 9 restricted
meeting with senior staff by explaining how TGS sees the PKK
threat it faces, noting that this terrorist organization is
highly hierarchical, with politician and military wings that
it uses in a coordinated fashion with the goal of creating a
separate Kurdish state out of Turkey's southeast region and
perhaps territory of neighboring states. The organization's
attacks have increased the cost of investment in Turkey's
poor SE region, just as its recent targeting of tourist areas
is intended to damage that important sector to the Turkish
economy. The PKK has increased its terrorist activities on
the eve of Turkey's EU accession negotiations with the aim of
derailing those talks. "It is important to act (against the
PKK) before our patience is exhausted; we are almost there,"
he warned.


4. (S/rel UK and AUS) Ozkok expressed appreciation for what
the US has done to help Turkey with this problem, but after a
couple of years of talk, no action to stop PKK activities in
Iraq had yet been taken, he claimed. Turkey has contributed
significantly in the Global War On Terrorism, such as its
contributions to and cooperation with ISAF and OEF in
Afghanistan, Operation Active Endeavor in the Med, etc. To
be successful in GWOT, we "shouldn't differentiate among
terrorists," he said. Even on intelligence sharing (comment:
our most robust area of cooperation),Turkey would like
information passed more quickly.


5. (S/rel UK and AUS) In northern Iraq, the PKK enjoys
freedom of movement, trains its fighters, receives support
from "local Kurdish groups" (read: KDP and PUK),maintains it
logistics, learns new tactics (particularly in the area of
IEDs),conducts political activities (primarily through the
KDSP which is a registered party in Iraq),operates TV and
radio outlets, and acquires equipment and explosives,
according to Ozkok. UNSCR 1373 and 1546 require
international cooperation to fight terrorism, but while
Turkey is taking measures to secure its border with Iraq, the
Iraqi side needs to be secured. If not by the US, then the
ITG should act. If not, TGS might need to take the
initiative as public pressure to act is growing. Art. 51 of
the UN Charter provides for the right of hot pursuit, but "we
want a solution before reaching that point," he declared.
"We want to reverse the situation with your help."
Specifically, Ozkok suggested the following "steps:"

-- Pressure the Kurds, especially the KDP, to cut off their
contact, encouragement and support of the PKK and to struggle
against the terrorists.

-- Take steps to stop the PKK's political activities that
inflame public opinion in Turkey (e.g., close front offices,
prevent their fronts from participating in the Iraqi
political process).

-- Apprehend and hand over PKK leaders.

-- Cut the PKK freedom of movement and logistics lines.

-- Prevent criminal activity that funds the PKK.

-- Close Makhmour refugee camp.

-- Get the word out to the US media that the PKK does not
represent Kurds, but is a terrorist organization that uses
IEDs that kill indiscriminately ("are a crime against
humanity").

-- Provide real-time intelligence.

-- Facilitate coordination between border units on both sides
of the border (but the Iraqi side should not be only Kurdish
units)

-- Consider training Iraqi Border Patrol personnel in Turkey

"What you do is up to you," he concluded.


6. (S/rel UK and AUS) The Charge opened for the US side by
reviewing the US record of cooperation on the PKK and
emphasizing the importance for both countries of success in
Iraq. As part of our effort to succeed in Iraq, it was
important to engage the ITG on this and other issues so the
Iraqi government could develop into a real counterpart for
the long-term. Gen Jones affirmed that EUCOM was anxious to
continue progress on rebuilding bilateral mil-mil ties
through honest exchanges. He acknowledged that both sides
needed to work at improving public opinion, citing recent
polling data showing many people in Turkey do not see the US
as a friend. He encouraged TGS to put out more timely
information on what Turkey and the US are doing together to
help turn around public attitudes.


7. (S/rel UK and AUS) Lt.Gen. Smith thanked Ozkok for his
presentation. He noted that the focus of Coalition and Iraqi
forces was on Zarqawi and the AIF, but allowed that the
situation in the north could not be ignored. To that end, he
had been in Baghdad the previous week talking to MNF-I and
MNC-I leadership and indicated that General Abizaid had
previously spoken with Kurdish leaders about the need to take
control of the border. A successful constitution process
would be key, he stated, in keeping Iraq united. After
election of a government with a four-year term, many issues
could be addressed more aggressively. For that reason,
Turkey-Iraq relations were important, and the US was prepared
to facilitate contacts with the right interlocutors. He
counseled patience as Iraqi institutions build their capacity
to address the relevant issues. Controlling the borders, for
example, was really an issue of capacity. (The Charge
recalled that the President had asked PM Erdogan for Turkey's
help in getting the Syrians to do more to control its border
with Iraq.) The focus was currently on the Syrian border and
creating a professional border force was a time consuming
process, General Smith continued, but it was coming along.
He expressed appreciation for Turkey's support for the
process and again asked for patience.


8. (S/rel UK and AUS) Ozkok agreed that Turkey needed to work
with Iraq, but he expressed frustration at with the Iraqis'
attitude and apparent ineffectiveness. The Charge noted that
the USG has consistently told the Iraqis that they have no
better neighbor or partner than democratic Turkey with its
free market economy. Ozkok appreciated the point, observing
that that also made Turkey a valuable partner of the US in
the Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative (BMENAI).

--------------
EUCOM, CENTCOM, TGS Briefings
--------------


9. (S/rel UK and AUS) Opening remarks at the session with
staff by Ozkok, the Charge, Gen Jones and Lt.Gen. Smith
echoed their remarks in the more restricted senior staff
meeting (above).


10. (S/rel UK and AUS) Briefing for EUCOM, J5 Maj. Gen. Scott
Gration emphasized the strong overall cooperation in security
policy between Turkey and United States, and noted EUCOM's
desire to assist in efforts against the PKK in the command's
AOR. Specifically, EUCOM is prepared to offer "surge" (more
of it and in almost real-time) intelligence support on PKK
activities/locations in Turkey, based on Turkish requests
related to specific operations. Additionally, EUCOM is
prepared to offer its assets for aerial surveillance on the
Turkish side of the border.


11. (S/rel UK and AUS) CENTCOM Deputy J5 BG Mark Kimmitt
briefed on MNF-I's fragmentary order (FRAGO) to detain PKK
terrorists if they are captured in the course of normal
operations, and the placement of three PKK high-value
individuals (HVIs) on MNF-I's watch list. CENTCOM is willing
to expand this HVI list. Additionally, last month F16s
carried out two intelligence surveillance reconnaissance
missions over PKK camps in northern Iraq; CENTCOM is prepared
to continue these missions and hand over intelligence gleaned
from them to Turkey. Finally, the command offered to
facilitate Turkey-Iraq military contacts, and to explore with
both sides the possibility of joint Turkish-Iraqi border
patrols. Lt.Gen. Smith emphasized that in terms of the PKK
the problem was not our intent, but our capacity.


12. (S/rel UK and AUS) TGS's briefer repeated Turkey's
analysis of the PKK's camps in Qandil Mountain and along the
Turkish border. The briefing emphasized--though with no
corroboration--links between the PKK and the main Iraqi
Kurdish political parties (KDP and PUK). The Turks also
claimed that the PKK cooperates with AIF, such as Al Qaeda
Iraq (Zarqawi) and Ansar al-Sunnah.


13. (S/rel UK and AUS) Ozkok remarked that if the U.S. were
to press Iraqi Kurdish leaders to curtail the PKK's
activities, "this will help us significantly." He quickly
added that he hoped the U.S. would do more against the PKK in
Iraq when we are able to do so. He asserted that there is no
question that U.S. intentions are positive, and concluded
that the result of the meeting was "our common understanding
that the time is approaching to do more."

--------------
Comment: Kicking the Can Down the Road
--------------


14. (S/rel UK and AUS) Press coverage has, to date, been
factual (thanks in large part to Gen Jones' brief meeting
with the press following the talks) and muted (due to a
continuing effort by the GOT to dampen public expectations
for immediate US action). MFA Security Affairs Director
General Hayati Guven, who participating in the briefings,
told polmilcouns and polmiloff afterward that he expected TGS
(and the public) was disappointed that the US had not offered
any specific step against the PKK in northern Iraq. He, like
his military colleagues, expressed appreciation for intel and
other cooperation, but argued that something was necessary
that could be publicly touted in order to turn around public
opinion against the US for lack of action against the PKK in
Iraq.


15. (S/rel UK and AUS) Comment: Most Turkish participants in
the talks appreciated the visit of the CENTCOM and EUCOM
delegations as a demonstration of the USG's commitment to
Turkey, even if they were disappointed that no measures to
disrupt the PKK in Iraq were agreed. EUCOM and CENTCOM's
offers of assistance, whether or not they are ultimately
accepted, further demonstrate that the USG is prepared to do
what it can within its means and capabilities. We expect
this view will be reflected in media commentary as the
military backgrounds the press. We appreciate the tremendous
effort that went into making this visit happen at both
CENTCOM and EUCOM.
MCELDOWNEY