CONTACTS WITH THE PKK

S E C R E T ANKARA 003625 E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR TAGS: PTER TU SUBJECT: CONTACTS WITH THE PKK REF: A) STATE 72605 (NOTAL); B) NICOSIA 1373 (NOTAL); C) ISTANBUL 895 (NOTAL) ¶1. SECRET - ENTIRE TEXT. ¶2. WE APPRECIATE DEPARTMENT GUIDANCE (REF A) REGARDING OFFICIAL USG CONTACTS WITH THE PKK. IN OUR VIEW, IT IS LIKELY THAT PKK REPRESENTATIVES WILL CONTINUE, IF NOT EXPAND, THEIR ATTEMPTS TO MEET WITH U.S. AND OTHER WESTERN EMBASSY OFFICIALS TO PLEAD THEIR CASE. IN VIEW, HOWEVER, OF THE ASSASSINATION IN CYPRUS OF THE LOCAL "KURDISTAN SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE" CHAIRMAN SHORTLY AFTER MEETING WITH EMBASSY NICOSIA POLOFF (REFTEL B)--AND THE FACT THAT BOTH THIS MEETING AND AN EARLIER ONE INVOLVING CONGEN ISTANBUL SAW US UNEXPECTEDLY CONFRONTED WITH PERSONS PURPORTING TO SPEAK FOR THE PKK--WE HAVE INSTRUCTED OUR EMBASSY STAFF AND CONSTITUENT POSTS HERE IN TURKEY TO TURN ASIDE, FOR THE MOMENT, ANY NEW APPROACHES FROM PERSONS PURPORTING TO SPEAK FOR THE PKK. WE RECOMMEND THAT THE DEPARTMENT ISSUE FORMAL GUIDANCE IN THIS REGARD TO POSTS THROUGHOUT EUROPE, URGING THAT THESE POSTS ADOPT THE SAME APPROACH FOR THE TIME BEING. BARKLEY