TURKISH MILITARY ESTABLISHES TEMPORARY SECURITY

UNCLAS ANKARA 001441 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MOPS PTER TU SUBJECT: TURKISH MILITARY ESTABLISHES TEMPORARY SECURITY ZONES IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY REF: DIA IIR 6 898 0362 07 ¶1. (U) The Turkish General Staff (TGS) website on June 7 posted the coordinates of four areas within the southeastern provinces of Siirt, Sirnak and Hakkari that will be designated as Temporary Security Zones for the purposes of military operations. Entry into and exit from these zones will be restricted from June 9 until September 9, 2007. By definition, they are created around areas where military operations are occurring and restrict entry to these areas by land, air and sea. According to TGS and Foreign Ministry contacts, Temporary Security Zones have been established in the past around areas of military operations against the PKK. ¶2. (SBU) The security zones do not cover any of the provinces in their entirety. Based on the coordinates, the areas appear to be sparsely-populated remote mountainous regions or valleys, several of which have been the location of significant clashes with the PKK terrorist organization. Only a single point of one of the four zones abuts the border with Iraq. The zones range in size from approximately 10 to 35 kilometers in width and 5 to 25 kilometers in length. The Habur Gate border crossing and the primary truck route leading to the border are not included in the zone. Checks with US military personnel responsible for Habur operations confirm business as usual at the crossing. ¶3. (SBU) TGS has indicated that it will issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that will restrict some airspace along the Turkey-Iraq border but we do not expect this to impact on civilian or Coalition aircraft transiting Turkey from Iraq. We are checking with the Foreign Ministry for further specifics on the security zones and their possible impact on our movements in those provinces, and will forward any information that becomes available. ¶4. (U) Following are the specific geocoordinates listed on the TGS website: Zone 1: 3726N/04222E; 3723N/04220E; 3719N/04243E; 3723N/04243E; 3723N/04230E ;3720N/04234E; 3720N/04225E Zone 2: 3746N/04230E; 3739N/04230E; 3733N/04230E; 3732N/04256E; 3739N/04255E; 3740N/04246E; 3747N/04241E Zone 3: 3720N/04409E; 3723N/04414E; 3718N/04419E; 3716N/04417E Zone 4: 3738N/04200E; 3730N/04200E; 3730N/04212E; 3734N/04213E; 3733N/04202E Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON