Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06OSLO829
2006-06-28 14:00:00
SECRET
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:  

(S) PKK TERRORISM DEMARCHE DELIVERED - NORWAY

Tags:  PREL PTER NO 
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VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNY #0829 1791400
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 281400Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4233
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0210
S E C R E T OSLO 000829 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

JASON BRUDER, EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER NO
SUBJECT: (S) PKK TERRORISM DEMARCHE DELIVERED - NORWAY

REF: A. 06/16/06 EMAIL FROM J. BRUDER TO E. NYMAN

(CLASSIFIED)

B. STATE 86417

Classified By: Acting Pol/Econ Counselor Doug Apostol,
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

S E C R E T OSLO 000829

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

JASON BRUDER, EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER NO
SUBJECT: (S) PKK TERRORISM DEMARCHE DELIVERED - NORWAY

REF: A. 06/16/06 EMAIL FROM J. BRUDER TO E. NYMAN

(CLASSIFIED)

B. STATE 86417

Classified By: Acting Pol/Econ Counselor Doug Apostol,
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (S) Summary. On June 28 we delivered ref. b points to
Kari Bjornsgaard, Adviser in the MFA's Section for European
Regional and Economic Affairs. Bjornsgaard noted that Norway
would cooperate with U.S. law enforcement efforts tracing PKK
funding mechanisms, while emphasizing that her country's
recent recognition of U.N. designated terrorist organization
(while abandoning the E.U. terrorist list) should not be
viewed as Norway's acceptance of the PKK's "legitimacy." End
Summary.


2. (S) Bjornsgaard believes that Norway's intelligence and
law enforcement agencies would support cooperation with their
U.S. counterparts in order to disrupt PKK criminal financial
support networks and funding mechanisms. She recalls only
one incident of PKK funding in Norway (which is still under
investigation). The incident occurred "a couple of years
ago," and involved the flow of funds from the AKP (Norwegian
Communist Party) to PKK coffers in Turkey. She could not
elaborate upon the investigation's status.


3. (S) She noted that that the Turkish Embassy
"occasionally" inquires about the PKK, but they are not
pressing the Norwegians on this matter. Our meetings with
Acting Political Counselor Ilknur Bademli (who is filling in
for a sparsely staffed Turkish Embassy) suggested the
opposite, as she emphasized that the PKK's funding mechanisms
(and possible influence with Norwegian parliamentarians) were
serious concerns.


4. (S) Bjornsgaard claims that no PKK officials have been
in direct contact with the MFA. She did recall a visit from
two Turkish mayors (in Kurdish dominated areas) "a few months
back" who, although not from the PKK, "may" have had
officials in their delegation who "could possibly" have been
PKK members. She stated that the Norwegians "had no way of
knowing" whether all (or any) of the delegates were from the
PKK.


5. (C) She defended Norway's decision to move from the
E.U. terrorist designation list (which labeled the PKK as a
terrorist organization) to the U.N. terrorist designation
list (which does not include the PKK). The rationale for
this switch centers around the MFA's extensive peace
brokering efforts in Sri Lanka. These efforts involve
extensive dealings with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE). The Norwegian government, expecting the LTTE's
designation by the E.U. as a terrorist group, switched to the
U.N. designations in order to preserve its ability to deal
directly with the LTTE. Bjornsgaard openly questioned the
wisdom of switching designations and the internal confusion
within the MFA precipitated by the move.


6. (C) Declaring that "actions, not labels, are
important," she differentiated the PKK from Hamas, which the
Norwegian government would not publicly declare a terrorist
organization for various political reasons. When asked if
Norway would specifically recognize the PKK as a terrorist
organization, she stated that the Norwegians would continue
to "condemn groups that perpetuated terrorist acts, if asked."


7. (C) Comment. Although the apparent willingness to
support U.S.-Norwegian law enforcement/intelligence
cooperation is genuine, we doubt whether the PKK is a hot
topic within the MFA. Our discussions with Bademli suggested
that the Turks have specifically asked for public
condemnation of the PKK by the Norwegians. This message
questions Bjornsgaard's declaration that "nobody" has asked
Norway to label the PKK as a terrorist organization.
Visit Oslo's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/oslo/index.cf m

WHITNEY