Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA7443
2005-12-20 09:33:00
SECRET
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKEY: 2005 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

Tags:  PTER ASEC KCRM EFIN KHLS KPAO 
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R 200933Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2072
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 9352
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5//
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU//TCH//
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
S E C R E T ANKARA 007443 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2025
TAGS: PTER ASEC KCRM EFIN KHLS KPAO
SUBJECT: TURKEY: 2005 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

REF: STATE 193439

(U) Classified by DCM Nancy McEldowney, E.O. 12958, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).

--------
OVERVIEW
--------

S E C R E T ANKARA 007443

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2025
TAGS: PTER ASEC KCRM EFIN KHLS KPAO
SUBJECT: TURKEY: 2005 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

REF: STATE 193439

(U) Classified by DCM Nancy McEldowney, E.O. 12958, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).

--------------
OVERVIEW
--------------


1. (U) Combating terrorism has long been a priority for the
Government of Turkey (GOT). In 2005, Turkey continued its
strong support of the coalition in the global war against
terror in Afghanistan by commanding the International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from February to August

2005. Turkey has also announced that -- with France -- it
plans to co-command ISAF,s Kabul Regional Command beginning
in mid-2006. Finally, PM Erdogan announced that Turkey will
increase its reconstruction assistance ten-fold, to $100
million.


2. (U) Domestic and transnational terrorist groups have
targeted Turks and foreigners, occasionally including USG
personnel, for over 40 years. International and domestic
terrorist groups operating in Turkey include
Marxist-Leninist, radical Islamist, separatist, and
pro-Chechen groups. In response to these threats, GOT has
developed both strong determination and the capability to
fight most domestically-based terrorism. Overall, Turkey
continues to support the USG's international, coordinated
approach, but that support can be modulated, particularly
when Turkish citizens are part of investigations.


3. (U) Turkey,s ongoing struggle against the PKK/Kongra-Gel
and other Kurdish separatist terrorist groups continues.
There were a number of terrorist bombings and attempted
bombings in resort areas in western Turkey and Istanbul in
2005, some of which resulted in civilian casualties. A
Kurdish separatist group calling itself the Kurdish Freedom
Falcons (TAK) claimed responsibility for several of these
attacks. There have also been numerous military clashes
between Turkish security forces and PKK/Kongra-Gel terrorists
this past year: a number of Turkish security officials and
terrorists were killed in these clashes.


4. (U) In August 2005, Turkish authorities arrested Luay
Sakka, a Syrian national linked to Al Qaida and the Zarqawi
organization. Sakka is an important international terrorist:

he is linked to the funding of the November 2003 Istanbul
bombings and the deaths of U.S. and Coalition Forces in Iraq.
Sakka was in Turkey allegedly plotting a terrorist attack on
Israeli cruise ships in Turkish ports.


5. (U) A criminal trial is underway for dozens of defendants
allegedly involved in the November 2003 Istanbul bombings.
The lead defendants have admitted to contacts with Al-Qaeda
ad warned of further attacks if Turkey continues to
cooperate with the U.S. and Israel. However, most of the
other defendants denied any responsibility for or knowledge
of the bombings.

U.S. Designated Terrorist Organizations


6. (U) On October 8, 1997, the Secretary of State named the
separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the
Marxist-Leninist Revolutionary People's Liberation
Party/Front (DHKP/C) terrorist organizations, making them
subject to the Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act
of 1996. (The PKK changed its name to KADEK in 2002 and to
Kongra-Gel in 2003. The USG quickly indicated that this
group will continue to be viewed as a terrorist organization
regardless of its name.)

Marxist-Leninist


7. (U) The main radical-left terror organization, DHKP-C,
conducts small-scale operations against Turks and foreigners
alike (armed attacks on uniformed police, suicide and other
bombings, assassinations). This organization continued to
target Turkish and western interests and to organize itself
predominantly within Europe. According to government
authorities, DHKP-C cooperates with other groups in Europe by
providing support, shelter, and arms. They continue to
attack U.S. foreign policy in their rhetoric, especially with
regard to Iraq, and credible reporting continues to suggest
that American interests remain on their target list. In a
series of attacks launched prior to the 2004 NATO Summit,
DHKP/C and the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP) placed
or attempted to place IEDs on the fringes of the pre-Summit
security perimeters to signal their displeasure with
political events in Iraq and embarrass the GOT prior to
hosting NATO members. A Turkish policeman was seriously
injured when one of these IED's planted near the hotel where
the U.S. President was to stay was detonated. The TNP
suspect the DHKC/P of perpetrating several small scale
bombings in Istanbul in 2005.


8. (U) The second active far-left terrorist organization is
the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP). MLKP conducts
small-scale terrorist operations, usually using IEDs called
"sound bombs," within metropolitan areas. MLKP is deemed
responsible for a sound bomb attack on the Ankara Turkish
American Association in 2004, and for several sound bomb
attacks in 2005 as well. Other far-left terrorist
organizations that have followings in Turkey include the
Turkish Communist Party/Marxist-Leninist (TKP/ML),Turkish
Workers' and the Peasants' Liberation Army (TIKKO). TKP/ML
and TIKKO primarily operate in the areas of Ordu, Tokat, and
Samsun.

Radical Islamist


9. (U) The primary radical Islamist terror group of Turkey is
Turkish Hizbullah. Known to fight its rivals, namely
PKK/Kongra-Gel and rival Islamic groups, Turkish Hizbullah
has avoided confrontations with authorities. Turkish
Hizbullah has not carried out any major operations in 2005
but, according to state authorities, continues to maintain
the capability to conduct operations. Local press has
speculated that Hizbullah may have played a role in the
November 2003 bombings in Istanbul.


10. (U) Other Islamic groups include the Great Eastern
Raider's Front (IBDA-C),Federal Islamic State of Anatolia
(Kaplancilar),Selam Group, Islamic Movement Organization
(IHO),the Jerusalem Warriors, Selefiler, Sofular, and
Beyyiat-I El-Imam. Both IBDA-C and Beyyiat-I El-Imam are
sympathetic to Al Qaida. IBDA-C claimed to have conducted
the Istanbul bombings in November 2003, but Turkish
authorities said publicly that the group could not have
conducted the operation without the assistance of a larger
organization such as Al Qaida, and IBDA-C has a track record
of claiming responsibility for a range of terrorist actions.

Separatist


11. (U) PKK/Kongra-Gel is the largest separatist organization
in Turkey. The Kurdistan Workers, Party (PKK) was founded
in 1978 as a Marxist-Leninist group. In April 2002, the PKK
changed its name to Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress
(KADEK). In November 2003, the organization,s name was
changed to the People,s Congress of Kurdistan (Kongra-Gel or
KGK). Currently, PKK/Kongra-Gel is a leftwing Kurdish
separatist terrorist organization that calls for the
establishment of a Kurdish entity in parts of Turkey, Iran,
Iraq, and Syria. A number of other organizations operate
with different names under the PKK/Kongra-Gel umbrella.


12. (U) The PKK fought a 15-year war against the GOT during
which over 30,000 individuals were killed, according to a
variety of reports. In February 1999, PKK leader Abdullah
Ocalan was captured and later that year the PKK declared a
unilateral cease-fire. In the summer of 2004, PKK/Kongra-Gel
renounced its self-proclaimed cease-fire and threatened to
renew its attacks in southeastern Turkey and Turkey's western
cities. (A second, brief ceasefire was declared from August
20 to October 3, 2005.) There were a number of terrorist
bombings and attempted bombings in resort areas in western
Turkey in the spring of 2005, several of which resulted in
civilian casualties. A Kurdish separatist group calling
itself the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) claimed
responsibility for several of these attacks. Throughout 2005
there have been dozens of bombings in western Turkey and
particularly in Istanbul in which the TNP have either
confirmed or suspect the PKK/Kongra-Gel. There have also
been dozens of military clashes between Turkish security
forces and PKK/Kongra-Gel terrorists over the past eighteen
months. PKK/Kongra-Gel maintains approximately 4,000 to
5,000 armed militants in eastern Turkey and northern Iraq.

Chechens in Turkey


13. (U) Although Chechen terrorists did not conduct any major
operations in Turkey in 2005, they maintain the capability to
do so, according to Turkish officials. Large numbers of
Turks, many with roots in the Caucasus, are sympathetic to
Chechen ambitions. In April 2002, Mustafa Yilmaz, a Turkish
citizen of Chechen origin, seized the Marmara Hotel in
Istanbul and held 13 hostages for approximately twenty
minutes until he surrendered without incident. This followed
an April 22, 2001 seizure of Istanbul's Swiss Hotel by 13
pro-Chechen Turkish citizens who held 150 hostages, including
37 Americans, for approximately 12 hours.

-------------- --------------
GOT ACTIONS SUPPORTING THE GLOBAL COALITION AGAINST TERRORISM
-------------- --------------


14. (U) Turkey remained a strong and active contributor to
the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) effort. Turkey commanded
the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in
Afghanistan for a second time from February to August 2005,
contributing 1,500 troops. Turkey has also announced that --
with France -- it plans to co-command ISAF,s Kabul Regional
Command beginning in mid-2006.


15. (U) Turkey permitted the transport to Iraq of
humanitarian goods; contributed humanitarian goods and
services; and sold vital material such as fuel, food and
water to U.S. forces in Iraq. The Turks also allowed
Incirlik Air Base to be used as a cargo hub for non-lethal
goods going to support OIF and OEF, and for the outbound
rotation of U.S. troops returning from Iraq. Turkey was also
active in reconstruction efforts, including the provision of
electricity to Iraq. Some 70 Turkish citizens have been
killed while providing logistical support to Coalition forces
or performing reconstruction in Iraq. Turkey has contributed
headquarters personnel to the NATO training mission in Iraq;
helped train Iraqi diplomats and political parties; and
offered senior military leadership training in Turkey as a
further contribution to NATO's Iraq training mission.


16. (U) Turkey has also been an active partner on other
fronts in the global war on terrorism and international
security. Our militaries coordinated assistance to Georgia
and Azerbaijan, improving their abilities to protect
important energy transportation routes. Turkey continues to
be an active participant in NATO Operation Active Endeavour
by providing maritime patrol assets and personnel to conduct
surveillance, interception and boarding operations against
suspected terrorist activities in the Mediterranean. Turkey
subscribes to every arms control arrangement it is eligible
to join, including the Proliferation Security Initiative.
Ankara has been supportive of international efforts to
convince Iran to meet its commitments to the IAEA. The
Turkish military's Partnership for Peace Training Center
provides counter-terrorism and other training to personnel
from PFP partner countries. During 2005, the military also
established a NATO Center of Excellence for the Defense
Against Terrorism that provides more specialized training
opportunities for both NATO partner nations and alliance
members.


17. (U) In compliance with UN Security Resolution 1373,
Turkey has ratified all United Nations conventions on
combating terrorism. However, Turkey has acted (by Council
of Ministers decrees) to freeze the assets only of those
terrorist organizations, persons, and entities designated
pursuant to UN Security Council resolution 1267 (relating to
Taliban and Al-Qaida),because Turkish law does not currently
permit it to freeze the assets of other such organizations,
persons, and entities without an order from a prosecutor.
The initial decree, No. 2001/3483, dated December 22, 2001,
has been updated by decrees Nos. 2002/3873, dated March 21,
2002, 2002/4206, dated May 16, 2002, 2002/4896, dated October
1, 2002, and 2002/5426, dated March 28, 2003. In November
2005, the Turkish government proposed legislation to
parliament that would explicitly criminalize the financing of
terrorism; strengthen the suspicious transaction reporting
regime by providing immunity from prosecution to filers of
STRs; and restructure MASAK (the Turkish treasury,s
financial intelligence unit). The law has not been adopted
yet.


18. (U) Both the U.S. and the EU have offered training to
strengthen Turkish investigators, and prosecutors, ability
to prosecute financial crimes.

--------------
RESPONSE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM
--------------


19. (U) Parliament in June 2004 adopted legislation closing
the State Security Courts (DGM),special courts designed to
try cases involving terrorism and other "crimes against the
State." Under the legislation, the Government created new
specialized heavy penal courts to take on most of the former
DGM caseload. The new courts have special powers similar to
those of the DGMs. Average trial times run more than a year,
and defendants in the specialized courts are usually
incarcerated during their trials.

--------------
EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS
--------------


20. (U) In 2005, the Republic of Turkey did not seek the
extradition of any suspects from the United States on
terror-related charges, nor did the United States seek the
extradition of such suspects from Turkey. There are no
impediments to host government prosecution and/or extradition
of suspected terrorists. In several instances where
countries in the region have sought rendition/extradition of
suspected terrorists located on Turkish territory, the
process has proven difficult.


21. (U) In the past, Turkey has faced difficulty in
extraditing terror-related suspects from European countries.
According to government officials, Turkey has requested the
extradition of over 200 high level administrators of
terrorist organizations since 1991. Sympathy with Kurdish
political and cultural aspirations in some European states
and allegations of torture by Turkish officials, as well as,
Turkey's legal provision for the death penalty have all
proved impediments to such extraditions. However, in August
2002, as a part of the European Union reform package, the
Turkish Parliament passed a law banning the use of the death
penalty. In October 2004, Muhammed Metin Kaplan, the
so-called "Caliph of Cologne" who was convicted in German
courts for inciting the murder of a rival religious leader,
was extradited from Germany to Turkey. In November 2005, a
Turkish appeals court overturned Kaplan's June 2005
conviction for treason and plotting to kill all of Turkey's
senior leaders by crashing a plane into Ataturk's mausoleum
in Ankara during 1998 celebrations in honor of the republic's
75th anniversary. He faces the possibility of a retrial.

--------------
RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECUTION
--------------


22. (U) Turks see themselves as among the world's primary
victims of terrorism. They cite the long-running terrorist
insurgency of the PKK/Kongra-Gel and the worldwide
assassination campaign against the Turkish diplomats and
their families by Armenian terrorists during the 1970s and
1980s. They have long complained about European countries'
harboring terrorists who attack Turkey. The Turkish
government and media were quick to respond to the events of
September 11. At all levels, there was an outpouring of
sympathy and solidarity. There was widespread public
sentiment that now others were beginning to experience what
Turks had lived with for years. Turkey's pre-9/11 historic
cooperation with the U.S. in law enforcement, military and
intelligence activities has increased over the last two
years. There has been visible support for the security of
Americans at our mission's buildings by local police.


23. (U) The Turkish stand on terrorism has been somewhat
softer in the case of the Chechens. There are cultural and
religious ties between Turks and Chechens, and both have had
a long-time rivalry with Russia. The media treated the
takeovers of a ferryboat in 1999 and a hotel in 2001 in
Istanbul more like protests than terrorist attacks.


24. (U) The leftist and Islamic fringe press sometimes
portrays Chechen rebels, Palestinian suicide bombers, and
even Al Qaida members of anti-Iraqi forces as "freedom
fighters." Terrorism has long been an interest of academics
and writers in Turkey. In recent years, there have been
several conferences on the topic. Those organized by
institutions of the state have been seen as tools in the
fight against terrorism. Privately funded academic programs
have focused more on analyzing the impact of terrorism and
the root causes of terrorism.

--------------
MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS BY THE GOT
--------------


25. (U) The GOT continued its aggressive counterterrorism
efforts in 2005. In addition to sharing intelligence
information on various groups operating in Turkey, the
Turkish National Police (TNP) and the National Intelligence
Organization (MIT) conducted an aggressive counterterrorist
campaign and detained numerous suspected terrorists in scores
of raids, disrupting these groups before terrorist acts could
be carried out.


26. (U) The GOT continues its active campaign to suppress the
PKK/Kongra-Gel; its security operations tempo has been
significantly increased in line with the organization,s
ratcheting up of the conflict. It continues to monitor the
organization's political movements in an effort to stem any
potential disturbances.

--------------
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM
--------------


27. (U) The GOT consistently and strongly opposes both
domestic and international terrorism. Turkey does not view
its maintenance o diplomatic or economic/commercial
relations with Cuba, Iran, Libya, Sudan, and Syria as
constituting support for international terrorism.

--------------
SUPPORT STATEMENTS FOR TERRORIST COUNTRIES
--------------


28. (U) Turkey shares borders with, and has been an historic
trading partner of, Syria and Iran. It balances a
condemnation of terrorist activities in those countries with
the need to access historic trade routes. Public statements
against state-supported terrorism are clear. It has security
relations aimed principally at PKK/Kongra-Gel terrorists with
both Syria and Iran.

-------------- --------------
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN ATTITUDES TOWARDS TERRORISM
-------------- --------------


29. (U) Since the attacks of September 11, the GOT has taken
an active role in the worldwide opposition against terrorism.
In November 2004, the High Military Council (YAS) announced
that the National Security Policy would be re-written to note
a shift in defense strategy from one focused on regional
threats to a focus on international terrorism, fundamentalist
and separatist threats. In May 2004, the European Union
placed the PKK and DHKP/C on its list of terrorist groups
after an intensive push by the GOT, with U.S. support, for
the EU to adopt tougher measures against Turkish terror
groups operating in Europe.

-------------- --------------
USG COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES WITH GOT
-------------- --------------


30. (U) Turkey remains a staunch ally in the war on
terrorism. The TNP continues to provide excellent protection
of U.S. diplomatic and military facilities throughout Turkey.
Similar to their handling of security of high profile events
(e.g. the Istanbul NATO Summit) in 2004, security at the
World University Games that took place in August 2005 in
Izmir was appropriately proactive and without incident.


31. (U) Senior U.S. government leaders and officials have
continually engaged their Turkish counterparts in an effort
to ameliorate the threat PKK/Kongra Gel poses to Turkey.
Then-S/CT Coordinator Cofer Black held comprehensive talks
with GOT officials in Oct. 2003. That same year the GOT
agreed to a limited "reintegration" law to allow some PKK
terrorists to return to Turkey, but the law expired with very
few returnees recorded. After the PKK/Kongra Gel ceased its
unilateral cease fire in June 2004, both Turkish casualties
and mounting public pressure on the U.S. to act have
increased steadily. The U.S., Turkey, and Iraq held
trilateral talks on the issue in January and August 2005;
CENTCOM Commander General Abizaid also visited Ankara in
January 2005, in part to discuss PKK/Kongra Gel. In
September 2005, EUCOM Commander Gen Jones and CENTCOM Deputy
Commander Lt. General Smith held talks with TGS counterparts.
Also in the fall of 2005, the U.S. government commenced a
comprehensive interagency initiative to assist the GOT in
persuading countries in Europe to arrest and prosecute PKK
leaders living there.


32. (U) As noted above, Turkey is now in the process of
modifying its domestic laws to comply with the UN Convention
on Suppression of Terrorist Financing, which the GOT adopted
in 2002. Turkey needs to align its legal definition of
terrorism with international norms; currently terrorism is
defined as attacks against Turkish citizens or the Turkish
state.


33. (U) Turkey is an active participant in the Department's
Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) program. Since 2001, the
Turks have participated in 27 ATA courses. In CY 2005,
Turkey participated in three courses: WMD Management of Mass
Casualty, which was held in Ankara; Advanced Explosive
Incident Countermeasures; and Consultation on Maritime/Port
Security. As a result of this last consultation, the TNP
have developed and begun a training course for their
personnel at the ports.

(Information for the Report's classified annex)


34. (S) The Turkish Government continued to allow the use of
Incirlik Air Base (AB) and Mediterranean Sea ports to support
U.S. operations in and out of Afghanistan and Iraq, including:

- Allowed the U.S. to use Incirlik AB to transit cargo hub
for nonlethal material for OIF and OEF.

- Authorized the U.S. to use Incirlik AB to transit Taliban
and Al-Qaeda detainees from Afghanistan to GTMO; and for the
transit of released GTMO detainees back to their country of
origin.

- Allowed the U.S. military to station tankers at Incirlik AB
to support OIF- and OEF-related refueling missions;

- Allowed U.S. tankers to offload JP-5 at the port of Mersin,
the primary entry point for Incirlik jet fuel, and at the
port of Iskenderun in support of overland shipments of
sustainment fuels to OIF ground forces.

- Contributed KC-135 tankers to support OEF-related
operations;

- The Turkish General Staff's Intelligence Directorate (J-2)
continued its participating in a bilateral U.S-Turkish
"Intelligence Fusion Cell" designed to assist USCENTCOM
intelligence gathering against the PKK/Kongra-Gel in northern
Iraq. TGS J-2 also responded quickly to U.S. requests for
information on possible terrorist locations and some merchant
ships of interest.

--------------
COOPERATION-INVESTIGATION/PROSECUTION
--------------

(Information for the Report's Classified Annex)


35. (C) The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the United
States and Turkey, which entered into force in January 1981,
governs investigative cooperation. The GOT has processed
requests for investigative access to evidence under this
treaty. However, in some cases the GOT has left requests
unanswered for over three years.

--------------
COOPERATION-PREVENTION
--------------


36. (U) The GOT coordinates closely with the USG on
anti-terrorist financing initiatives. In response to USG
requests to freeze terrorist-related financial assets, the
GOT has added to its domestic asset freeze list all names of
individuals and firms designated under UNSCR 1267 (names
related to financing of Taliban and al-Qaida). The GOT also
investigates these names and freezes assets found in Turkey.

--------------
COOPERATION DURING PAST FIVE YEARS-PREVENTION
--------------


37. (U) Overall, in the last five years, the GOT has worked
closely with the USG in the apprehension, conviction, and
punishment of those responsible for terrorist attacks in
Turkey. GOT response is always immediate and substantial
when alerted to threat or incident involving US interests.
WILSON