Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA7071
2005-12-01 16:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

OFFERS TO BRING TEAM ON PKK IN EUROPE, TREASURY

Tags:  PTER KTFN PREL TU PKK 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 007071 

SIPDIS

TREASURY FOR OTI
NSC FOR BROOKS AND MERKEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2015
TAGS: PTER KTFN PREL TU PKK
SUBJECT: OFFERS TO BRING TEAM ON PKK IN EUROPE, TREASURY
EXPERT


Classified By: Economic Counselor Thomas Goldberger for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).

This is an action request. See paragraphs 8 and 9.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 007071

SIPDIS

TREASURY FOR OTI
NSC FOR BROOKS AND MERKEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2015
TAGS: PTER KTFN PREL TU PKK
SUBJECT: OFFERS TO BRING TEAM ON PKK IN EUROPE, TREASURY
EXPERT


Classified By: Economic Counselor Thomas Goldberger for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).

This is an action request. See paragraphs 8 and 9.


1. (C) Summary: Given the inability of the GOT to produce
hard facts on PKK criminal activities in Europe, Econ/C
discussed with MFA DDG for Security Affairs Huseyin Bicakli
the utility of sending a law enforcement team to Ankara to
meet with GOT counterparts on enhanced cooperation against
PKK networks in Europe. Bicakli was appreciative of our
offer, and is contacting other GOT agencies, aiming for the
week of December 12. Separately, Econcouns also provided a
copy of U/S Levey's letter to both MFA and the head of the
Turkish FIU, and discussed the offer of a visit by a Treasury
expert to discuss terror finance designations. End Summary.

--------------
Visit of Team on PKK in Europe
--------------


2. (C) In a meeting November 30 with MFA Deputy Director
General for Security Affairs Huseyin Bicakli, Econcouns and
Econoff discussed the utility of a visit to Ankara of
Department of Justice (and possibly FBI) experts to help move
forward on enhanced law enforcement cooperation against PKK
networks in Europe. He noted that the information the
Turkish side had provided so far has not been useful since it
relates to PKK terrorist actions in Turkey or evidence of PKK
affiliation. Econcouns explained that the visitors could
discuss with Turkish counterparts how best to put together
dossiers that would be sufficiently compelling to European
law enforcement agenceis to result in police action against
PKK criminal activities in Europe.


3. (C) Bicakli was quite receptive, seemed to understand
these points, and undertook to coordinate an interagency
group to receive the visitors. In a follow-up telephone
conversation December 1, he told Econcouns he had already
written the other agencies and was calling around to follow
up, recognizing the short time available.

--------------
Roj TV, Trilaterals:
--------------


4. (C) Bicakli thanked the USG for its efforts vis-a-vis Roj
TV. He was quite familiar with Embassy Copenhagen's actions
in this regard. He asked whether there was any truth to

press report that President Bush had written a letter to
Danish leaders about Roj.

--------------
U/S Levey Letter, Treasury Visit
--------------


5. (C) Econcouns also provided Bicakli with a copy of
Treasury U/S Levey's letter to Finance Minister Unakitan,
proposing to send a U.S. Treasury expert to present U.S. and
third-country experience with terrorist finance designations,
and issues in developing a domestic designations capability.
Econoff made the point that having such a capability might
help Turkey with PKK in Europe, since Turkey could use
intelligence information to present statements of case for
European governments to designate PKK individuals. Bicakli
was also interested in the idea of the Treasury visit.


6. (C) In a separate meeting with Genc Osman Yarasli,
President of MASAK, Turkey's anti-money laundering agency and
financial intelligence unit, Econcouns passed on the letter
and discussed the idea of a visit. Yarasli suggested it might
be more useful to have a high-level--rather than a
technical-level--meeting. He said discussions on a technical
level are easy once there has been a higher-level decision.


7. (C) Econcouns explained that having the ability to present
statements of case to other countries could help stop the
flow of funds to terrorists in Turkey. Yarasli reminded
Econoffs of the sentiment expressed by a police official at
the September 15 interagency bilateral meeting that the
"brain" of the PKK is in northern Iraq, yet we are leaving
the brain alone and concentrating on financial sources in
Europe. Yarasli said this was a widely-held view in Turkey,
including in state agencies. Econcouns responded that, just
as in the fight against Al-Qaida, there need to be multiple
tracks; using military, intelligence and financial
techniques. In addition to going after the brain of the PKK,
we can go after its blood supply: financing from Europe.
Yarasli, agreed that financial techniques could be useful but
urged that all methods be used in parallel. Econcouns said
he looked forward to receiving the GOT's response to U/S
Levey's letter.

--------------
Action Request
--------------


8. (C) FBI Director Mueller's visit provides a major
opportunity for the U.S. to be seen by both the GOT and
public opinion as taking action on PKK. Announcement by the
FBI director of the visit of a team the following week would
be an important deliverable and reinforce his other messages.



9. (C) Post recommends FBI agree to send a case management
expert, as we understand DOJ already has. Post also
recommends CIA send a PKK expert, both for continuity
purposes and because of his expertise on the PKK names in
question.
MCELDOWNEY