TURKEY: CODEL MURTHA'S MEETING WITH DEPUTY DEFENSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002851

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV OREP IZ IR AM TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: CODEL MURTHA'S MEETING WITH DEPUTY DEFENSE
CHIEF GEN SAYGUN


Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (SBU) Summary: DCHOD GEN Ergin Saygun briefed Codel Murtha
on Turkey's struggle with PKK terrorism, the PKK's
involvement in narcotics smuggling and organized crime, and
the inadequate response of many European allies. On Armenia,
Saygun stressed Yerevan's implied territorial claims on
Turkey and its failure to respond to Turkey's conciliatory
gestures. He judged that Iran will not give up its pursuit
of a nuclear weapon and described Turkish concerns about an
Iran-inspired "Shi'a axis" seeking to dominate the region.
Saygun said Turkey is ready to help train and organize Iraqi
security forces once the security situation stabilizes, but
the Iraqis must request the help first. Codel Murtha
described U.S. efforts to encourage the Iraqi government to
take responsibility and requested Turkey's deeper engagement
there, while appreciating Turkey's fight against the PKK and
contributions to peace in Afghanistan and elsewhere. End
Summary


2. (C) Expressing frustration with the inadequate response of
some of Turkey's European allies to PKK terrorism, Saygun
described how the PKK finances its activities by smuggling
narcotics and engaging in other organized crime. Meanwhile,
PKK terrorists operate in northern Iraq "under the auspices"
of Masoud Barzani and other Kurdish leaders. Rep Murtha said
he understood from his visit to Iraq that Kurdish officials
are taking measures to restrict PKK activities and asked if
Saygun had seen evidence of this. Saygun said he had not
seen any change but noted that positive developments in other
areas had resulted from President Bush's November 5 meeting
with PM Erdogan.


3. (C) Saygun cited the Armenian independence declaration,
constitution, and national symbols as evidence of Armenian
claims on Turkish territory. He noted that Turkey had paid
for the restoration of the Akdamar Armenian Orthodox churchon
Lake Van, equating its importance to the Armenians with that
of the Istanbul Patriarchate to Greek Orthodox. Saygun
complained that, while Turkey has opened Turkish Partnership
for Peace facilities to Armenian students, Armenia refuses to
allow entry to Turkish officers participating in NATO
missions. Meanwhile, Turkish journalists have been roughed
up in Yerevan.


4. (C) Saygun stressed that Turkey and Iran have no formal
military relations but often coordinate their actions against
PKK and PJAK terrorists. He said he is convinced that Iran
will seek to develop nuclear weapons to support its attempts
to dominate the region by encouraging a "Shi'a axis" and
controlling the flow of oil. He stressed the need to
separate Syria from Iranian influence, asserting that Bashar
Asad is struggling to get out from the shadow of his late
father's advisors.


5. (C) Turning to energy security, Saygun warned that Russia
seeks to control all oil/gas flows in the region, including
internal distribution networks in Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine,
Moldova, and Belarus. He noted that the Russians are seeking
to buy Austrian oil giant OMV in order to control the Nabucco
pipeline.


6. (C) On Turkey-U.S. relations, Saygun expressed
disappointment that so much of the bilateral agenda was taken
up with "minor" issues, such as U.S. pressure on Turkey to
recognize the "Ecumenical" Patriarchate, open the Halki
Seminary, normalize relations with Armenia, and withdraw
troops from Cyprus. We should raise our level of cooperation
on larger regional issues, Saygun asserted, and work on
managing divergent policies without harming our mutual
interests.


7. (SBU) Codel Murtha thanked Saygun for Turkey's
contribution to the war on terrorism, including in ISAF, and
expressed understanding for Turkey's fight against PKK
terrorism. The U.S. shares Turkey's concerns about energy
security. All Codel members urged Turkey to consider what
more it could do to help with reconciliation and rebuilding
in Iraq, noting that the U.S. is bearing a heavy and
expensive burden there. They also requested the GOT's help
in getting Iraq's other neighbors to act constructively. Rep
Murtha and other members stressed their efforts to keep the
Armenian Genocide resolution off the House agenda and their
belief that the resolution will not be reintroduced during

the term of this Congress.


8. (U) Codel Murtha did not have the opportunity to clear
this cable before departing Ankara.

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

WILSON