TURKISH FM GUL ON BASER DISMISSAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001260 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER US IZ TU SUBJECT: TURKISH FM GUL ON BASER DISMISSAL REF: ANKARA 1239 Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROSS WILSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (c) During a meeting May 22 on various subjects, Turkish FM Gul commented to Ambassador on the government's dismissal May 21 of special envoy for combating the PKK Gen. Edip Baser. Gul said the government has gotten fed up with Baser's public comments. He had criticized the government and its policies. He had complained persistently about the work of the US-Turkish special envoys process. On a number of occasions, including in the days before the government's decision, Baser had lamented the lack of results he had achieved and said he would resign soon. How could the government accept this, Gul wondered. He had finally concluded that if Baser felt he should resign, then he should just be dismissed. ¶2. (c) Gul hastened to add that the US should not misinterpret Baser's dismissal. Turkey remains committed to working with the US on the PKK. The prompt designation of MFA Deputy U/S Akgunay to handle PKK matters with the US was intended to maintain continuity and indicate that the problem with Baser had nothing to do with the US. Gul asked that Ambassador meet Akgunay and help bring him up to date on the PKK state of play, which we will do in coming days. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON