USG-UK COOPERATION CONTINUES ON TURKEY'S CT ISSUES

UNCLAS ANKARA 001049

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV TU
SUBJECT: USG-UK COOPERATION CONTINUES ON TURKEY'S CT ISSUES


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During July 6-8 meetings in London, EMBASSY
Ankara's Resident Legal Advisor (RLA) and her British counterparts
agreed that Turkey is unlikely to change its attitude toward its
terrorism legislation without clear evidence of the law's
inadequacy. Separately, the UK proposed working with the U.S. on
Turkey's Draft Judicial Reform Strategy under the newly-launched
"Transatlantic Dialogue." The consultations, as a whole, were
exceptionally useful in identifying areas of common concern and
mutual interest. END SUMMARY.

London Meetings
--------------


2. (SBU) Ankara's RLA traveled to London July 6-8 at the invitation
of the British EMBASSY in Ankara. Over two days, the RLA met
representatives from the UK Home Office (extradition, legislation,
Turkey-specific and counter-terrorism); Foreign Office (Turkey desk
and counter-terrorism); Ministry of Justice (international team);
Crown Prosecution Service; and the Metropolitan Police. The
Department of Justice (DOJ) Criminal Division Attache assigned to
Embassy London also attended a number of the meetings.


3. (SBU) Many of the meetings focused on Turkey's definition of
terrorism which the UK, like the USG, regards as unduly narrow.
Despite numerous attempts by high-level UK officials to get Turkey
to broaden the definition, Turkey has remained unmoved. U.S. and UK
representatives generally agreed that continuing to push the Turks
on this issue is unlikely to yield any success, and is probably a
waste of valuable political capital. They also agreed we should
continue to look for cases that demonstrate our position (i.e., that
Turkey's laws are inadequate in certain circumstances) but that in
the meantime we should focus on issues where we may be able to have
a greater, and more immediate, impact.


4. (SBU) The UK is very interested in working with the USG as part
of a newly-launched "Transatlantic Dialogue" designed to foster
mutual efforts in areas of common concern. One topic of
conversation was the possibility of working together on Turkey's
Draft Judicial Reform Strategy, which aims to bring Turkey in line
with EU norms. (NOTE: Although the "Strategy" identifies the issues
that need to be addressed to improve Turkey's criminal justice
system, it fails to set forth concrete steps for moving forward.
END NOTE.)

Comment
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5. (SBU) The successful meetings in London highlight the value of
continuing to work with our European partners on issues of mutual
concern. In June, S/CT PDAS Schlicher led a delegation, which
included the RLA, to Copenhagen and Brussels. Those meetings
underscored the value of a collaborative approach to Turkey-related
issues (i.e., the PKK and Roj-TV). Continuing to maintain open and
frequent communication with our European colleagues is essential.
We should pursue the UK's offer to jointly address Turkey's Draft
Judicial Reform Strategy.
JEFFREY