(C) KUDOS FOR REPORTING ON KURDISH ISSUES DURING

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 040430

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2034
TAGS: PINR PGOV PHUM PREL PTER TU
SUBJECT: (C) KUDOS FOR REPORTING ON KURDISH ISSUES DURING
THE ELECTIONS (C-RE9-00765)

REF: A. ANKARA 000424

B. ANKARA 000447

C. ADANA 00016

Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (C) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS OFFER THEIR THANKS AND
APPRECIATION TO MISSION TURKEY FOR ITS RECENT REPORTING ON
KURDISH ISSUES. THE INFORMATION IN REF A PROVIDED AN
EXCELLENT OVERVIEW OF THE STEPS THE AKP HAS TAKEN SO FAR ON
THE KURDISH QUESTION, AS WELL AS THE AMBIVELENCE WITH WHICH
SOME MEASURES HAVE BEEN MET WITH IN THE SOUTHEAST, REF A DID
A NICE JOB OF PLACING CURRENT DISCUSSION IN CONTEXT AND
EXPLAINING HOW THE "KURDISH ISSUE" HAS EVOLVED OVER THE PAST
DECADE. THIS TIMELY INFORMATION WAS USED IN A FINISHED
PRODUCT.


2. (C) REF B'S WELL-WRITTEN INFORMATION PRESENTS COMPLEX
INTERSECTIONS AND DIVISIONS AMONG KURDS IN RELATION TO AKP
AND THE STATE IN A SOPHISTICATED BUT ACCESSIBLE WAY. REF B'S
ILLUSTRATION OF THE AMBIVALENCE EVIDENT AMONG KURDS TOWARD A
NUMBER OF ISSUES, SUCH AS THE KURDS' SIMULTANEOUS FASCINATION
WITH AND SUSPICION OF STATE-RUN KURDISH TV, WAS ESPECIALLY
USEFUL. THIS EXCELLENT REFTEL IS RELEVANT TO CURRENT EVENTS,
AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE OF VALUE TO OUR ANALYSIS. IT IS
ESSENTIAL READING FOR ANYONE STUDYING TURKISH POLITICS AND
SOCIETY OR PLANNING TO TRAVEL TO THE SOUTHEAST.


3. (C) REF C'S SUMMARY OF THE LOCAL ELECTIONS IN THE 22
PROVINCES IN ADANA'S REPORTING DISTRICT PROVIDES A UNIQUE AND
WELL-INFORMED WINDOW INTO SOME OF TURKEY'S REMOTEST CORNERS.
REFTEL WILL HELP ANALYSTS INTERPRET THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
ELECTION RESULTS. ANALYSTS APPRECIATE MISSION TURKEY'S
REPORTING ON THESE ISSUES. MANY THANKS, AND REGARDS FROM
WASHINGTON.
CLINTON