AMBASSADOR CALLS ON TURKISH INTERIOR MINISTER AKSU

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 007560

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y -- MOD DOC CLASS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2015
TAGS: ASEC CASC PREL PTER TU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON TURKISH INTERIOR MINISTER AKSU

(U) Classified by Ambassador Ross Wilson, E.O. 12958, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador's first call on Interior
Minister Abdulkadir Aksu December 22 focused on joint efforts
against the PKK, particularly in Europe. The Ambassador
emphasized the importance of assembling legal evidence
against the PKK that European prosecutors could use to build
court cases. The Ambassador asked Aksu to encourage police
to give priority to cases of children abducted from the U.S.
and to improving bilateral anti-terrorism coordination. End
Summary.

Interior Ministry Issues Top the Agenda
--------------


2. (C) The Ambassador thanked Aksu for Turkish National
Police (TNP) assistance in protecting U.S. officials and
facilities in Turkey. He noted that FBI Director Mueller and
D/CIA Goss recently had productive discussions in Turkey
about expanding our cooperation on law enforcement and
international terrorism, including the PKK. These
discussions helped the U.S. understand Turkey's viewpoint and
ways in which we can improve our joint anti-terror efforts.

Aksu: PKK Is Our Top Priority
--------------


3. (C) Aksu said his priorities are combating terrorism,
narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, organized crime and
money laundering. The PKK is Turkey's top priority and Aksu
noted that the country's long experience against terrorists
gave it special expertise and helped it quickly solve the
November 2003 Istanbul bombings.


4. (C) Aksu called the U.S. an old friend, said relations
were good and hoped security cooperation could be developed
further. Turkey is fighting the PKK and other terrorist
organizations, including al-Qaeda, but the PKK is disturbing.
The PKK targets TNP and jandarma (also part of the Interior
Ministry) with remote-control devices, land mines, rockets
and sniper fire. It has begun urban protests that turn into
attacks on police. Qandil mountain in northern Iraq is a big
stronghold, and Turkey expects an active U.S. policy to
prevent future bloodshed.

Effectiveness the Key Criterion
--------------


5. (S) The Ambassador identified counter-terrorism as a
centerpiece of U.S. foreign policy. D/CIA Goss focused on
terrorism during his visit, especially the PKK. Our work is
proceeding on several fronts. We have delved extensively
into the PKK problem, developed our own information on PKK
abilities and behavior, and exchange it regularly with TNP,
the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (TNIO) and
Turkey's military. In Iraq, we are working to create a
strong, unified and democratic state capable of controlling
its borders and activities within the country. We are
working on the problem of financial and other support for the
PKK that comes from Europe, including by helping develop
stronger legal cases against PKK personnel and organizations
in Europe. We want to ensure that European prosecutors got
solid legal evidence that can be used in court against PKK
figures and groups. An interagency team visited Turkey the
previous week for this purpose, and further work is planned.
The whole point of our effort, the Ambassador concluded, is
to be effective in dealing with a twenty-year old problem,
and he downplayed prospects for kinetic action in northern
Iraq, which would be difficult and not likely successful.


6. (C) Aksu welcomed U.S. anti-PKK efforts in Europe. The
PKK has branched out from terrorism to drug smuggling and now
to organized crime, including human trafficking. Aksu said
that Turkey had apprehended 600,000 illegal migrants and over
6000 human traffickers in recent years.

Abducted Children
--------------


7. (C) The Ambassador thanked Aksu for police assistance to
date in cases of children abducted to Turkey from the U.S.
without both parents' consent. These cases often become
political issues in the U.S. The Ambassador asked Aksu to
encourage the TNP to make this a priority. Aksu replied that
he would issue instructions to the TNP to be more
"meticulous" and make greater efforts in this area.
WILSON