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.


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WILSON