TURKEY/IRAQ: DOD GENERAL COUNSEL HAYNES BRIEFS

S E C R E T ANKARA 001948

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2022
TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS KCRM IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: DOD GENERAL COUNSEL HAYNES BRIEFS
TURKISH OFFICIALS ON IRAQ ARMS INVESTIGATION

REF: A. ANKARA 1866

B. 06 ANKARA 6720 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROSS WILSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (b,d).


1. (U) This cable contains sensitive law enforcement
information regarding ongoing investigations.

Summary
--------------


2. (S/NF) Summary: Department of Defense General Counsel
Haynes briefed Turkish officials July 25 on the ongoing DOD
investigation into corruption relating to the procurement and
provision of materiel, including weapons, to Iraqi Security
Forces and their possible diversion (ref a). Haynes also
briefed on the formation under the DOD Inspector General of a
special team charged to assess and improve procedures to
ensure accountability of weapons provided to the ISF.
Turkish officials expressed appreciation for the USG's
commitment to cooperate on arms leakage from Iraq. MFA U/S
Apakan stated that Turkey had seized 1283 weapons of
suspected U.S. origin and said that associates of KRG
President Barzani provide weapons to the PKK, which derives
revenue from arms smuggling that may be provided to terrorist
groups throughout the region. DCHOD GEN Saygun questioned
U.S. plans to deliver hundreds of millions of rounds of rifle
ammunition to Iraq, and he complained about alleged U.S.
contacts with, and arms supplies to, the PKK. Ambassador
rejected these allegations. End Summary

GC Haynes: DOD Criminal Investigation and IG Team
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3. (S/NF) Haynes told Turkish officials that Defense
Secretary Gates had asked him to brief them on DOD's ongoing

SIPDIS
DCIS investigation into malfeasance with regard to
procurement and delivery of materiel, including weapons and
ammunition, to Iraq over the past several years. Information
developed thus far, including that provided by Turkey,
suggest that poor accountability procedures resulted in some
arms meant for Iraqi Security Forces being illegally
diverted. Haynes described the formation of a team under the
DOD Inspector General charged with assessing deficiencies in
past and present practices with regard to accountability for
arms provided to Iraq, fixing identified problems and making
recommendations for the future. Some improved accountability
procedures are already in place. Haynes cautioned his
interlocutors that it is unrealistic to expect that
corruption and leakage of materiel to the black market can be
completely eliminated, but assured them that the USG is
committed to improving procedures to reduce the risk. He
also reported that the U.S. has decided not to provide Iraq
with some 50 tons of C-4 explosive listed on a procurement
that appeared on the DSCA website that GEN Saygun had queried
us about previously (ref b).

MFA U/S Apakan: We Want to Solve This Bilaterally
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4. (S/NF) U/S Apakan, accompanied by D/US for Security
Akgunay and Director General Guven, told Haynes that Iraq
arms leakage is a "serious and vehement" issue for Turkey.
Authorities have seized 1283 Iraq-origin weapons during
anti-smuggling and counter-terrorism operations. Such
weapons were used in the murder of a High Court judge in
Ankara in May 2006 and a Catholic priest in Trabzon earlier
the same year. He asserted that the PKK traffics in these
weapons for revenue. Turkish authorities have information
that Masood Barzani and the KDP have a hand in this trade.
Seizures continue, he stated, complaining that Turkish
authorities had provided 12 written reports to the U.S. since
January 2005, so far without any response. He added that
Turkey could bring up the matter at the UN Conference on the
Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its
Aspects, but prefers to resolve it bilaterally with the U.S.
Given the public uproar over alleged weapons transfers to the
PKK, it is important that Turkey and the U.S. continue to
cooperate. Apakan and D/US Akgunay stressed that weapons
from Iraq could also go to other terrorist groups in the
region, making the problem much broader than the PKK.


5. (S/NF) DG Guven said that the government had not publicly
revealed the use of U.S.-origin firearms in the murders of
the judge and priest. However, it will be hard to keep the

weapons connection confidential in the event of further such
crimes. Officials believe as many as 9,000 U.S.-origin
weapons remain in circulation in Turkey out of over 400,000
weapons reportedly unaccounted for from Iraqi stocks. The
U.S. should demonstrate that improved accountability and
registration procedures are in place. Turkey would like
details of our new procedures.


6. (S/NF) Apakan said he understood the enormous challenges
faced by the U.S. in Iraq and stated that "your difficulties
are our difficulties," as our countries share the same goals
for Iraq. Turkey will continue to help ensure Iraqi unity
and stability. These common efforts are impeded, however, as
long as the public continues to focus on the arms issue.
Haynes reiterated the seriousness of the USG's commitment to
work on the problem, but warned that there are no magic
solutions, corruption and the black market cannot be
completely eliminated, and remediation efforts may take time
to bear fruit. He emphasized that the principal focus of the
DOD criminal investigation has been corruption, not arms
smuggling. The IG's effort will address accountability
practices. He thanked Turkey for its cooperation so far and
hoped it would continue. DCM noted that the 12 reports
mentioned by Apakan have been provided to investigators and
are being acted on, even if we are not yet prepared to
provide a comprehensive response.


7. (S/NF) Apakan promised Turkey's continued support and DCM
suggested that the issue could be revisited during Apakan's
late August visit to Washington, should there be further
information to share at that time.

DCHOD Saygun: PKK Receiving U.S. Arms
--------------


8. (S/NF) D/CHOD GEN Saygun expressed appreciation for the
information and assurances Haynes provided. Drawing a
connection between U.S.-origin weapons and the PKK terrorist
organization, he outlined Turkish military concerns about the
reported breadth and scope of planned U.S. weapons deliveries
to the ISF, ranging from bullets to reconnaissance aircraft.
Saygun asked why the U.S. planned to provide 250 million
rounds of 5.56 mm rifle ammunition, where the ISF could
safely store the 250 thousand cases the ammunition would come
in, and who would use it. In the same vein, he inquired
about reported plans to provide the ISF with 3 million
gallons of aviation fuel. Acknowledging that some corruption
and misuse would be inevitable, he stated that Turkey's
concerns were bigger. He cited Turkish intelligence
purporting to show PKK operatives discussing how to obtain
more "very useful U.S. (origin) portable devices." He also
noted testimony of captured PKK fighters who had publicly
stated that U.S. troops in armored vehicles provided M-16
rifles directly to PKK fighters in the Kandil mountains of
northern Iraq.


9. (S/NF) Saygun stated that the Turkish General Staff (TGS)
believes the U.S. is talking to the PKK "at some level" and
has reports that U.S. officials met with PKK terrorists in
the "Marado" region of the Kandil mountains and elsewhere as
many as 38 times so far in 2007. The Turkish military is
concerned about apparent U.S. contact with the PKK and the
possible provision by the U.S. of weapons to the PKK.
Turkish authorities are convinced that Kurdish leader Masood
Barzani and his Kurdish Democratic Party are facilitating the
transfer of U.S.-provided arms to the PKK. Saygun also cited
reported comments by Iraqi PM Maliki as well as alleged
statements by U.S. military officers in Iraq that the U.S. is
providing weapons to Sunni militias in order to counter
Iran-backed Shi'a groups. Saygun suggested that arms being
given to militias could easily end up in the hands of
terrorist groups. Saygun said that Turkish authorities would
continue to discuss these concerns in an open fashion with
the U.S. and would share any information they obtain.


10. (S/NF) Haynes and Ambassador expressed appreciation for
Turkey's willingness to continue its cooperation in this
matter and noted that information provided by Turkish
authorities on weapons seizures had already been helpful to
the DOD investigation. Haynes noted that information
uncovered in the course of the investigation so far had not
led to a connection between U.S.-provided arms and the PKK.
Ambassador stated clearly to Saygun that the U.S. does not
provide arms, either directly or indirectly, to the PKK, and
has no contact with the PKK as a matter of policy.



11. (S/NF) Haynes and his team also briefed Turkish National
Police Director General Oguz Koksal and his investigators on
the status of the DCIS investigation. Both sides pledged to
continue close cooperation.

Comment
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12. (S/NF) GC Haynes' briefings demonstrated to Turkish
authorities our commitment to tackle the difficult issue of
arms leakage from Iraq, while not giving them any illusion
that this problem can be solved completely or instantly. It
will be important to brief the Turks on results of the DOD IG
survey and to give them details on how we are ensuring
weapons accountability in Iraq as soon as they are available.
End Comment

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WILSON