TURKISH CYPRIOT REACTIONS TO PKK VIOLENCE: FROM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NICOSIA 000862

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV CY TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH CYPRIOT REACTIONS TO PKK VIOLENCE: FROM
OUTRAGE TO OUTRAGEOUS


Classified By: Ambassador Ronald L. Schlicher for reasons 1.4(a) 1.4(d)
.


1. (C) Summary: Turkish Cypriot responses to the recent PKK
raids in Turkey run the gamut from outrage to outrageous.
All major political parties -- including "government" leaders
-- issued statements condemning the attacks and voicing
solidarity with Ankara, while public demonstrations were held
in major cities in the Turkish Cypriot-administered area.
Both leftists and rightists used the opportunity to spout
vitriol at the United States and, in one case, an Embassy
Nicosia political officer. Chief critics included former
"TRNC President" Rauf Denktash and the ultra-nationalist
daily "Volkan," which ran a series of front-page "exposes"
concerning the Embassy official's "nefarious" activities.
"Government" statements were measured, however, and officials
privately told us that incidents in Turkey would not hurt
U.S.-T/C relations. Another PKK-focused demonstration in
northern Nicosia is scheduled for November 2. End Summary.


2. (SBU) All major T/C political parties, as well as trade
unions and civil society organizations, issued statements
condemning recent PKK attacks in Turkey. "TRNC President"
Mehmet Ali Talat offered condolences and solidarity in a
letter to the chief of the Turkish General Staff, while
"Prime Minister" Ferdi Soyer condemned the PKK actions on the
floor of the T/C "parliament." Main opposition National
Unity Party (UBP) head Tahsin Ertugruloglu adopted a more
nationalist, borderline-paranoid stance, claiming that "the
game being played is to create satellite states by tearing
Turkey apart." Similarly, the T/C Teachers Trade Union
charged that the U.S. was "supporting and financing terror
for oil," a common theme on both the left and right here.


3. (SBU) Organized demonstrations occurred October 22 - 24 in
northern Nicosia, Kyrenia, and Famagusta, with reports of
turnout varying from 1,000 - 5,000. Participants, according
to press reports, included university students and civil
society and trade union members. Flashy placards at the
October 24 rally in Nicosia boasted slogans such as "Damn the
PKK," "Shoulder to Shoulder, TRNC/Turkey," and "Martyrs
Don,t Die, the Fatherland will not be Divided." Many
protesters made hand gestures associated with the far-right
National Action Party (MHP) in Turkey. Former "TRNC
President" Rauf Denktash, who spoke at the Nicosia rally,
called on the U.S. to end its game of "trying to break up
Turkey and seize oil with the help of its Iraqi puppets."
Democrat Party (DP) activists in Kyrenia voiced similar
opinions in a meeting the day of the Nicosia rally.


4. (C) "Officials" from the "governing" Republican Turkish
Party (CTP) dismissed the demonstrations as largely the work
of "settlers from Turkey and students." Asim Akansoy, a
close Talat adviser, told us on October 26 that events in
Turkey would not hurt T/C-U.S. relations. CTP Kyrenia Mayor
Sumer Aygin said the same on October 23. Daily newspaper
"Yeni Duzen," the CTP mouthpiece, shunted coverage of the
Nicosia demonstration to Page 7 and cast it in a negative
light, publishing photos of women in headscarves and angry
young men flouting far-right symbols and gestures.


5. (C) Coverage of the demonstrations in other major papers
was largely factual, with the exception of ultra-nationalist
&Volkan,8 which ran a blood-red banner headline in its
October 25 edition, screaming "Damn the PKK; Damn the USA."
Volkan, which is reported to have "Deep State" connections
and financing, earlier had run a series of front-page
articles against an Embassy Nicosia political officer. The
paper charged him with "bribing" local politicians to curry
support for a party seen as close to AKP, and with
"organizing" PKK supporters. No other T/C paper has picked
up the story, however.


6. (C) Comment: We expect far-right and "Deep State" forces
to continue to stir the Turkish Cypriot pot over the
near-future. Turkish "Republican Day" (October 29),which is
also celebrated in the "TRNC," will give the military and
others ample opportunity to pump up nationalist ardor
further, for example. Another demonstration will follow on
November 2, this time sponsored by the "Talat Pasha
Committee," a hawkish group of former Turkish ambassadors,
bureaucrats, and politicians founded by Rauf Denktash.
Nevertheless, barring another major PKK attack in Turkey or a
controversy with clear (and negatively perceived) U.S.
involvement -- such as the 2003 arrest of Turkish special
forces by U.S. troops in Iraq -- we expect the latest
outbreak of T/C nationalism to dissipate fairly soon. End

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Comment.
SCHLICHER
SCHLICHER