UPDATE ON "SHUTTING DOWN THE PKK IN FRANCE"

S E C R E T PARIS 001893 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/3016 TAGS: PTER EFIN KCRM PINR PREL TU FR SUBJECT: UPDATE ON "SHUTTING DOWN THE PKK IN FRANCE" REF: A. PARIS 1487 ¶B. STATE 35685 Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION KARL HOFMANN, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/ D ¶1. (S/NF) Per reftels, following is an update to actions taken by post regarding the presence of the PKK on French soil. ¶2. (S/NF) DCM met with Turkish DCM Suleyman Ozyildiz to review our approaches. Ozyildiz traced the history of French openness to Turkish exiles and tendency to view more leniently Kurdish requests for asylum. The presence of PKK financier Riza Altun is a regular subject of the Turkish embassy's discussions with GOF authorities. DCM indicated we will approach the French across the board on this. ¶3. (S/NF) DAO passed ref B information and Altun biodata to the Defense Ministry's Military Intelligence Division (DRM) and asked for all available information by mid-April. ¶4. (S/NF) ORA passed ref B information and Altun biodata to the DGSE (external intelligence service),DST (internal security service) and RG (internal police service). Following this initial dialogue, ORA will press for updates in follow-up meetings. ¶5. (S/NF) Legat and Justice attache raised ref B information and Altun biodata with terrorism investigating judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere. ¶6. (S/NF) ECON/POL passed ref B information and Altun biodata to TRACFIN, France's Financial Investigative Unit (FinCen-equivalent). According to Director of Investigations Christian Leblanc, TRACFIN is focused on the Turkish community in France, and has noticed that numerous monetary deposits are sent to only a few individuals in Turkey. Leblanc asked for USG help in liaising with Turkish authorities to procure information on these few individuals in Turkey, given that a Turkish Financial Investigative Unit is still in its infancy. Econoff and Poloff said we would contact Embassy Ankara to see what was possible. TRACFIN thanked us for the Altun biodata and said it would research Altun's financial activities. ¶7. (S/NF) QUESTION FOR EMBASSY ANKARA: Following Leblanc's request, Embassy Paris would appreciate information on the capabilities of Turkey's Financial Investigative Unit to respond to para 6 requests. If capability is low, are there other options for TRACFIN's requests? Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm Stapleton