USG SUPPORT TO TURKEY"S FIGHT AGAINST THE PKK

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006448

SIPDIS

TREASURY FOR OTI - RLEBENSON/JSERAFINI
NSC FOR MERKEL
DOJ FOR OPDAT - JSILVERWOOD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2015
TAGS: KTFN PTER EFIN PGOV PKK
SUBJECT: USG SUPPORT TO TURKEY"S FIGHT AGAINST THE PKK

REF: SECSTATE 195498

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


1. (S) Summary: Charge delivered the points in reftel to
MFA Deputy U/S Sensoy, going over the broad range of U.S.
actions on PKK, and pressing him hard regarding
public statements by senior GOT officials. On law
enforcement cooperation in Europe, the Charge asked for
more information on the targeted names' criminal activities
in Europe and suggested the utility of seeking designations
to freeze assets. Sensoy seemed to take the points and
undertook to ask other GOT agencies for more information on
the targeted names. End Summary.

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Multi-Faceted U.S. Effort Against PKK
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2. (S) In a meeting October 26 with MFA Deputy U/S Nabi
Sensoy,
Charge delivered reftel points, laying out in some detail
the many areas in which the U.S. is working to help Turkey
on PKK. She briefed Sensoy in general terms of the current
status of U.S. military intelligence cooperation. Sensoy
took the point that these efforts required USG
allocation of precious resources. Charge also assured
Sensoy that the U.S. continually raises the PKK issue with
Iraqi officials and mentioned U.S. work to move
forward on the trilaterals.


3. (S) On enhanced cooperation against PKK support networks
in Europe, the Charge briefed Sensoy on U.S. demarches to
European governments. Regarding the exchange of
lists of PKK individuals to target, she explained that the
Interpol red notices for the names provided by Ambassador
Guven to EUR/SE Director Silliman only provide information
regarding crimes committed in Turkey. She noted that in at
least two cases--Remzi Kartal and Nuriye Kesbir--European
authorities had arrested the individuals and Turkey's
extradition requests had not been accepted by German and
Dutch courts. The Charge said it is likely to be more
effective to show European Governments how PKK figures are
committing crimes in Europe and asked whether Turkey had
information about these individuals' criminal activity in
Europe. In case there is little such information, passing
on leads such as credit card numbers and telephone numbers
might help enhanced collection leading to Europeans taking
action. Sensoy said he would immediately ask other
agencies whether Turkey had such information. The Charge
stressed the need to move more quickly in this process in
order to get to the stage of tangible action.

4.(S) She also raised designation and asset-freezing.
Though ideally, our enhanced law enforcement efforts would
lead to arrests, it would also be useful--and require a
lower evidentiary standard--to push European governments to
designate and freeze PKK money.

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GOT Officials' Public Statements
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5. (S) The Charge underscored the importance of GOT officials
conveying to the public that the U.S. is working with Turkey
on the PKK problem. She stressed--and Sensoy recognized--in
how many different ways we are working with Turkey to combat
the PKK. Sensoy acknowledged a palpable change in U.S.
attention to the PKK issue, recognizing how seriously the
U.S.
was taking it and stressed GOT appreciation for it. He said
public opinion tended to focus more on visible military
action, which led to pressures within the AK Party on
government leaders. The Charge came back to this issue
several times, pressing Sensoy on the need for GOT public
statements to note U.S. efforts on PKK.


6. (S) The Charge also urged the GOT to think about the PKK
in a broader context. She urged the GOT to speak out on the
imperative of stabilizing Iraq and thus ridding it of all
forms
of terrorism, including the PKK. She noted that a stable,
democratic and unified Iraq free of terrorist groups would
provide a dramatic boost to Turkey,s overall national
security.
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Comment
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7. (S) Post will report separately on reftel's demarche to
European embassies, and will seek other opportunities to
convey the bilateral message. Sensoy is clearly
sympathetic and has a stake in trying to get more
information on PKK names and passing on the US message
about public statements. Post would also appreciate
continued focus on how to move forward quickly with concrete
steps that result in the arrest of PKK supporters in Europe.
MCELDOWNEY