IRAQI MFA CONSIDERING NEXT STEPS IN ALTUN CASE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002481 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER IZ TU FR AU SUBJECT: IRAQI MFA CONSIDERING NEXT STEPS IN ALTUN CASE REF: A. NEA/I CLASSIFIED O/I 25 JULY 2007 ¶B. BAGHDAD 2419 (U) Classified by Political Counselor Matthew Tueller, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) PolCouns raised the case of fugitive PKK financier Riza Altun during a July 26 call on FM Zebari (ref A). DFM Labeed Abbawi said Turkish Ambassador Kanbay has raised the case with the MFA. The MFA Legal Department is currently considering next steps in the case including, according to Abbawi, deportation back to France. ¶2. (C) Comment: Assuming Altun is still in Iraq, he is most likely in the Kurdistan Region; deportation would require cooperation from KRG President Barzani, which is highly unlikely. A Turkish approach to KRG Interior Minister Karim Sinjari, who is also the GOI,s deputy envoy to the trilateral anti-PKK dialogue, would increase, but not guarantee, the chances of KRG cooperation. However, in a July 16 discussion about the PKK with Acting PolCouns, Turkish DCM Yazal firmly rejected the idea of meeting with Sinjari (ref B). CROCKER