Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA2503
2007-10-09 15:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY'S COUNTER-TERRORISM COUNCIL: FULL ARRAY OF
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002503
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2017
TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL PGOV TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY'S COUNTER-TERRORISM COUNCIL: FULL ARRAY OF
MEASURES ON THE TABLE
REF: ANKARA 2500
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002503
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2017
TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL PGOV TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY'S COUNTER-TERRORISM COUNCIL: FULL ARRAY OF
MEASURES ON THE TABLE
REF: ANKARA 2500
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: Turkey's counter-terrorism council met
October 10 under the chairmanship of PM Erdogan. It issued a
written statement which places all options - economic,
political, legal and military - on the table. By taking a
broad-reaching approach, the Turks are putting the Iraqis on
notice - especially the KRG - that they will flex their
muscles as they see fit to deal with the terrorist PKK holed
up in northern Iraq. They are also buying time, pending the
October 10 vote in the House Foreign Affairs Committee on
Armenian genocide. End summary.
2. (SBU) Turkey's counter-terrorism council met for
three-and-a-half hours October 10 under the chairmanship of
PM Erdogan. At the end of the meeting, the Council released
an announcement which concluded that the PKK, uneasy about
recent positive developments and facing diminishing public
support, appeared to be trying to provoke conflict. To that
end, the appropriate Turkish institutions had been instructed
to take all legal, economic, and political measures,
including a cross-border operation if necessary to end the
PKK's presence in northern Iraq. (See full text below, para
5.)
3. (C) The council's statement continues the relatively
nuanced approach previewed October 9 by government spokesman
and Deputy PM Cemil Cicek: all aspects of the issue, and
their consequences, will be considered. This includes a
focus on continuing to try to improve the economic and
political situation for Turkey's citizens in the southeast.
By stating that the goal is to end the PKK's presence in Iraq
and referring to the full array of measures at Turkey's
disposal, the Council is likely putting the Iraqi Kurds on
notice that Turkey can and will take whatever measures it
deems necessary.
4. (C) Comment: The Turks appear to have concluded that
their best course of action -- if the USG will not act -- is
to take matters into their own hands. Their approach is a
nuanced one, however, that takes into account the need to
continue to support their own citizens. With respect to
northern Iraq, however, that means using all political, legal
and economic levers at their disposal to show the Iraqi Kurds
that they mean business. They may also hope the leverage
will result in agreement on the final "hot pursuit" article
in the recently-concluded bilateral counter-terrorism
agreement. The Turks will now be relentless in the use of
all possible means - without ever taking a possible CBO off
the table -- to show that they can inflict non-military pain
and pressure KRG President Barzani into taking action.
5. (U) Informal translation of Counter-Terrorism Council's
October 10 statement:
"At the meeting, evaluations were made concerning the
terrorist incidents in recent days, primarily the loathsome
attacks against civilian citizens and security forces in
Sirnak province. Additional measure and methods that need to
be taken in the fight against terrorism were also discussed.
"It was assessed that the organization, which has been
feeling uneasy about the recent economic, social and
political developments and whose public support has
dissipated, was trying to increase its bloody terrorist acts.
It (the Council) decided to continue without abatement these
activities in order to increase the peace, security and
welfare of our citizens.
"Within this framework, necessary orders and instructions
were given to institutions and establishments for them to
take all legal, economic and political measures, including a
cross-border operation if necessary, in the coming period in
order to end the presence of the terrorist organization in a
ANKARA 00002503 002 OF 002
neighboring country."
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2017
TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL PGOV TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY'S COUNTER-TERRORISM COUNCIL: FULL ARRAY OF
MEASURES ON THE TABLE
REF: ANKARA 2500
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: Turkey's counter-terrorism council met
October 10 under the chairmanship of PM Erdogan. It issued a
written statement which places all options - economic,
political, legal and military - on the table. By taking a
broad-reaching approach, the Turks are putting the Iraqis on
notice - especially the KRG - that they will flex their
muscles as they see fit to deal with the terrorist PKK holed
up in northern Iraq. They are also buying time, pending the
October 10 vote in the House Foreign Affairs Committee on
Armenian genocide. End summary.
2. (SBU) Turkey's counter-terrorism council met for
three-and-a-half hours October 10 under the chairmanship of
PM Erdogan. At the end of the meeting, the Council released
an announcement which concluded that the PKK, uneasy about
recent positive developments and facing diminishing public
support, appeared to be trying to provoke conflict. To that
end, the appropriate Turkish institutions had been instructed
to take all legal, economic, and political measures,
including a cross-border operation if necessary to end the
PKK's presence in northern Iraq. (See full text below, para
5.)
3. (C) The council's statement continues the relatively
nuanced approach previewed October 9 by government spokesman
and Deputy PM Cemil Cicek: all aspects of the issue, and
their consequences, will be considered. This includes a
focus on continuing to try to improve the economic and
political situation for Turkey's citizens in the southeast.
By stating that the goal is to end the PKK's presence in Iraq
and referring to the full array of measures at Turkey's
disposal, the Council is likely putting the Iraqi Kurds on
notice that Turkey can and will take whatever measures it
deems necessary.
4. (C) Comment: The Turks appear to have concluded that
their best course of action -- if the USG will not act -- is
to take matters into their own hands. Their approach is a
nuanced one, however, that takes into account the need to
continue to support their own citizens. With respect to
northern Iraq, however, that means using all political, legal
and economic levers at their disposal to show the Iraqi Kurds
that they mean business. They may also hope the leverage
will result in agreement on the final "hot pursuit" article
in the recently-concluded bilateral counter-terrorism
agreement. The Turks will now be relentless in the use of
all possible means - without ever taking a possible CBO off
the table -- to show that they can inflict non-military pain
and pressure KRG President Barzani into taking action.
5. (U) Informal translation of Counter-Terrorism Council's
October 10 statement:
"At the meeting, evaluations were made concerning the
terrorist incidents in recent days, primarily the loathsome
attacks against civilian citizens and security forces in
Sirnak province. Additional measure and methods that need to
be taken in the fight against terrorism were also discussed.
"It was assessed that the organization, which has been
feeling uneasy about the recent economic, social and
political developments and whose public support has
dissipated, was trying to increase its bloody terrorist acts.
It (the Council) decided to continue without abatement these
activities in order to increase the peace, security and
welfare of our citizens.
"Within this framework, necessary orders and instructions
were given to institutions and establishments for them to
take all legal, economic and political measures, including a
cross-border operation if necessary, in the coming period in
order to end the presence of the terrorist organization in a
ANKARA 00002503 002 OF 002
neighboring country."
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON