MFA UNDERSECRETARY APAKAN INQUIRY ABOUT M-16S

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002247 SIPDIS SIPDIS OSD FOR GENERAL COUNSEL AND DCIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2017 TAGS: ASIG PREL MARR KCRM PTER IZ TU SUBJECT: MFA UNDERSECRETARY APAKAN INQUIRY ABOUT M-16S SEIZED FROM PKK REF: A. ANKARA 2035 ¶B. ANKARA 1948 Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (U) Action request at para 4. ¶2. (C) Turkish MFA U/S Apakan and DG for Security Affairs Guven raised the issue of US-origin M-16s captured recently from PKK terrorists in Turkey during an August 29 meeting with Ambassador on various subjects. The Turkish General Staff had provided the MFA with serial numbers or other identifiers for 112 M-16s, which Guven provided in a non-paper. (Note: The TGS had earlier provided us with identifying information for 106 captured M-16s, reported ref a. The list provided by Apakan contains the same 106 numbered weapons, as well as six additional weapons for which serial numbers were not provided. List being faxed to EUR/SE. End note). Apakan asked for information from US authorities regarding to whom/which countries these weapons were sold or transferred, as well as any other relevant information the USG could provide. ¶3. (C) Ambassador expressed appreciation for the MFA,s information on the captured M-16s, noting allegations about them that have already appeared in the Turkish media. He said that we take the issue seriously and will look closely into it. He noted the visit here in July of DOD General Counsel Haynes and the planned visit in late September of the DOD and State Department Inspectors General to update Turkish authorities on our investigations into small arms leakage in Iraq that has apparently spilled over into Turkey. Guven replied that Turkey currently has no information about an Iraqi connection to these weapons, but would appreciate whatever information the US can provide. ¶4. (C) Action: Please provide information regarding the identified M-16s that post can relay to Turkish authorities. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON