Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ANKARA1773
2009-12-14 15:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

FBI DIRECTOR'S VISIT: POLICE PRAISE "KINGPIN"

Tags:  OVIP PTER PREL SNAR KCRM IZ TU 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHAK #1773/01 3481524
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O 141524Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1467
INFO RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
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 001773 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2029
TAGS: OVIP PTER PREL SNAR KCRM IZ TU
SUBJECT: FBI DIRECTOR'S VISIT: POLICE PRAISE "KINGPIN"
LABELS FOR PKK

Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady, for reasons 1.4 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001773

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2029
TAGS: OVIP PTER PREL SNAR KCRM IZ TU
SUBJECT: FBI DIRECTOR'S VISIT: POLICE PRAISE "KINGPIN"
LABELS FOR PKK

Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady, for reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. FBI Director Mueller urged Turkey to accept
an information sharing arrangement on biometric data during a
November 18 meeting with Turkish National Police Director
General Koksal. The Director separately offered to post a
second FBI officer in Ankara to strengthen CT teamwork.
Koksal expressed appreciation for U.S. law enforcement,
citing the designation of three PKK leaders as "Drug
Kingpins," but was noncommittal on the Director's proposals.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) FBI Director Robert Mueller met November 18 with
Turkish National Police (TNP) Director General Oguz Koksal to
discuss strengthening bilateral law enforcement cooperation.
The Director was accompanied by DCM Doug Silliman, Assistant
Director Sean Joyce, Special Assistant Debra Smith, Legal
Attache Raymond Duda and the embassy interpreter. Following
opening pleasantries, the Director noted the many successful
instances of bilateral cooperation against terrorism,
cyber-crime and narcotics trafficking since his last visit in

2005. Yet as the threat changes through globalization and
growing use of the internet, we need to work together in new
and different ways, he suggested.


3. (C) To address these challenges, the Director proposed two
new areas where the two sides could strengthen cooperation.
First, the TNP should consider an agreement that would allow
it to search fingerprints and DNA through FBI-administered
biometric databases. These databases contain intelligence
that could be valuable to TNP investigations. Second, the
Director observed that the speed of travel and communication
in the age of globalization requires us to find new ways to
communicate between agencies more efficiently. We can no
longer wait for information to be shared through Mutual Legal
Assistance Treaties. We must exchange information on e-mail
addresses, fingerprints, cellular telephone numbers, and
other personal identifiers, more quickly. To address this
issue, he said he is willing to place a second FBI Agent in
Ankara specifically to address counterterrorism matters more

closely with the TNP through a task force or working group
format. He acknowledged that each of our countries has
unique ju
stice systems and that we would need to find ways to operate
within these structures to work more effectively.


4. (C) The DG agreed terrorism is a global problem and we
need to develop new ways to expand our cooperation
relationship. The United States came to that realization
after 9/11. Turkey, on the other hand, has been suffering
from PKK attacks for 25 years. DG Koksal thanked the
Director for recent U.S. support in counterterrorism matters.
The earlier declaration of the PKK as a drug trafficking
organization was an important step in our relationship. The
declaration this year of three PKK leaders as "Drug Kingpins"
was also very important to Turkey. Turkey sees the United
States as a friend and ally and values U.S. support for its
counterterrorism efforts. The TNP is happy to have the
United States on its side, citing as an example U.S. support
in tracing missing U.S. military weapons that entered
northern Iraq and, subsequently, Turkey, where they were used
by terrorists and criminals. Conditions in northern Iraq
change quickly, however, and the United States must do more
in regard to the tri-lateral ag
reement between Turkey, Iraq and the United States, Koksal
stated.


5. (C) Our two countries must come up with better ways to
speed the exchange of information to address these problems,
DG Koksal concurred. In this area, however, we face a
challenge. Each country has its own unique legal system. A
crime in one country may not be a crime in another. We need
to find ways to eliminate obstacles in our legal systems.
TNP, he said, is ready to help find ways to improve our
cooperation.


6. (C) The Turkish government has begun a new process in its
struggle against the PKK, an initiative to eliminate the
reasons for terrorism, Koksal explained. It is trying to
identify why people support terrorism and then address those


reasons. Some people feel their rights have been violated by
the government and seek redress through the PKK. Others
believe supporting the PKK is a way out of poverty. Still
others feel intimidated or threatened by the PKK if they do
not support them. The DG concluded by stating the TNP is
determined to end - or at least minimize -- terrorism in
Turkey.


7. (C) The United States shared the DG's views on terrorism,
Director Mueller assured Koksal. He reiterated his offers to
share biometric data and to assign another FBI Agent to
Ankara to follow counterterrorism matters more closely with
the TNP. Pursuing the theme of closer FBI cooperation, he
noted that 28 TNP officers have already graduated from the
FBI National Academy, and expressed willingness to expand
that number.


8. (U) Director Mueller did not have an opportunity to review
this message.
Silliman

"Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s
gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"