Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA5249
2006-09-12 12:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
GENERAL (RET) BASER SELECTED AS TURKEY'S PKK
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005249
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2026
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL PGOV TU IZ
SUBJECT: GENERAL (RET) BASER SELECTED AS TURKEY'S PKK
COORDINATOR
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt,
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005249
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2026
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL PGOV TU IZ
SUBJECT: GENERAL (RET) BASER SELECTED AS TURKEY'S PKK
COORDINATOR
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt,
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: General (ret) Edip Baser was appointed on
September 8 as Turkey's Coordinator for Countering the PKK
(Kurdistan Workers Party) terrorist organization. A
respected, retired military officer who has good relations
with both the government and the military and has fought the
PKK in southeastern Turkey, he was chosen in response to our
designation of Gen (ret) Ralston as the US Special Envoy.
While his appointment has not been formally announced, Baser
acknowledged his selection in a September 11 press interview.
END SUMMARY.
2. (C) MFA Deputy Undersecretary for Security Affairs Rafet
Akgunay, the MFA's initial nominee for Turkey's PKK
coordinator was replaced by GEN Baser following the US
appointment of Gen Ralston. Baser is a respected retired
general with international experience and a good relationship
with the current Turkish government. We understand that
Ralston and Baser met during Baser's tenure as Deputy Chief
of the General Staff (DCHOD),when Gen Ralston was SACEUR.
3. (C) Baser retired from military service in 2002 as
Commander of the Second Army, where he served for two years,
following one year as Deputy Chief of the General Staff
(DCHOD) and one year as Commander of the NATO headquarters in
Izmir. Assumed by his American and Turkish peers to be
destined to command the Turkish Land Forces and possibly
become CHOD, Baser's move to the Second Army ended his upward
career path. U.S. officials who know Baser characterize him
as an intelligent, thoughtful and sophisticated officer who
tried to capitalize on his experiences at the US Army War
College, NATO Staff Headquarters and UK Army Staff College to
expand Turkish military exchanges with foreign countries and
to improve the organization and curriculum of the Turkish War
College. He was rebuffed in these and other efforts by
then-CHOD Kivrikoglu, a purported micro-manager who may have
felt threatened by his subordinate's intellect and activism
and sought to side-line his career.
4. (C) Baser has strong credentials for the Special Envoy
position. As commander of the 14th Mechanized Brigade in
Kars from 1988 to 1990, he experienced first-hand the
difficult challenge posed by the PKK terrorist organization,
losing his own troops to PKK attacks. He also has
significant experience working with the civilian government
and dealing with the Turkish General Staff (TGS) bureaucracy.
Through positions as Military Advisor to Prime Minister
Tansu Ciller from 1993 to 1994 and Commander of the Third
Corps in Istanbul from 1994 to 1998, Baser worked closely
with civilian officials. During his four years in Istanbul,
he developed a good relationship with then-Mayor of Istanbul
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the current Prime Minister. Through
stints as a Staff Officer in the J-3 Strategic Planning
Division and as DCHOD, Baser gained a familiarity with the
inner workings of TGS.
5.(C) Despite the lack of an official announcement of his
appointment, Baser has commented favorably on his selection
to members of the press. In an interview with the daily
BUGUN, Baser reportedly characterized the PKK topic as "a
very critical and hot issue. It is so hot that it could burn
not one's hands but also his arms and his face." Baser
acknowledged the difficulty of the work in other press
articles, but said he would "be willing to undertake the
challenging job."
6. (C) Comment: Baser's broad military experience --
including countering PKK terrorism in the southeast -- his
education and proven intellectual abilities, combined with
his good relations with PM Erdogan, would appear to make him
an excellent choice as Turkey's envoy for countering the PKK.
End Comment.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2026
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL PGOV TU IZ
SUBJECT: GENERAL (RET) BASER SELECTED AS TURKEY'S PKK
COORDINATOR
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt,
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: General (ret) Edip Baser was appointed on
September 8 as Turkey's Coordinator for Countering the PKK
(Kurdistan Workers Party) terrorist organization. A
respected, retired military officer who has good relations
with both the government and the military and has fought the
PKK in southeastern Turkey, he was chosen in response to our
designation of Gen (ret) Ralston as the US Special Envoy.
While his appointment has not been formally announced, Baser
acknowledged his selection in a September 11 press interview.
END SUMMARY.
2. (C) MFA Deputy Undersecretary for Security Affairs Rafet
Akgunay, the MFA's initial nominee for Turkey's PKK
coordinator was replaced by GEN Baser following the US
appointment of Gen Ralston. Baser is a respected retired
general with international experience and a good relationship
with the current Turkish government. We understand that
Ralston and Baser met during Baser's tenure as Deputy Chief
of the General Staff (DCHOD),when Gen Ralston was SACEUR.
3. (C) Baser retired from military service in 2002 as
Commander of the Second Army, where he served for two years,
following one year as Deputy Chief of the General Staff
(DCHOD) and one year as Commander of the NATO headquarters in
Izmir. Assumed by his American and Turkish peers to be
destined to command the Turkish Land Forces and possibly
become CHOD, Baser's move to the Second Army ended his upward
career path. U.S. officials who know Baser characterize him
as an intelligent, thoughtful and sophisticated officer who
tried to capitalize on his experiences at the US Army War
College, NATO Staff Headquarters and UK Army Staff College to
expand Turkish military exchanges with foreign countries and
to improve the organization and curriculum of the Turkish War
College. He was rebuffed in these and other efforts by
then-CHOD Kivrikoglu, a purported micro-manager who may have
felt threatened by his subordinate's intellect and activism
and sought to side-line his career.
4. (C) Baser has strong credentials for the Special Envoy
position. As commander of the 14th Mechanized Brigade in
Kars from 1988 to 1990, he experienced first-hand the
difficult challenge posed by the PKK terrorist organization,
losing his own troops to PKK attacks. He also has
significant experience working with the civilian government
and dealing with the Turkish General Staff (TGS) bureaucracy.
Through positions as Military Advisor to Prime Minister
Tansu Ciller from 1993 to 1994 and Commander of the Third
Corps in Istanbul from 1994 to 1998, Baser worked closely
with civilian officials. During his four years in Istanbul,
he developed a good relationship with then-Mayor of Istanbul
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the current Prime Minister. Through
stints as a Staff Officer in the J-3 Strategic Planning
Division and as DCHOD, Baser gained a familiarity with the
inner workings of TGS.
5.(C) Despite the lack of an official announcement of his
appointment, Baser has commented favorably on his selection
to members of the press. In an interview with the daily
BUGUN, Baser reportedly characterized the PKK topic as "a
very critical and hot issue. It is so hot that it could burn
not one's hands but also his arms and his face." Baser
acknowledged the difficulty of the work in other press
articles, but said he would "be willing to undertake the
challenging job."
6. (C) Comment: Baser's broad military experience --
including countering PKK terrorism in the southeast -- his
education and proven intellectual abilities, combined with
his good relations with PM Erdogan, would appear to make him
an excellent choice as Turkey's envoy for countering the PKK.
End Comment.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON