PKK IN EUROPE: TURKISH MFA LINKS RECENT ARRESTS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005124 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2016 TAGS: PTER KTFN TU SUBJECT: PKK IN EUROPE: TURKISH MFA LINKS RECENT ARRESTS TO U.S. EFFORTS REF: A. ANAKARA 5001 ¶B. ANKARA 4266 ¶C. BERLIN 2400 Classified By: Econ Counselor Tom Goldberger. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In an August 29 meeting MFA Deputy Director General for Security Affairs Huseyin Bicakli commented favorably on recent arrests of PKK activists in Europe on criminal charges. Praising the recent arrests of PKK members Muzaffer Ayata and Riza Erdogan in Germany (ref C) and of Nedim Seven in the Netherlands, he emphasized the importance of Ayata,s arrest as a senior PKK official. He linked the arrests to U.S. efforts to convince European countries to crack down on PKK activities: "We can see the results of your campaign." He said Turkey would request extradition of Ayata, and that Consular Affairs is currently looking into the specifics of such request. However, he also acknowledged that it would not be a bad thing if Ayata were locked up and put out of business in Germany. ¶2. (C) Bicakli said there had also recently been arrests of PKK operatives in Pakistan and Syria. In the case of Pakistan, he said the Turkish individual arrested had been involved in organized-crime related drug trafficking, but he had no further information. (Any information from Embassy Islamabad would be welcome.) Bicakli looked forward to intensified cooperation with European countries and the U.S., including the long-discussed creation of trilateral law enforcement working groups that would cooperate on investigative and judicial targeting of PKK-related criminal activities. ¶3. (C) Bicakli also thought that the PKK was beginning to feel the pressure (as has also been reflected in recent Turkish and German press reports). Indeed, he said that the MFA had discussed the arrests as one factor possibly contributing to the recent bombings of tourist areas in Istanbul, Marmaris, and Antalya that have been claimed by the Freedom Falcons of Kurdistan (TAK). Bicakli reiterated the Turkish opinion that the TAK is a "brand name" for the PKK, i.e. an identity when the PKK puts on when it wants to distance itself from violent acts. Bicakli said the GOT does not distinguish between TAK and the PKK. (He also confided that the GOT was expecting the recent attacks on tourists and was somewhat relieved that casualties had not been greater. He acknowledged that tourist areas, despite stepped-up security, are difficult to protect.) ¶4. (C) Bicakli also asked if the new U.S. Special Envoy for Countering the PKK, General Ralston, would address PKK logistical support from Europe, or if he would focus exclusively on Iraq. In any case, he welcomed Ralston,s appointment, underscoring that what Turkey really wants is concrete results. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON