Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA1748
2006-04-03 06:27:00
SECRET
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKISH RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON ETLO
how-toVZCZCXRO9959 RR RUEHCN RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV DE RUEHAK #1748 0930627 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 030627Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4468 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0284 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0216 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 001748
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2026
TAGS: PREL PTER TU CH
SUBJECT: TURKISH RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON ETLO
REF: A. STATE 006383
B. ANKARA 000252
Classified By: Janice G. Weiner, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
S E C R E T ANKARA 001748
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2026
TAGS: PREL PTER TU CH
SUBJECT: TURKISH RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON ETLO
REF: A. STATE 006383
B. ANKARA 000252
Classified By: Janice G. Weiner, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) We met with Huseyin Ozdemir, Chief of Section for the
International Security Section of the Turkish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, on March 30 to follow up on our January
demarche (reftels) regarding China's request that the UN
designate the East Turkistan Liberation Organization
(ELTO/SHAT) as a terrorist organization.
2. (C) Ozdemir, reading from handwritten notes, stated that
the ETLO ceased activities in Turkey in 2003. Prior to 2003,
ETLO had engaged in activities such as those "publicly
mentioned by China." He also stated that the GOT possesses
no evidence of ETLO ties to Al Qa,ida, nor does the GOT have
any information suggesting that the ETLO poses a threat to
China, the U.S., or any other international interest.
3. (C) Ozdemir confirmed that Mehmet Emin Hazret, the alleged
leader of ETLO, is a Turkish citizen and resides in Turkey.
The GOT, however, has no evidence that Mehmet Hazret is
connected to the ETLO and possesses no information that
Mehmet Emin Hazret is engaged in terrorist activities.
4. (C) In response to our questions, Ozdemir stated that
China had demarched the Turkish MFA regarding the ETLO
designation issue, but said he was unaware of any Turkish
response. We asked if Turkey would support or oppose Chinese
efforts to designate ETLO as a terrorist organization.
Ozdemir, who had no guidance on the issue, suggested that
Turkey would, at this juncture, be unlikely to support the
designation of the ETLO as a terrorist organization, since
the GOT lacks evidence that ETLO is engaged in terrorist
activities.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
MCELDOWNEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2026
TAGS: PREL PTER TU CH
SUBJECT: TURKISH RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON ETLO
REF: A. STATE 006383
B. ANKARA 000252
Classified By: Janice G. Weiner, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) We met with Huseyin Ozdemir, Chief of Section for the
International Security Section of the Turkish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, on March 30 to follow up on our January
demarche (reftels) regarding China's request that the UN
designate the East Turkistan Liberation Organization
(ELTO/SHAT) as a terrorist organization.
2. (C) Ozdemir, reading from handwritten notes, stated that
the ETLO ceased activities in Turkey in 2003. Prior to 2003,
ETLO had engaged in activities such as those "publicly
mentioned by China." He also stated that the GOT possesses
no evidence of ETLO ties to Al Qa,ida, nor does the GOT have
any information suggesting that the ETLO poses a threat to
China, the U.S., or any other international interest.
3. (C) Ozdemir confirmed that Mehmet Emin Hazret, the alleged
leader of ETLO, is a Turkish citizen and resides in Turkey.
The GOT, however, has no evidence that Mehmet Hazret is
connected to the ETLO and possesses no information that
Mehmet Emin Hazret is engaged in terrorist activities.
4. (C) In response to our questions, Ozdemir stated that
China had demarched the Turkish MFA regarding the ETLO
designation issue, but said he was unaware of any Turkish
response. We asked if Turkey would support or oppose Chinese
efforts to designate ETLO as a terrorist organization.
Ozdemir, who had no guidance on the issue, suggested that
Turkey would, at this juncture, be unlikely to support the
designation of the ETLO as a terrorist organization, since
the GOT lacks evidence that ETLO is engaged in terrorist
activities.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
MCELDOWNEY