TURKISH RESPONSE TO US OFFER AGAINST PKK

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 006478 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2015 TAGS: PTER PREL PKK SUBJECT: TURKISH RESPONSE TO US OFFER AGAINST PKK Classified By: POL-MIL COUNSELOR TIMOTHY A. BETTS ¶1. (S) On October 27, ODC-Turkey received the letter in para 2 from the Turkish General Staff. The letter provides the Turkish position on various proposals regarding actions against the PKK made during the September 9 visit to Turkey of EUCOM CDR GEN Jones and CENTCOM DCDR LT GEN Smith, as well as those made earlier by EUR DAS Bryza. In essence, TGS indicates a willingness to explore cooperative action against the PKK outside of Turkey, but does not want the US-offered assistance within Turkey. (Note: internal numbering of TGS document). ¶2. (S) BEGIN TEXT REPUBLIC OF TURKEY TURKISH GENERAL STAFF ANKARA HRK.: 1700-403-05/Pl.Hrk.D.MMHS.(DZ.)16/3138236 14 Oct 05 SUBJECT: US Proposals on PKK/Iraq OFFICE OF DEFENSE COOPERATION TURKEY ¶1. The US proposals made by the US side during the visits made to the TGS Headquarters by the US commanders (USCENTCOM and USEUCOM) on 9 September 2005 are attached, including the Turkish views. ¶2. The attached table has been created based on the notes taken during the said visit. ¶3. Mr. Matt Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs made proposals similar to the ones stated in the attached table during his visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 25 Aug 2005. ¶4. It will be appropriate to evaluate Mr. Matt Bryza,s proposals together with the activities of the USEUCOM Team who visited TGS on 3 October 2005 for the purpose of discussing INFO OPS. ¶5. It is evaluated that a productive working environment could be provided if the necessary coordination to conduct activities can be established between the State Departments and military authorities of both parties. ¶6. Request ODC Turkey coordinate with the related US authorities to review the attached table and submit the additions/amendments to the Turkish General Staff in order to establish agenda items which are agreed by both countries. Subsequently, it will be possible to follow up, coordinate and guide the activities to be conducted in a best way after the conversion of the agenda items into an action plan. ¶7. POC at TGS is Navy Captain Mustafa Inanc, National Joint Operations Branch Chief. Discussions with ODC will be conducted in accordance with the existing principles. FOR THE CHIEF TGS //Signed// Mehmet EROZ MG Chief Plans and Operations ENCLOSURE: Issues Evaluated to be worked with the US side mutually END TEXT. ¶3. (S) The following enclosure was attached. BEGIN TEXT. ISSUES EVALUATED TO BE WORKED WITH THE US MUTUALLY ¶1. U.S. Proposal: To make Weekly Intelligence Cell Meetings more productive/efficient. (During Breakfast/Office Call-General Jones) Turkey's Views: The meeting that is currently restricted only to the activities of the PKK/Kongra-Gel in Northern Iraq should be more generalized such as all activities of PKK/Kongra-Gel activities. Except the weekly meetings, a communication system is required to be established for time sensitive information/documents/intelligence changes. ¶2. U.S. Proposal: In order to define the border infiltrations we may provide more recon/intelligence information. If you let us know the areas we will take images. (During Breakfast/Office Call-General Jones and LTG Smith) Turkey's Views: Air intelligence gathering activities over Turkish soil is not needed. In regard to the flights to be conducted over TU soils: Border Infiltration Points Bases close to the borders Fixed Facilities Air Defense Facilities It will be beneficial to define a way of communication for time-sensitive intelligence requests. ¶3. U.S. Proposal: We are monitoring the money movement of the terrorists. PKK is also included. We may work on this subject. (Breakfast/Office Call LTG Smith) Turkey's Views: Positive approach for cooperation Both sides should define the existing information on the issue and the measures to be taken. A mechanism should be developed to share information. Cooperation towards an action should be established. US and Turkey should take parallel actions to initiate with the countries where the activities are conducted. Activities within this scope should be related to the Department of State proposals (Mr. Bryza,s proposals) ¶4. U.S. Proposal: To conduct activities to encourage the actions of the partner countries to take strict measures and put pressure on the businessmen, companies, and organizations supporting the terrorist organization. (EUCOM Briefing) Turkey's Views: Positive approach for cooperation Both sides should define the existing information on the issue and the measures to be taken. A mechanism should be developed to share information. (Businessmen, companies, and organizations providing support to the terrorist organization are required to be listed based on the countries they are located) Cooperation towards an action should be established. US and Turkey should take parallel actions to initiate with the countries where the activities are conducted. Activities within this scope should be related to the Department of State proposals (Mr. Bryza,s proposals). ¶5. U.S. Proposal: To develop strategies to assist the efforts for neutralizing the foreign media support provided (such as ROJ TV in Denmark) (EUCOM Briefing) Turkey's Views: Positive approach for cooperation Both sides should define the existing information on the issue and the measures to be taken. A mechanism should be developed to share information (Such media,s relation with the terrorist organizations and their propaganda activities are required to be documented) Activities within this scope should be related to the Department of State proposals (Mr. Bryza,s proposals) ¶6. U.S. Proposal: To provide support for Turkey,s INFO OPS conducted for the PKK,s recognitions as a terrorist organization globally. (EUCOM Briefing) Turkey's Views: Positive approach for cooperation Cooperation on EUCOM proposal should continue. First coordination meeting on the proposal was held. Cooperation towards an action within the joint understanding to be established should be realized. Activities within this scope should be related to the Department of State proposals (Mr. Bryza,s proposals). ¶7. U.S. Proposal: To support Turkey at its activities against PKK within the borders of Turkey. (EUCOM Briefing) Turkey's Views: Turkey does not need any support for the operations conducted within the country. ¶8. U.S. Proposal: Timing for the coordinated activities against the PKK in northern Iraq and the phase to be monitored should be defined together. (EUCOM Briefing) Turkey's Views: Positive approach for cooperation Studies should be initiated ASAP. A mutual vision should be defined in a meeting to be conducted after the parties prepare their proposals. 9.U.S. Proposal: To guide the Iraqi leaders to declare the PKK as a terrorist organization and to shut off the organization,s political bureaus (CENTCOM Briefing) Turkey's Views: Positive approach for cooperation Both Turkey and US should set forth a thesis that "Iraqi officials contacts with the PKK elements can classify Iraq as a country supporting terrorism." US should put a pressure on the Iraqi leaders in regard to this issue. The issue should be kept on the agenda within the scope of the trilateral meetings. ¶10. U.S. Proposal: To arrange semi-annual meetings between the military authorities in order to increase dialogue between the security forces of the Turkish Armed Forces and Iraqi forces (CENTCOM Briefing) Turkey's Views: Proposal is approached positively. Issue should be on the agenda during the trilateral meetings. Turkeys proposal after the evaluations should be discussed with the US side and start to implement upon the mutual decision to be taken. END TEXT. MCELDOWNEY