TURKISH MFA WELCOMES A U.S. RESIDENT LEGAL ADVISOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000839

SIPDIS

JUSTICE FOR OPDAT - JSILVERWOOD
TREASURY FOR RLEBENSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2009
TAGS: PTER KTFN TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA WELCOMES A U.S. RESIDENT LEGAL ADVISOR

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (SBU) In separate meetings, two senior MFA officials told
the DCM that Turkey would warmly welcome the assignment of a
U.S. Justice Department Legal Advisor to Embassy Ankara.
Both Director General for the Americas Alpar, and Deputy
Under Secretary Akgunay (responsible for Security Affairs)
encouraged us to begin work on bringing a RLA or ILA here.
Both MFA officials undertook to ensure that Turkish
ministries would cooperate fully with the RLA/ILA.


2. (C) In both meetings, the MFA officials recognized that
the assignment of an American legal advisor to Embassy Ankara
would help deepen US-Turkish cooperation against PKK networks
in Europe. A legal advisor could also help Turkey meet its
international commitments on terrorism finance. The MFA
officials felt it would be particularly useful if the person
assigned here had expertise in European law.


3. (SBU) Action request: Post strongly recommends that OPDAT
begin actively begin working to assign either a RLA or an ILA
to Ankara, and requests State Department support for this
effort. Assigning the RLA will help us bring to bear U.S.
legal expertise in the critical bilateral areas of
cooperation against PKK and combatting the financing of
terrorism.

WILSON