Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANKARA125
2008-01-23 13:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY APPEALS FOR USG HELP TO KEEP PKK ON EU
how-toVZCZCXRO3249 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHAK #0125 0231357 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231357Z JAN 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4998 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU PRIORITY RHMFISS/425ABG IZMIR TU//CC// PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// PRIORITY RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEUITH/TLO ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEPGAB/MNF-I C2X BAGHDAD IZ PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000125
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT OF JUSTICE FOR DAAG/CRM SWARTZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: PTER PREL EU UK TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY APPEALS FOR USG HELP TO KEEP PKK ON EU
TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS' LIST
Classified By: Political Counselor Janice Weiner. Reasons: 1.4 (b)(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000125
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT OF JUSTICE FOR DAAG/CRM SWARTZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: PTER PREL EU UK TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY APPEALS FOR USG HELP TO KEEP PKK ON EU
TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS' LIST
Classified By: Political Counselor Janice Weiner. Reasons: 1.4 (b)(d).
1. (C) MFA DDG for Security Affairs Sakir Torunlar appealed
for U.S. support against PKK efforts to be removed from the
European Union's list of terrorist organizations during a
January 22 meeting with Regional Counterterrorism
Coordinator. Reiterating points made by DG Hayati Guven to
the Ambassador on January 18, Torunlar explained that on
January 31, the Court of First Instance of the European Court
of Justice (ECJ) would hear an appeal initiated by Osman
Ocalan, brother of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan.
2. (C) Turkey has no standing with the ECJ, Torunlar
observed, and so is depending on the European Council and the
British to persuade the judge to dismiss the appeal. The
British will join the European Council before the ECJ because
they initially proposed the PKK be added to the EU terrorist
list in 2001, to which the EU Council agreed by consensus in
2002. Each side will have only five to ten minutes to makes
its case. The judge will decide based largely on the
prepared written briefs. Turkey believes the EU will "stand
firm" and keep the PKK on the list, but nonetheless seeks any
support the U.S. can provide. Torunlar noted DG Guven had
shared with the Ambassador an Aide Memoire that had also been
given to the British. (Note: Post has e-mailed a copy of the
document to EUR/SE and to S/CT.) A British Embassy
representative subsequently remarked it was her understanding
that the British government has not yet decided what role it
will play in the January 31 ECJ proceedings.
3. (C) Comment. This GOT appeal comes at a sensitive
juncture in the fight against the PKK, in which the USG is
engaged at the highest levels. A PKK victory at the ECJ
risks reinvigorating popular support for the organization on
the one hand, while further inflaming nationalism in Turkey
on the other. Either outcome would be damaging as we seek to
further isolate this terrorist organization.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT OF JUSTICE FOR DAAG/CRM SWARTZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: PTER PREL EU UK TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY APPEALS FOR USG HELP TO KEEP PKK ON EU
TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS' LIST
Classified By: Political Counselor Janice Weiner. Reasons: 1.4 (b)(d).
1. (C) MFA DDG for Security Affairs Sakir Torunlar appealed
for U.S. support against PKK efforts to be removed from the
European Union's list of terrorist organizations during a
January 22 meeting with Regional Counterterrorism
Coordinator. Reiterating points made by DG Hayati Guven to
the Ambassador on January 18, Torunlar explained that on
January 31, the Court of First Instance of the European Court
of Justice (ECJ) would hear an appeal initiated by Osman
Ocalan, brother of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan.
2. (C) Turkey has no standing with the ECJ, Torunlar
observed, and so is depending on the European Council and the
British to persuade the judge to dismiss the appeal. The
British will join the European Council before the ECJ because
they initially proposed the PKK be added to the EU terrorist
list in 2001, to which the EU Council agreed by consensus in
2002. Each side will have only five to ten minutes to makes
its case. The judge will decide based largely on the
prepared written briefs. Turkey believes the EU will "stand
firm" and keep the PKK on the list, but nonetheless seeks any
support the U.S. can provide. Torunlar noted DG Guven had
shared with the Ambassador an Aide Memoire that had also been
given to the British. (Note: Post has e-mailed a copy of the
document to EUR/SE and to S/CT.) A British Embassy
representative subsequently remarked it was her understanding
that the British government has not yet decided what role it
will play in the January 31 ECJ proceedings.
3. (C) Comment. This GOT appeal comes at a sensitive
juncture in the fight against the PKK, in which the USG is
engaged at the highest levels. A PKK victory at the ECJ
risks reinvigorating popular support for the organization on
the one hand, while further inflaming nationalism in Turkey
on the other. Either outcome would be damaging as we seek to
further isolate this terrorist organization.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
WILSON