EUROPEAN DIPLOMATS IN ANKARA OPEN TO ENHANCED

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001152

SIPDIS

TREASURY FOR OFAC, FINCEN AND TFFC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2016
TAGS: PTER KTFN FR GM UK TU PKK
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN DIPLOMATS IN ANKARA OPEN TO ENHANCED
COOPERATION AGAINST PKK

REF: STATE 35685

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


1. (C) Summary: At a briefing by a visiting JAC analyst,
French, British and German diplomats in Ankara were receptive
to enhanced cooperation against PKK networks in their
countries. Both the British and French DCM's believed their
host government's attitude towards Kurdish issues was
evolving, though there were still historical sympathies for
Kurds and difficulty distinguishing between Kurds and PKK.
The German said the real problem in Germany was with the
German courts. End Summary.

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Outreach to British, French and German Diplomats in Ankara
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2. (C) A visiting analyst from EUCOM's Joint Analysis Center
briefed the French and British DCM's and German PolCouns on
PKK in western Europe March 3. The DCM described U.S.
efforts to work with the GOT and western European governments
to intensify cooperation against PKK networks in Europe, and
to try to move from intelligence-derived knowledge of PKK
criminal activities in western Europe to develop leads for
law enforcement actions. The DCM stressed the importance of
stopping the PKK's criminal activities in western Europe both
because these activities support terrorism and because crimes
are being committed on European countries' territory. She
characterized the goal as one of moving from general,
intelligence-derived knowledge of PKK criminal activities to
begin a process to develop concrete evidence for law
enforcement and judicial action.

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Europeans Open to Cooperation
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3. (C) British DCM Michael Roberts, who has recently taken a
keen interest in working with us on the PKK issue, expressed
his support for our efforts. Though encouraging us to press
on, he suggested the U.S. be mindful that many western
Europeans have historically romanticized Kurds, and have had
difficulty distinguishing between "good Kurds" and "bad
Kurds." He also said Europeans were likely to view the U.S.
effort as a diversionary tactic, designed to divert attention
from the problem of PKK in northern Iraq. Roberts believes
he is having some success, however, in moving his government
in a more helpful direction on this issue. He suggested the
USG press the issue with the following officials: David
Richmond, Foreign Office; Andy Haymond, Home Office; Brian
Minahame, Serious Organized Crime Agency; and William Nye,
Home Office Counter-terrorism unit. At the cabinet level, he
said Home Secretary Charles Clark was key.


4. (C) French DCM Elisabeth Barsacq also seemed open to
cooperation. Echoing Roberts' point about romanticization of
Kurds, and the difficulty of distinguishing between different
Kurdish groups, she said the attitude was evolving in France.
Barsacq did not disagree when Roberts recommended the U.S.
try to get Interior Minister Sarkozy interested in the PKK
issue. German PolCouns Ralph Glanzer said that the German
authorities did not take a romantic view of the Kurds and
said Germany had considerable experience combatting the PKK.
The problem in Germany has been getting the courts to take
action and getting adequate evidence from the Turkish
authorities. Regarding the JAC briefing, he appreciated the
exchange of information and said the focus should be on next
steps.

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JAC Analyst Briefs GOT
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5. (C) Separately, the JAC analyst briefed an interagency
group of Turkish officials on PKK activities in western
Europe, with a particular focus on criminal activities and
fund-raising. The GOT group, assembled by MFA, included
representatives from the Turkish National Intelligence
Organization(TNIO),Turkish National Police, MASAK (the
financial intelligence unit),Ministry of Justice, and
Turkish General Staff. The GOT officials, led by MFA DG for
Security Affairs Hayati Guven, expressed their appreciation
for the exchange of information and said they would forward
comments to us later. The JAC analyst held separate meetings
with TGS and with TNP and briefed U.S. Mission personnel.


6. (C) Though the Turkish officials seemed unwilling to say
too much in front of such a large group, on Riza Altun, TNIO
officials said they understood he had been recalled to Iraq
but doubted he would go. They said he has been replaced by a
woman by the name of Canan Kurt Yilmaz. Nevertheless, in the
meeting with TGS, the TGS officials reiterated the
desirability of action against Altun.
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Comment
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7. (S) Though European diplomats posted to Ankara obviously
have a greater interest in their governments going after PKK
networks than their colleagues may have in capitals, it was
striking that none took a defensive stance or resented the
U.S. position. They all agreed to contact capitals and
express support for the initiative. The French and Germans
were well aware of the activities of Altun and Cansiz and
said they would talk with their intelligence and law
enforcement repesentatives in country to engage with their
agency headquarters in Paris and Berlin.
WILSON