Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06COPENHAGEN454
2006-04-06 13:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Copenhagen
Cable title:
EMBASSY REITERATES NEED TO SHUT DOWN ROJ-TV
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHCP #0454 0961355 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 061355Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2197 INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0173
C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000454
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL DA TU
SUBJECT: EMBASSY REITERATES NEED TO SHUT DOWN ROJ-TV
REF: STATE O52687
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION SANDRA KAISER,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000454
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL DA TU
SUBJECT: EMBASSY REITERATES NEED TO SHUT DOWN ROJ-TV
REF: STATE O52687
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION SANDRA KAISER,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) Pol/Econ Counselor and Polmiloff called April 6 on MFA
Foreign Policy Director Jens-Otto Horslund and Deputy
Director Lars Bo Moeller to strongly urge the Danish
government shut down Roj-TV and freeze its assets and those
of related media companies (reftel). Pol/Econ Counselor
stressed the connection between destabilizing Roj-TV
broadcasting and the recent wave of violence in southeastern
Turkey. He also emphasized reftel points on Roj-TV links to
PKK and its inflammatory reporting.
2. (C) Horslund replied that the Danish government shares
U.S. concerns about Roj-TV and pledged that the top MFA
officials would be informed of this approach. By way of
context, Horslund said Denmark enjoys good bilateral
relations with Turkey, and Denmark is one of the EU member
states working to advance Turkey's EU aspirations. However,
Horslund stressed, closing Roj-TV is a legal matter governed
by existing legislation and regulation. Taking steps to shut
down the transmitter requires the prosecutor to produce in
court concrete evidence of incitement of terrorism within the
meaning of Danish anti-terrorism statutes. He noted that a
thorough Danish police investigation is continuing. Moeller
added that the Danish State Prosecutor has told the Danish
police to leave "no stone unturned" in their ongoing
investigation of Roj-TV. Horslund urged the USG, as well as
the Turkish government, to share additional evidence on which
the State Prosecutor can act.
3. (C) Deputy Director Moeller said Foreign Minister Moeller
(no relation) made the same offer to act on evidence to
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul on March 31, and MFA Permanent
Secretary Federspiel conveyed the same response to the
SIPDIS
Turkish Ambassador in Copenhagen on March 30.
4. (C) Pol/Econ Counselor reiterated the continued importance
the USG places on this issue.
CAIN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL DA TU
SUBJECT: EMBASSY REITERATES NEED TO SHUT DOWN ROJ-TV
REF: STATE O52687
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION SANDRA KAISER,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) Pol/Econ Counselor and Polmiloff called April 6 on MFA
Foreign Policy Director Jens-Otto Horslund and Deputy
Director Lars Bo Moeller to strongly urge the Danish
government shut down Roj-TV and freeze its assets and those
of related media companies (reftel). Pol/Econ Counselor
stressed the connection between destabilizing Roj-TV
broadcasting and the recent wave of violence in southeastern
Turkey. He also emphasized reftel points on Roj-TV links to
PKK and its inflammatory reporting.
2. (C) Horslund replied that the Danish government shares
U.S. concerns about Roj-TV and pledged that the top MFA
officials would be informed of this approach. By way of
context, Horslund said Denmark enjoys good bilateral
relations with Turkey, and Denmark is one of the EU member
states working to advance Turkey's EU aspirations. However,
Horslund stressed, closing Roj-TV is a legal matter governed
by existing legislation and regulation. Taking steps to shut
down the transmitter requires the prosecutor to produce in
court concrete evidence of incitement of terrorism within the
meaning of Danish anti-terrorism statutes. He noted that a
thorough Danish police investigation is continuing. Moeller
added that the Danish State Prosecutor has told the Danish
police to leave "no stone unturned" in their ongoing
investigation of Roj-TV. Horslund urged the USG, as well as
the Turkish government, to share additional evidence on which
the State Prosecutor can act.
3. (C) Deputy Director Moeller said Foreign Minister Moeller
(no relation) made the same offer to act on evidence to
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul on March 31, and MFA Permanent
Secretary Federspiel conveyed the same response to the
SIPDIS
Turkish Ambassador in Copenhagen on March 30.
4. (C) Pol/Econ Counselor reiterated the continued importance
the USG places on this issue.
CAIN