TURKISH COUNTER-PKK EFFORT FOCUSES ON MAKHMOUR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001792 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I; BAGHDAD: PLEASE PASS TO PRTS ERBIL AND NINEWA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER TU IZ SUBJECT: TURKISH COUNTER-PKK EFFORT FOCUSES ON MAKHMOUR REF: A. ANKARA 1782 ¶B. ANKARA 1755 Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady, for reasons 1.4(b,d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Interior Minister Atalay's priority for the December 21 Trilateral Mechanism Ministerial Meetings in Baghdad and Irbil is to secure KRG support for the expedited return of Turkish citizens from Makhmour camp. Rather than pressing KRG President Massoud Barzani to restrict PKK freedom of movement in the vicinity of Kandil, the Turks appear to be realigning themselves with the KRG's goal of closing Makhmour. Atalay met secretly with former DTP co-chairman Ahmet Turk last weekend, but doubts that Turk, a moderate, can defy imprisoned PKK chief Ocalan's recent violent reassertion of primacy among activist Kurds across Turkey. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Ministry of Interior (MoI) Secretary General Eyup Tepe told us December 16 Minister of Interior Atalay's priority for the December 21 Trilateral Mechanism Ministerial Meetings in Baghdad and Irbil is to secure KRG support for the expedited return of Turkish citizens from Makhmour camp. Tepe reported that terrorist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) intimidation is causing camp residents to abandon their recently elevated hopes for a near-term return to Turkey. The residents' successful reintegration into Turkish society, he implied, would be a propaganda disaster for the PKK. Tepe said Atalay would urge the KRG to identify quickly camp residents who want to return to Turkey, and protect them from PKK threats. He relayed the Turkish Embassy's perception of KRG Prime Minister Barham Salih's increasing impatience with Makhmour's continued existence. He contended even a trickle of returnees would bolster the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) beleaguered National Unity Project (formerly Kurdish Opening). ¶3. (C) Tepe said Atalay will reaffirm the government's commitment to the National Unity Project in his speech to parliament December 18, during its consideration of the ministry's annual budget request. Tepe acknowledged the court-ordered closure of the Kurd-dominated Democratic Society Party (DTP) had deprived his minister of a well-positioned interlocutor, one that enjoyed credibility among alienated Turkish Kurds, but also, by its parliamentary participation, tacitly accepted the constitution and state (REF A). He said Atalay had secretly met with former DTP co-chairman Ahmet Turk last weekend after he had been banned by court order from political activity for five years, but is doubtful Turk, a moderate, can defy imprisoned PKK chief Abdullah Ocalan's recent violent reassertion of primacy among activist Kurds across Turkey. ¶4. (C) Tepe said the Turkish National Police (TNP) would continue its effort to restore order without over-reacting: "Violence only fuels more violence." He added TNP is anticipating provocations by Turkish nationalists, incensed by Kurdish protesters' manifestations of support for the PKK, and will attempt to forestall their attacks through good intelligence. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: Ataly may be dialing back the GoT's near-term ambitions for its Trilateral Mechanism Ministerial engagement with the Iraqi government and KRG. Rather than pressing President Massoud Barzani to restrict PKK freedom of movement in the vicinity of Kandil (REF B),the Turks appear to be realigning themselves with the KRG's goal of closing Makhmour. By doing so, they may hope to dry up quickly a source of PKK manpower while cultivating a security dialogue with Barzani that can be later used to coordinate pressure on Kandil. Silliman ANKARA 00001792 002 OF 002 "Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"