Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA129
2007-01-23 15:45:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY/IRAN: TURKISH MILITARY LOOKING TO IRAN FOR HELP ON PKK
how-toVZCZCXRO5850 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHAK #0129 0231545 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 231545Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0664 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 0869 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T ANKARA 000129
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR PTER IR IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAN: TURKISH MILITARY LOOKING TO IRAN FOR HELP ON PKK
REF: IIR 6 898 0053 07
Classified By: DCM NANCY MCELDOWNEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D).
S E C R E T ANKARA 000129
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR PTER IR IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAN: TURKISH MILITARY LOOKING TO IRAN FOR HELP ON PKK
REF: IIR 6 898 0053 07
Classified By: DCM NANCY MCELDOWNEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D).
1. (S/NF) The Turkish military has long been stalwart in opposing any deepening of ties between Turkey and Iran. The TGS (Turkish General Staff) sees Iran as one of its principal strategic threats and has been quite outspoken with us and with the Erdogan government in expressing concern about government efforts to improve bilateral relations between Ankara and Tehran. However, frustration over the PKK has caused them to rethink this approach, at least to the extent that cooperation with Iran will help them counter the PKK.
2. (S/NF) The TGS has recently come to us (ref IIR) to ask for direct US action against the PKK Annual Conference, to be held in the northern Iraqi town of Tengi Cehunge in March. They noted their overwhelming preference to work with us on interdicting this conference and in general to shut down the PKK. However, they have also gone to great lengths to note that if US action is not forthcoming, they will turn to the Iranians, who they claim are most eager to be helpful. As part of this dialogue, the TGS informed us on January 23 that they would receive four Iranian military officers in TGS headquarters on January 24 and underscored that their discussions would "heavily concentrate" on developments in Iraq and the Iraq/Iran border.
3. (S/NF) The Turks, including the TGS, are impatient for action and pressing hard. Erdogan has said publicly, and the TGS has repeatedly told us privately, that if we do not act against the PKK in the coming weeks, then Turkey will take military action of its own into northern Iraq.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR PTER IR IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAN: TURKISH MILITARY LOOKING TO IRAN FOR HELP ON PKK
REF: IIR 6 898 0053 07
Classified By: DCM NANCY MCELDOWNEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D).
1. (S/NF) The Turkish military has long been stalwart in opposing any deepening of ties between Turkey and Iran. The TGS (Turkish General Staff) sees Iran as one of its principal strategic threats and has been quite outspoken with us and with the Erdogan government in expressing concern about government efforts to improve bilateral relations between Ankara and Tehran. However, frustration over the PKK has caused them to rethink this approach, at least to the extent that cooperation with Iran will help them counter the PKK.
2. (S/NF) The TGS has recently come to us (ref IIR) to ask for direct US action against the PKK Annual Conference, to be held in the northern Iraqi town of Tengi Cehunge in March. They noted their overwhelming preference to work with us on interdicting this conference and in general to shut down the PKK. However, they have also gone to great lengths to note that if US action is not forthcoming, they will turn to the Iranians, who they claim are most eager to be helpful. As part of this dialogue, the TGS informed us on January 23 that they would receive four Iranian military officers in TGS headquarters on January 24 and underscored that their discussions would "heavily concentrate" on developments in Iraq and the Iraq/Iran border.
3. (S/NF) The Turks, including the TGS, are impatient for action and pressing hard. Erdogan has said publicly, and the TGS has repeatedly told us privately, that if we do not act against the PKK in the coming weeks, then Turkey will take military action of its own into northern Iraq.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON