SEARCHES AT TGS CONTINUE; CHOD REMAINS COOPERATIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000053 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SE ILAN GOODMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2020 TAGS: PGOV TU SUBJECT: SEARCHES AT TGS CONTINUE; CHOD REMAINS COOPERATIVE REF: A. 09 ANKARA 1839 ¶B. 09 ANKARA 1805 ¶C. 09 ANKARA 1691 AND PREVIOUS ¶D. 09 ANKARA 834 Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Anthony Godfrey Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Searches at the Turkish General Staff (TGS) Special Forces Mobility Command continue as prosecutors seek to obtain information related to the December 19 arrest of two Special Forces officers for a suspected assassination attempt against Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc. Although the civilian government and TGS remain publicly supportive of one another, alleged death threats against investigators and TGS concerns of government interference outside the scope of the investigation demonstrate on-going tensions both within the general public and among the government and military. End summary. SEARCHES CONTINUE INTO SECRET FILES -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Following two initial examinations on December 25 and 27 (ref a),searches by Ankara prosecutor Mustafa Bilgili and team have continued at the TGS Special Forces Mobility Command, including per press reports in the military's "cosmic room," which houses state and military secrets. (Note: The term "cosmic" has been widely used in media reporting and likely refers to NATO documents bearing the "cosmic" classification. End note.) The court reportedly rejected an early January TGS request to end the searches. Although the search is intended to be limited to information concerning the activities of the suspects and the alleged assassination attempt against Deputy Prime Minister Arinc, media reports state Judge Kadir Kayan and prosecutors plan to look into all 10,000 files in the cosmic room. Files held in the room are believed by the media to contain, among others: details of the PKK and other separatists organizations in Turkey and their wings outside Turkey; intelligence on fundamentalist activities; Turkish Armed Forces operations and plans, to include documents outlining contingency planning during states of emergency; intelligence shared by the Turkish National Police (TNP) and MIT (National Intelligence Organization); intelligence activities with surrounding countries, including Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Greece, and Armenia; and correspondence with other intelligence agencies, including MOSSAD and the CIA. ¶3. (SBU) TGS, eager to protect both its information, operations plans, confidential sources, and staff, is reportedly closely monitoring the investigation by recording every document viewed by investigators in order to protect themselves and their people from possible future, unrelated prosecutions. However, TGS is not the only one in need of protection. Due to their part in the investigation, Judge Kayan and Prosecutor Bilgili have received death threats and bullets in the mail. Both are receiving protection, reportedly wear bullet-proof vests, and -- at least in Bilgili's case -- bringing lunch so as not to be poisoned. TGS AND GOVERNMENT PUBLICLY COOPERATIVE -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Despite vocal support for or against the investigation on the part of media and politicians, the government and TGS leadership appear to remain committed to moving forward in a cooperative manner. TGS stopped its weekly press briefings in an apparent effort to unify its messages with the government's and avoid the perception that their messages differ. Prime Minister Erdogan and CHOD Basbug held a recent meeting at TGS headquarters, instead of the Prime Minister's office, a gesture which was likely intended to reinforce to the military that the government is not trying to damage the former's reputation. COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) CHOD Basbug appears ready to accept the judiciary and government's ongoing investigation through to the end; however, tensions remain high. New government initiatives which appear to encroach on military prerogatives are causing additional friction. Many within the public and the ANKARA 00000053 002 OF 002 rank-and-file military oppose the current actions as inappropriate, insulting, and a politically-motivated attack against the military. Nevertheless, CHOD Basbug's support of the government is starting to bring forth an awareness that the military will be held accountable to the domestic civilian leadership. SILLIMAN "Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"