TURKEY: GOVERNMENT PURSUES DIPLOMACY; CONTINUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002624

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2017
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL TU IZ US
SUBJECT: TURKEY: GOVERNMENT PURSUES DIPLOMACY; CONTINUES
EFFORTS TO CALM A TENSE PUBLIC

REF: A. ANKARA 2620


B. ANKARA 2618 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: PolCouns Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: While FM Babacan pursued talks with senior
Iraqi leaders in Baghdad October 23, the GOT continued its
effort to calm domestic fury in the wake of October 21
terrorist attacks. Government officials implemented a little
used law to muzzle radio and television broadcasts related to
the attacks. Most broadcast outlets have ignored the ban so
far. Political opposition leaders continue to press the PM
Erdogan's government to authorize the military to retaliate
against PKK targets inside Iraq. Meanwhile, acts of public
outrage continue to sweep the country (septel). Military
operations aimed at recovering the eight soldiers who were
taken hostage by the PKK reportedly continue on both sides of
the Turkey-Iraq border. END SUMMARY

Diplomacy Remains GOT's First Priority
--------------


2. (C) FM Babacan continued to pursue diplomatic means to
address the PKK issue, in line with the GOT policy to do so
until all such options are exhausted. Babacan traveled to
Baghdad October 23 for a one-day visit, the first
ministerial-level visit by a GOT official since the war began
in 2003. Babacan met with Iraqi President Talabani, Prime
Minister Maliki, and FM Zebari. He was also scheduled to
meet with both vice presidents. GOT Iraq Coordinator
Celikkol will provide a read-out to Ambassador late October

24.


3. (U) According to press accounts, Babacan reiterated six
demands of Iraq with regard to the PKK:

- Prevent the use of Iraqi territory by PKK terrorists;
- Halt logistical support from reaching PKK encampments;
- Extradite PKK leaders to Turkey;
- Shut down PKK camps in Iraq;
- Limit the PKK's freedom of movement; and
- Prevent PKK terrorist actions.


4. (U) Iraqi officials reportedly responded with strong
statements condemning the PKK and its continued terrorist
activities. President Talabani said the GOI has presented
the PKK with two options: 1) lay down arms, or 2) leave Iraqi
territory. PM Maliki has reportedly ordered that all PKK
offices throughout Iraq be closed (something he has
previously ordered) and called on PKK camps and activities
also to be shut down as well. During a joint press
conference with Babacan, FM Zebari pointed to ongoing IZ-TU
counter terrorism efforts and said the GOI does not want the
stability of northern Iraq undermined.


5. (U) In the midst of a visit to London, PM Erdogan
indicated that Turkey is considering an economic embargo,
should Iraqi authorities not move immediately to end the
PKK's presence inside Iraq. Erdogan noted that Turkey plays
a crucial role in supplying Iraq with electricity, water, and
food and that the GOT could consider "imposing sanctions on
some of our export items."


6. (U) Deputy PM and government spokesman Cemil Cicek said in
parliament October 23 that the timing of a possible cross
border operation (CBO) into Iraq would depend upon military
planners and what makes most sense from a military
standpoint, should diplomacy fail. He underscored, however,
that political responsibility for such a decision resides
with the government and that the matter will be discussed
during a National Security Council meeting that President Gul
will chair the afternoon of October 24. He warned the
Turkish public against provoking violence and engaging in

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ethnic-based attacks in reaction to the terrorist strike.

Political Opposition Presses for Military Response
-------------- --------------


7. (U) While the government pursues a diplomatic track,
political opposition leaders continue to press for a military
response. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz
Baykal said the GOT should use the CBO motion passed by
parliament last week "as soon as possible." He criticized PM
Erdogan for not telling Secretary Rice, "We have been giving
you time for the last four years." Baykal added that Iraq
should know that "it should either be a neighbor to Turkey,
or a target of it." CHP Deputy leader Onur Oymen accused
unnamed entities of providing support to the PKK and
criticized the government for failing to have given a green
light to a CBO in response to the terrorist attacks.


8. (U) Nationalist Action Party (MHP) deputy group chairman
Mehmet Sandir went the furthest when he told parliamentarians
that the PKK has declared war against Turkey and alleged that
the PKK "is no longer administered by the murderer in Imrali
(former PKK head Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned on Imrali
island) but by (KRG President) Barzani." Sandir added that
the government has abrogated its duty to protect the nation
and said "the GOT is responsible for the bloodshed."

Government Seeks to Dampen Public Outrage
--------------


9. (C) Meanwhile, government officials continue to seek ways
to defuse an increasingly dangerous domestic situation. In
reaction to continued sensationalized coverage of the
terrorist attacks, hostage-taking, and subsequent funerals of
the 12 soldiers killed, which took place on October 23, the
GOT moved to implement a seldom-used law that prohibits
broadcasts that "have a damaging influence on the public
order and moral values of the people and that project a
negative image of security forces and are detrimental to the
social psychology." In implementing the law, the government
banned all coverage of the October 21 terrorist attacks in
Hakkari Province. The government's motivation may, in part,
be tied to the desire to continue operations in that area in
search of the eight missing soldiers taken hostage by the PKK.


10. (SBU) To date, Turkish broadcasters have largely ignored
the order, in part because they are uncertain exactly what
content is not allowed. All television broadcasts covered
the soldiers' funerals and related anti-terrorism protests on
October 23, further exacerbating tensions. Some responsible
voices from Turkey's nationalist minority have spoken out on
the need to maintain national unity. Nationalist youth group
"Idealist Hearth" President Harun Ozturk said his
organization's members would not provoke violence, adding
that if such clashes (involving ethnic Kurds as well as
government supporters and opponents) become a regular
occurrence, nationalists will withdraw from the streets for
the good of the nation.

Counter Insurgency Operations Ongoing
--------------


11. (C) While pressure on the government to respond
militarily to the attacks increases, counter insurgency
operations continue along the border between Iraq and Turkey
in Hakkari Province. Press accounts claim that Deputy PM
Cicek told an October 23 meeting of the AKP's Party Board
that some PKK camps inside Iraq were hit by Turkish F-16s and
artillery fire after the attacks, as far as 40-50 kilometers
inside Iraq. As part of ongoing efforts to recover the
hostages and root out terrorists responsible for the attack
who fled back into Iraq, Cicek also reportedly said that
Turkish army units have been chasing PKK insurgents across

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the border. We have been unable independently to verify
these reports.


12. (SBU) According to press reports, security forces shot
two PKK terrorists at a checkpoint in Malatya Province,
hundreds of kilometers to the northwest of where the October
21 attacks occurred, killing one and wounding the other. The
clash reportedly took place when a minibus was stopped at a
road checkpoint and one insurgent exited the vehicle with a
rifle. He was shot immediately by security forces while a
second was wounded as he attempted to throw a hand grenade at
those manning the roadblock. The other 15 passengers on the
bus have been taken into custody.

Mission Security - Maintaining Vigilance
--------------


13. (SBU) A demonstration organized by the MHP youth wing is
expected to take place mid-day October 24 in front of the
consulate in Istanbul. Approximately 100-150 MHP-linked
youths marched along a street adjacent to the consulate there
late on October 23 without incident. Harb-Is, a labor union
which represents Turkish workers on military facilities, is
planning to organize a protest against USG policy regarding
the PKK in front of the entrance to Incirlik Air Base in the
coming days. Turkish National Police continue to provide
supplemental security support at all mission facilities.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON