VZCZCXRO2044
OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIHL
RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR
RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAK #2874 3371235
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 031235Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4515
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// PRIORITY
RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RUEUITH/TLO ANKARA TU PRIORITY
UNCLAS ANKARA 002874
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: POSITIVE REACTIONS TO DECEMBER 1
CROSS-BORDER ARTILLERY STRIKE
REF: ANKARA 2867
1. (U) Summary: There has been no subsequent military
action following artillery strikes against PKK positions in
northern Iraq on December 1. However, senior GOT officials
have publicly reaffirmed Turkey's readiness to make
additional hits on PKK bases across the border and have said
it is now up to the military leadership to decide on the
timing and scope of future operations. Local media credit
the U.S. role in providing the intelligence for the attack.
End summary.
2. (U) President Gul told reporters December 2 that the
military had been granted a mandate to conduct operations
against the PKK, and that it would exercise its mandate when
it deems necessary. In a December 2 TV interview, Government
Spokesman and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek emphasized
the same point and stated that the Turkish General Staff
(TGS) would decide on the timing and scope of future
operations according to need. He stated that there is very
careful planning to ensure that any actions taken across the
border would be "free from error."
3. (U) Several dailies credit the Turkish Army's "heavy blow"
to PKK terrorists to the intelligence supplied by the U.S.
The December 3 "Radikal" states that the U.S. had extended
support to the Turkish operation and quotes the Pentagon
spokesman's statement that "Turkey has the right to defend
itself." It also underscores a quote from NSC spokesperson
Gordon Johndroe in Washington that, "close cooperation
between the U.S. and Turkey will continue." The December 3
"Hurriyet" notes that Saturday's strike was the first result
of the new cooperation between the U.S. and Turkey in the
fight against terror.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON