TURKEY: GOT CONCERNED ABOUT NEW YORK SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002952 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR DS, DS/P/PL, EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2017 TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: GOT CONCERNED ABOUT NEW YORK SECURITY COVERAGE Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROSS WILSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 1.(c) Ambassador was convoked December 4 by Deputy Secretary Apakan to discuss GOT concerns about security for the Turkish Consulate in New York. Apakan said that the Turkish Ambassador in Washington had flagged the issue of security provided at the facilities that house Turkey's UN mission, New York consulate and some affiliated offices. 24/7 coverage has been provided for a long time by the NYPD. Now that coverage has been reduced to working hours and work days. ¶2. (c) Apakan expressed appreciation for the State Department's interventions to restore full security protection and regret that these had not gotten the desired response. He said that Turkey is at a very critical phase and that it can very easily become a victim of terrorism. Al-Qaeda and the PKK are active in many countries, hostile Armenians continue to be a problems - including in the US, and there are other groups that have acted against Turkish diplomats. Current Turkish efforts with the US against the PKK and al-Qaeda raise particular concerns. On November 9, two Turkish diplomats were attacked in Athens. Turkish intelligence has turned up other threats that have been reported as circulars to Turkish missions in the US and elsewhere out of concern for the safety of diplomatic personnel. Apakan requested further intervention by the US government and urged restoration of 24/7 coverage for as long as it is needed. ¶3. (c) Ambassador undertook to report Apakan's concerns and request. He recounted the efforts made to date. These had resulted in the postponement of a decision to terminate coverage all together, though this now looks likely early in ¶2008. Our efforts had also produced a NYPD agreement to deploy a roving marked car to Turkish mission facilities on an intermittent basis and an undertaking for weekly NYPD Intelligence Division visits to the mission to exchange threat information and generally stay in touch. In addition, the NYPD has assured us that in the future full (temporary) coverage can be restored when there are specific threats, demonstrations, high-level visits, receptions and other events requiring special security, and the fixed post will remain in any case (unmanned). 24/7 coverage will continue at the Turkish embassy and ambassador's residence in Washington and at the LA consulate. Finally, Ambassador said that one argument being made is that the threats do not justify 24/7 coverage. If the Turkish authorities have information regarding threats that could be specific to or applicable in NY, it should share this information with US authorities. In any case, we take security of our, Turkish and other countries' diplomatic personnel seriously and want to work with the MFA on this matter. 4.(c) COMMENT: We strongly recommend that steps be taken to restore 24/7 police coverage of the Turkish consulate in NY. Turkey remains a high-profile target for terrorist activity and Turkish diplomatic facilities in New York are particularly well known. In addition to legitimate Turkish concerns about the security of their facilities and personnel, we must also remind mindful of the ramifications that the situation in New York might hold for Turkish protection of USG facilities within Turkey. The Turkish National Police have been, thus far, scrupulous in their support for all of our security needs, though this could change if the GOT determines that we have dropped the ball in New York. END COMMENT. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON