PKK PLANS AND AMERIN CASE

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 208025

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PTER TU
SUBJECT: PKK PLANS AND AMERIN CASE

REF: A) ANKARA 7938 B) ANKARA 8068


1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT


2. REF A SUMMARIZED PRESS REPORTING THAT CODED DOCUMENTS
SEIZED FROM TWO CAPTURED TERRORISTS REVEALED PKK (KURDISH
LABOR PARTY) PLANS TO ATTACK, INTER ALIA, THE
TURKISH/AMERICAN COMMON DEFENSE BASE IN PIRINCLIK. AS
EMBASSY WILL REALIZE, PKK TARGETING OF A JOINT
TURKISH/U.S. MILITARY FACILITY WOULD REPRESENT A NEW AND
GRAVE MOVE BY THE PKK. (COMMENT: DEPARTMENT ASSUMES
THAT THE PKK WOULD BE WELL AWARE OF THE BASE'S U.S.
CONNECTION. END COMMENT) IT WOULD ALSO RAISE QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHETHER NEIGHBORING GOVERNMENTS WERE AWARE OF AND
EITHER TOLERATED OR SUPPORTED SUCH AN ATTACK.


3. DEPARTMENT IS AWARE OF THE NEED TO TREAT TURKISH
PRESS REPORTS WITH GREAT CAUTION. NONETHELESS, GIVEN THE
POTENTIAL IMPORTANCE OF THIS MATTER, DEPARTMENT REQUESTS
THAT U.S. MISSION ATTEMPT TO VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT THERE
IS DOCUMENTARY OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF SUCH A SHIFT IN PKK
TARGETING.


4. REF B REPORTED PRESS ACCOUNTS THAT THE TURKISH
MILITARY COURT HAD DROPPED SPYING CHARGES AGAINST
JORDANIAN EMBASSY EMPLOYEE AMERIN FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE.
DEPARTMENT WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING FURTHER DETAILS
ASAP.


SHULTZ