Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1441
2007-06-07 14:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKISH MILITARY ESTABLISHES TEMPORARY SECURITY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #1441 1581445 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 071445Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2480 INFO RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// PRIORITY
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
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
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