Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ANKARA1724
2009-12-04 11:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY: MFA SEEKS NEW CURRENTS ON CAMP MAKHMOUR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0021 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #1724/01 3381119 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 041119Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1375 INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 1520 RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1376 RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEUITH/TLO ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001724
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2029
TAGS: PTER PREL IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: MFA SEEKS NEW CURRENTS ON CAMP MAKHMOUR
REF: ANKARA 1604
Classified By: DCM Doug Silliman, for reasons: 1.4(b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001724
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2029
TAGS: PTER PREL IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: MFA SEEKS NEW CURRENTS ON CAMP MAKHMOUR
REF: ANKARA 1604
Classified By: DCM Doug Silliman, for reasons: 1.4(b/d)
1. SUMMARY. Iraqi authorities need to better isolate
Makhmour Camp residents from PKK pressure to allow camp
residents to express their feelings about returning to Turkey
without coercion, newly appointed DG for Security Affairs
Aydin Sezgin told us December 1. The DCM urged Turkey to
involve the U.S. more closely on Makhmour-related issues and
to deal directly with UNHCR. Separately, Sezgin expressed
interest in closer Turkey-U.S.-Iraq law enforcement
cooperation. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) During a December 1 introductory meeting, Sezgin told
DCM Silliman he hoped to enhance our already strong
counterterrorism (CT) cooperation, and looked forward to his
upcoming CT-related meetings on the margins of the December
7-8 visit of PM Erdogan to Washington. DDG Inan Ozyildiz
will also accompany him to Washington. Addressing U.S.
concerns about the narrow definition of terrorism in Turkish
law, Sezgin reported Turkey is working to harmonize its
definition with that of the international community and that
his directorate was "doing its best" to make it happen.
Makhmour Camp
--------------
.
3. (C) Asked about Turkey's plans for resettling the
residents of Makhmour, the UNHCR-run camp in northern Iraq,
Sezgin explained that Turkey is still working with Iraqi
authorities to formulate a plan. Currently, about 30 percent
of the camp's residents have expressed willingness to return
to Turkey voluntarily, he noted. Iraqi Kurds need to apply
pressure on the PKK to ease its influence on camp residents
so they can express their true views more freely. Turkey is
working on the matter with the central government in Baghdad
and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil.
4. (C) Frankly, Sezgin continued, UNHCR is saying too much
publicly about Makhmour and needs to tone it down. The UNHCR
spokesperson, who happens to be a Turkish national, talks
about a UNHCR role for monitoring resettled residents within
Turkey. "This is very delicate for us," he insisted. For
Turkey, this is not a matter of resettlement, but of
reintegration of Turkish citizens. UNHCR can play a useful
role in planning and in bringing people up to the border,
"but reintegration will belong to us." MFA had checked with
its legal experts who agreed that because these people would
be returning to Turkey
voluntarily, there is no role for UNHCR.
5. (C) Turkey wants to close the camp, Sezgin stated. It
would like more than 30 percent of its residents to return to
Turkey, but knows some will want to remain in northern Iraq.
Turkey has broached this subject with the KRG. The DCM noted
that the UNHCR would likely need to see a concrete Turkish
plan before it agrees to cooperate on resettlement or close
the camp. Citing his own experience on the issue while in
his previous position, he urged Sezgin to work more closely
with UNHCR, including in Geneva. Sezgin assured the DCM that
Turkey plans to work closely with UNHCR "at the appropriate
time."
6. (C) At this point, DDG Ozyildiz noted, Turkey does not
really know which camp residents want to return. It needs a
clearer picture of the situation, but PKK pressure on
residents precludes getting that clearer picture. The DCM
assured that the UNHCR was willing to discuss the matter with
Turkey, the U.S., Baghdad and Erbil; in the past it was
willing to take steps to secure the camp and poll its
residents. Ozyildiz nterjected that Turkey's experience has
not been good when it has raised this issue with Baghdad and
UNHCR. Both minimize PKK influence in the camp, despite the
fact that recent information demonstrates nothing has
changed. The DCM urged Turkey to work more closely with the
U.S, as it had earlier.
Turkey-U.S.-Iraq Law Enforcement Cooperation
--------------
.
7. (C) DG Sezgin thanked the U.S. for its decision to
designate three PKK leaders as Drug Kingpins. "This is a
good example to set for the Europeans," he stated
enthusiastically. The DCM recalled that FBI Director
Mueller, during his November 18 visit, raised with DPM Cicek
and Justice Minister Ergin ways to operationalize this
designation and other law enforcement cooperation. The
missing piece is closer law enforcement cooperation between
Turkey and the U.S, and between Turkey, the U.S. and
Baghdad/Erbil. Sezgin assured the DCM that Turkey, too,
hopes for "tangible cooperation" with Iraq on these issues.
Comment
--------------
.
8. (C) DG Sezgin appears fully engaged in his new CT brief
and eager to explore new avenues in CT and law enforcement
cooperation. We hope his December 8-9 meetings on the
margins of the summit will inspire him in new directions and
provide the impetus to push forward with information-sharing,
closer collaboration with us on Camp Makhmour, MFA support
for closer U.S.-Turkey law enforcement cooperation and
cross-border cooperation with Iraq.
"Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s
gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"
JEFFREY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2029
TAGS: PTER PREL IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: MFA SEEKS NEW CURRENTS ON CAMP MAKHMOUR
REF: ANKARA 1604
Classified By: DCM Doug Silliman, for reasons: 1.4(b/d)
1. SUMMARY. Iraqi authorities need to better isolate
Makhmour Camp residents from PKK pressure to allow camp
residents to express their feelings about returning to Turkey
without coercion, newly appointed DG for Security Affairs
Aydin Sezgin told us December 1. The DCM urged Turkey to
involve the U.S. more closely on Makhmour-related issues and
to deal directly with UNHCR. Separately, Sezgin expressed
interest in closer Turkey-U.S.-Iraq law enforcement
cooperation. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) During a December 1 introductory meeting, Sezgin told
DCM Silliman he hoped to enhance our already strong
counterterrorism (CT) cooperation, and looked forward to his
upcoming CT-related meetings on the margins of the December
7-8 visit of PM Erdogan to Washington. DDG Inan Ozyildiz
will also accompany him to Washington. Addressing U.S.
concerns about the narrow definition of terrorism in Turkish
law, Sezgin reported Turkey is working to harmonize its
definition with that of the international community and that
his directorate was "doing its best" to make it happen.
Makhmour Camp
--------------
.
3. (C) Asked about Turkey's plans for resettling the
residents of Makhmour, the UNHCR-run camp in northern Iraq,
Sezgin explained that Turkey is still working with Iraqi
authorities to formulate a plan. Currently, about 30 percent
of the camp's residents have expressed willingness to return
to Turkey voluntarily, he noted. Iraqi Kurds need to apply
pressure on the PKK to ease its influence on camp residents
so they can express their true views more freely. Turkey is
working on the matter with the central government in Baghdad
and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil.
4. (C) Frankly, Sezgin continued, UNHCR is saying too much
publicly about Makhmour and needs to tone it down. The UNHCR
spokesperson, who happens to be a Turkish national, talks
about a UNHCR role for monitoring resettled residents within
Turkey. "This is very delicate for us," he insisted. For
Turkey, this is not a matter of resettlement, but of
reintegration of Turkish citizens. UNHCR can play a useful
role in planning and in bringing people up to the border,
"but reintegration will belong to us." MFA had checked with
its legal experts who agreed that because these people would
be returning to Turkey
voluntarily, there is no role for UNHCR.
5. (C) Turkey wants to close the camp, Sezgin stated. It
would like more than 30 percent of its residents to return to
Turkey, but knows some will want to remain in northern Iraq.
Turkey has broached this subject with the KRG. The DCM noted
that the UNHCR would likely need to see a concrete Turkish
plan before it agrees to cooperate on resettlement or close
the camp. Citing his own experience on the issue while in
his previous position, he urged Sezgin to work more closely
with UNHCR, including in Geneva. Sezgin assured the DCM that
Turkey plans to work closely with UNHCR "at the appropriate
time."
6. (C) At this point, DDG Ozyildiz noted, Turkey does not
really know which camp residents want to return. It needs a
clearer picture of the situation, but PKK pressure on
residents precludes getting that clearer picture. The DCM
assured that the UNHCR was willing to discuss the matter with
Turkey, the U.S., Baghdad and Erbil; in the past it was
willing to take steps to secure the camp and poll its
residents. Ozyildiz nterjected that Turkey's experience has
not been good when it has raised this issue with Baghdad and
UNHCR. Both minimize PKK influence in the camp, despite the
fact that recent information demonstrates nothing has
changed. The DCM urged Turkey to work more closely with the
U.S, as it had earlier.
Turkey-U.S.-Iraq Law Enforcement Cooperation
--------------
.
7. (C) DG Sezgin thanked the U.S. for its decision to
designate three PKK leaders as Drug Kingpins. "This is a
good example to set for the Europeans," he stated
enthusiastically. The DCM recalled that FBI Director
Mueller, during his November 18 visit, raised with DPM Cicek
and Justice Minister Ergin ways to operationalize this
designation and other law enforcement cooperation. The
missing piece is closer law enforcement cooperation between
Turkey and the U.S, and between Turkey, the U.S. and
Baghdad/Erbil. Sezgin assured the DCM that Turkey, too,
hopes for "tangible cooperation" with Iraq on these issues.
Comment
--------------
.
8. (C) DG Sezgin appears fully engaged in his new CT brief
and eager to explore new avenues in CT and law enforcement
cooperation. We hope his December 8-9 meetings on the
margins of the summit will inspire him in new directions and
provide the impetus to push forward with information-sharing,
closer collaboration with us on Camp Makhmour, MFA support
for closer U.S.-Turkey law enforcement cooperation and
cross-border cooperation with Iraq.
"Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s
gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"
JEFFREY