SYRIA, THE PKK AND WATER

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 04277

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (TEXT)

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL PTER ENRG TU SY
SUBJECT: SYRIA, THE PKK AND WATER

REF: ANKARA 3909


1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.


2. MFA DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
SOLMAZ UNAYDIN GAVE POL COUNSELOR MARCH 27 ADDITIONAL
INSIGHTS INTO THE TURKISH-SYRIAN DIALOGUE ON THE PKK.
SHE SAID FOREIGN MINISTER ALPTEMOCIN HAD RAISED THE
SUBJECT EXPLICITLY WITH ASAD DURING HIS FEBRUARY VISIT
TO DAMASCUS. ASAD REPORTEDLY TOLD ALPTEMOCIN SYRIA
WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT "IT WOULD TAKE
TIME." UNAYDIN THOUGHT REPORTS THAT PKK LEADER OCALAN
HAD BEEN PLACED UNDER HOUSE ARREST DURING FOREIGN
MINISTER SHARA'S RECENT VISIT TO ANKARA WERE INDICATIVE
OF A SYRIAN EFFORT TO REIN IN THE PKK.


3. NEVERTHELESS, SHE SAID IT IS CLEAR THAT DAMASCUS
CONTINUES TO LINK CONTROL OF THE PKK TO THE WATER
ISSUE. SHARA HAD BROUGHT A WATER EXPERT WITH HIM ON
THIS LATEST TRIP TO EXPLORE THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT
FOR TURKEY TO SHUT OF THE FLOW OF EUPHRATES WATER FOR
2-3 DAYS PER MONTH (THE LATEST CLOSURE WAS MARCH
24/25). THE SYRIAN EXPERT TRAVELED TO THE ATATURK DAM
AFTER SHARA'S DEPARTURE. HE IS STILL THERE. AS UNAYDIN
EXPLAINED IT, THE POND BEHIND THE DAM IS FILLING AT A
SLOWER THAN EXPECTED RATE AND TURKISH ENGINEERS FEAR
THERE IS LEAKAGE. TO LOCATE THIS, THEY MUST CUT OFF ALL
EUPHRATES FLOW PERIODICALLY. THUS FAR, ACCORDING TO
UNAYDIN, NO LEAK HAS BEEN FOUND.

GROSSMAN