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

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DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I;
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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

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