Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PARIS484
2007-02-07 16:55:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRENCH POLICE ARREST KEY EUROPEAN PKK TERRORISM
how-toVZCZCXYZ0011 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #0484/01 0381655 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 071655Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4757 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAWJA/DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE 1923 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 3713 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1135 RHMFISS/USNMR SHAPE BE IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T PARIS 000484
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
FOR S/CT MARC NORMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2017
TAGS: PTER EFIN PINR PREL KCRM TU FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH POLICE ARREST KEY EUROPEAN PKK TERRORISM
FINANCIERS
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JOSIAH ROSENBLATT FOR REASO
NS 1.4 (b) AND (d)
S E C R E T PARIS 000484
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
FOR S/CT MARC NORMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2017
TAGS: PTER EFIN PINR PREL KCRM TU FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH POLICE ARREST KEY EUROPEAN PKK TERRORISM
FINANCIERS
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JOSIAH ROSENBLATT FOR REASO
NS 1.4 (b) AND (d)
1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: On February 7 French authorities confirmed
to us that French national counterterrorism police had
arrested on February 5 ten individuals who are suspected of
having links with Kurdish separatist movements in Turkey and
Iraq. French police refer to these groups variously as the
PKK, KADK, and KONGRA-GEL. (See paragraphs 4-14 for a list
of names and other identifying information). The GOF has not
yet made a public announcement, prefering instead to wait
until after the initial interrogations are completed. Turkish
Embassy reaction in Paris has been extremely positive;
officials are hopeful this may represent a turning point in
the GOF's domestic treatment of the PKK and its affiliates.
The Turkish DCM also thanked the Embassy for its assistance
in pressing the French government to take the necessary
action. END SUMMARY
FRENCH REACTION
--------------
2. French MFA officials say they have no information on the
arrests and are waiting for the Ministry of Interior to
provide them with guidance. For the moment, officials said,
security services are gathering information and the suspects
remain in detention for questioning. (In France this can be
up to four days, with 2 additional days if necessary).
(Comment: It does not appear that the MFA was consulted prior
to the arrests. End Comment)
LOCAL TURKISH REACTION
--------------
3. (S/NF) Turkish DCM Inan Ozyildiz told us on February 7
that they hoped the French action was a turning point in the
GOF's treatment of PKK operatives in France. For years the
Turkish government, he said, has urged Paris to pursue Riza
Altun and other Kurds who they believe are PKK fundraisers.
All of the names on the list of those arrested, Ozyildiz
said, are well known to Turkish security services,
particularly Riza Altun and Nedim Seven. The Turkish
government has told French authorities that Turkish security
services are preparing files on each suspect and are prepared
to cooperate in any way possible. They will also likely seek
the extradition of some of the individuals. (COMMENT: Given
the recent chill in French-Turkish relations (including
inside the military establishment),this action could help
improve bilateral ties. END COMMENT)
4. (S/NF) Haci KARAKOYUN, BORN 7 JULY 1965 IN PINARBASI,
TURKEY. TURKISH NATIONAL.
5. (S/NF) Riza ALTUN, BORN ON 1 JANUARY 1956 IN SARIZ,
TURKEY. TURKISH NATIONAL.
6. (S/NF) Nihat ASLAN, BORN ON 2 FEBRUARY 1965 IN VARTO,
TURKEY. TURKISH NATIONAL.
7. (S/NF) Muhittin ASLAN. HIS alias IS ((ZANA)). BORN ON 15
JULY 2007 IN GURPINAR, TURKEY. TURKISH NATIONAL.
8. (S/NF) Canan KURTYILMAZ. HIS ALIAS IS ASYA. BORN ON 4
FEBRUARY 1973 IN ESKISEHIR (TURKEY). TURKISH NATIONAL. (Note:
Canan Kurtyilmaz was arrested in Belgium under a French
arrest warrant.)
9. (S/NF) Kazim ERGUN. HIS ALIAS IS ANTER. BORN ON 28 MAY
1970 IN KARAKOCAN (TURKEY). TURKISH NATIONAL.
10. (S/NF) Kadir ZMEN. HIS ALIAS IS CIHA. BORN ON 26 MAY
1971 IN BINGOL (TURKEY). TURKISH NATIONAL.
11. (S/NF) Attila BALIKCI. BORN ON 27 JULY 1976 IN ELESKIRT
(TURKEY). TURKISH NATIONAL.
12. (S/NF) Burcin UCAR. HIS ALIAS IS BERFIN. BORN ON 20
FEBRUARY 1977 IN ADANA (TURKEY). TURKISH NATIONAL.
13. (S/NF) Zulkuf KILINC. BORN ON 15 APRIL 1959 IN PALU
(TURKEY).
14. (S/NF) Nedim SEVEN. His alias is BESHAT, BORN ON 9
SEPTEMBER 1968 IN HAKKARI, (TURKEY). TURKISH NATIONALITY.
(NOTE: Seven was arrested on February 6 after temporarily
evading police.)
15. (S) The Turkish Embassy in Paris provided the names of
three additional suspects they tell us have been detained by
French authorities. We understand their names are known to
French authorities but we cannot confirm their arrests.
Their names are in paragraphs 16-18.
16. (S) Sukru KOZLUDERE, BORN ON SEPTEMER 5, 1971
17. (S) Renas LELIKAN, ALIAS CIHAT
18. (S) Mehmet ULAS, BORN ON MARCH 1, 1975, ALIAS ESER
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
FOR S/CT MARC NORMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2017
TAGS: PTER EFIN PINR PREL KCRM TU FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH POLICE ARREST KEY EUROPEAN PKK TERRORISM
FINANCIERS
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JOSIAH ROSENBLATT FOR REASO
NS 1.4 (b) AND (d)
1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: On February 7 French authorities confirmed
to us that French national counterterrorism police had
arrested on February 5 ten individuals who are suspected of
having links with Kurdish separatist movements in Turkey and
Iraq. French police refer to these groups variously as the
PKK, KADK, and KONGRA-GEL. (See paragraphs 4-14 for a list
of names and other identifying information). The GOF has not
yet made a public announcement, prefering instead to wait
until after the initial interrogations are completed. Turkish
Embassy reaction in Paris has been extremely positive;
officials are hopeful this may represent a turning point in
the GOF's domestic treatment of the PKK and its affiliates.
The Turkish DCM also thanked the Embassy for its assistance
in pressing the French government to take the necessary
action. END SUMMARY
FRENCH REACTION
--------------
2. French MFA officials say they have no information on the
arrests and are waiting for the Ministry of Interior to
provide them with guidance. For the moment, officials said,
security services are gathering information and the suspects
remain in detention for questioning. (In France this can be
up to four days, with 2 additional days if necessary).
(Comment: It does not appear that the MFA was consulted prior
to the arrests. End Comment)
LOCAL TURKISH REACTION
--------------
3. (S/NF) Turkish DCM Inan Ozyildiz told us on February 7
that they hoped the French action was a turning point in the
GOF's treatment of PKK operatives in France. For years the
Turkish government, he said, has urged Paris to pursue Riza
Altun and other Kurds who they believe are PKK fundraisers.
All of the names on the list of those arrested, Ozyildiz
said, are well known to Turkish security services,
particularly Riza Altun and Nedim Seven. The Turkish
government has told French authorities that Turkish security
services are preparing files on each suspect and are prepared
to cooperate in any way possible. They will also likely seek
the extradition of some of the individuals. (COMMENT: Given
the recent chill in French-Turkish relations (including
inside the military establishment),this action could help
improve bilateral ties. END COMMENT)
4. (S/NF) Haci KARAKOYUN, BORN 7 JULY 1965 IN PINARBASI,
TURKEY. TURKISH NATIONAL.
5. (S/NF) Riza ALTUN, BORN ON 1 JANUARY 1956 IN SARIZ,
TURKEY. TURKISH NATIONAL.
6. (S/NF) Nihat ASLAN, BORN ON 2 FEBRUARY 1965 IN VARTO,
TURKEY. TURKISH NATIONAL.
7. (S/NF) Muhittin ASLAN. HIS alias IS ((ZANA)). BORN ON 15
JULY 2007 IN GURPINAR, TURKEY. TURKISH NATIONAL.
8. (S/NF) Canan KURTYILMAZ. HIS ALIAS IS ASYA. BORN ON 4
FEBRUARY 1973 IN ESKISEHIR (TURKEY). TURKISH NATIONAL. (Note:
Canan Kurtyilmaz was arrested in Belgium under a French
arrest warrant.)
9. (S/NF) Kazim ERGUN. HIS ALIAS IS ANTER. BORN ON 28 MAY
1970 IN KARAKOCAN (TURKEY). TURKISH NATIONAL.
10. (S/NF) Kadir ZMEN. HIS ALIAS IS CIHA. BORN ON 26 MAY
1971 IN BINGOL (TURKEY). TURKISH NATIONAL.
11. (S/NF) Attila BALIKCI. BORN ON 27 JULY 1976 IN ELESKIRT
(TURKEY). TURKISH NATIONAL.
12. (S/NF) Burcin UCAR. HIS ALIAS IS BERFIN. BORN ON 20
FEBRUARY 1977 IN ADANA (TURKEY). TURKISH NATIONAL.
13. (S/NF) Zulkuf KILINC. BORN ON 15 APRIL 1959 IN PALU
(TURKEY).
14. (S/NF) Nedim SEVEN. His alias is BESHAT, BORN ON 9
SEPTEMBER 1968 IN HAKKARI, (TURKEY). TURKISH NATIONALITY.
(NOTE: Seven was arrested on February 6 after temporarily
evading police.)
15. (S) The Turkish Embassy in Paris provided the names of
three additional suspects they tell us have been detained by
French authorities. We understand their names are known to
French authorities but we cannot confirm their arrests.
Their names are in paragraphs 16-18.
16. (S) Sukru KOZLUDERE, BORN ON SEPTEMER 5, 1971
17. (S) Renas LELIKAN, ALIAS CIHAT
18. (S) Mehmet ULAS, BORN ON MARCH 1, 1975, ALIAS ESER
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON