Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA3643
2006-06-20 14:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TRILATERAL PKK TALKS: TURKISH THINKING ON NEXT
how-toVZCZCXRO5060 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHAK #3643 1711451 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 201451Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6726 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA// PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFISS/425ABS IZMIR TU//CC// PRIORITY RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU PRIORITY RUEPGAB/MNF-I C2X BAGHDAD IZ PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003643
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL MOPS MARR TU IZ IR
SUBJECT: TRILATERAL PKK TALKS: TURKISH THINKING ON NEXT
ROUND
REF: ANKARA 3607 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Timothy A. Betts for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003643
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL MOPS MARR TU IZ IR
SUBJECT: TRILATERAL PKK TALKS: TURKISH THINKING ON NEXT
ROUND
REF: ANKARA 3607 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Timothy A. Betts for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
1. (C) MFA Director General for Security Affairs
(S/CT-equivalent) Hayati Guven called us in June 20 to
provide us the latest GOT thinking on preparing for
trilateral (U.S.-Turkey-Iraq) talks on the PKK. He reported
that he had discussed the matter with Undersecretary Tuygan
and senior ministry staff, and that Tuygan had instructed
Guven to lead interagency preparations and head the Turkish
delegation for the talks.
2. (C) Guven emphasized that the talks should be
well-prepared and produce tangible results. He plans to
compile a "shopping list" of steps that the U.S., Turkey,
and/or Iraq could take against the PKK in Iraq. Once he
clears this list through the Turkish interagency, he will
share it with us, but he will probably not be prepared to do
so until the second week of July. He asked that we in turn
share the list with the GOI and get the Iraqi reaction. We
suggested that instead Turkey discuss the list directly with
the Iraqis as well. GOI officials might have their own ideas
on measures they may be prepared to offer. Guven took this
on board. (COMMENT: We will continue to press the GOT to
respect Iraq's sovereignty and not to treat us as a
middleman. END COMMENT.)
3. (C) Guven believes the timing of the next round will
depend on the preparatory process. If all three sides
quickly indicate consensus on certain measures, the meeting
could take place by late July. But, he continued, this seems
unlikely, and it will be difficult to schedule talks for
August, Turkey's traditional holiday period. Thus the talks
could take place in late August or early September.
4. (C) As for venue, Guven bluntly stated that Turkey prefers
the talks be held outside of Turkey to limit press coverage.
He said this will be especially important if the talks appear
unlikely to produce significant results. If it appears that
the sides may reach consensus on concrete steps that could be
credibly touted to the Turkish people, however, the GOT may
prefer to hold the talks here. He requested that we delay
real discussion on venue until the substantive preparations
progress further. Finally, Guven expects that the next round
should not/not narrowly focus on law enforcement and legal
matters, as the last round (in Aug. 2005) did. The talks
should focus on a range of options to fight the PKK, he said.
Guven hoped to hear the USG's reaction to this approach this
week, if possible.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL MOPS MARR TU IZ IR
SUBJECT: TRILATERAL PKK TALKS: TURKISH THINKING ON NEXT
ROUND
REF: ANKARA 3607 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Timothy A. Betts for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
1. (C) MFA Director General for Security Affairs
(S/CT-equivalent) Hayati Guven called us in June 20 to
provide us the latest GOT thinking on preparing for
trilateral (U.S.-Turkey-Iraq) talks on the PKK. He reported
that he had discussed the matter with Undersecretary Tuygan
and senior ministry staff, and that Tuygan had instructed
Guven to lead interagency preparations and head the Turkish
delegation for the talks.
2. (C) Guven emphasized that the talks should be
well-prepared and produce tangible results. He plans to
compile a "shopping list" of steps that the U.S., Turkey,
and/or Iraq could take against the PKK in Iraq. Once he
clears this list through the Turkish interagency, he will
share it with us, but he will probably not be prepared to do
so until the second week of July. He asked that we in turn
share the list with the GOI and get the Iraqi reaction. We
suggested that instead Turkey discuss the list directly with
the Iraqis as well. GOI officials might have their own ideas
on measures they may be prepared to offer. Guven took this
on board. (COMMENT: We will continue to press the GOT to
respect Iraq's sovereignty and not to treat us as a
middleman. END COMMENT.)
3. (C) Guven believes the timing of the next round will
depend on the preparatory process. If all three sides
quickly indicate consensus on certain measures, the meeting
could take place by late July. But, he continued, this seems
unlikely, and it will be difficult to schedule talks for
August, Turkey's traditional holiday period. Thus the talks
could take place in late August or early September.
4. (C) As for venue, Guven bluntly stated that Turkey prefers
the talks be held outside of Turkey to limit press coverage.
He said this will be especially important if the talks appear
unlikely to produce significant results. If it appears that
the sides may reach consensus on concrete steps that could be
credibly touted to the Turkish people, however, the GOT may
prefer to hold the talks here. He requested that we delay
real discussion on venue until the substantive preparations
progress further. Finally, Guven expects that the next round
should not/not narrowly focus on law enforcement and legal
matters, as the last round (in Aug. 2005) did. The talks
should focus on a range of options to fight the PKK, he said.
Guven hoped to hear the USG's reaction to this approach this
week, if possible.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON