Cablegate: Ibrahim Parlak Demarche Reaction: "Our Laws

VZCZCXYZ0010
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAK #2384 2631351
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201351Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3802

UNCLAS ANKARA 002384

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS PGOV PHUM PREL PTER TU
SUBJECT: IBRAHIM PARLAK DEMARCHE REACTION: "OUR LAWS
PROVIDE NO OPTION"

REF: STATE 124882

1. We delivered reftel demarche urging issuance of a travel
document enabling Ibrahim Parlak's return to Turkey. Akil
Oktem, head of the Department of Consular Affairs at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was familiar with the case. He
said the GOT has no travel document akin to the U.S. parole
letter and that Turkish law provides no other viable option.
"It's either issuance of a Turkish passport or nothing at
all." Because Parlak is now considered stateless by the
Turkish government, they maintain they cannot assist.

2. Oktem indicated Parlak's only recourse would be to
petition for reacquisition of Turkish citizenship, which
could be submitted to the Embassy in Washington D.C. The
case would then be passed to the Ministry of Interior and if
the request was felt to have merit, the petition would be
referred to the Council of Ministers for approval.

3. Realistically speaking, were Parlak to enter a petition,
it would be unlikely to get past the Ministry of Interior
which, when contacted by the Embassy on this same issue
previously, has indicated no flexibility.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON

© Scoop Media