Cablegate: (C) Request for Information On Turkish General Staff Views of Ergenekon (C-Re9-01306)

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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #5454 2291601
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 171544Z AUG 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 9678
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3172

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 085454

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2034
TAGS: PINR PGOV PINS TU
SUBJECT: (C) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON TURKISH GENERAL STAFF VIEWS OF ERGENEKON (C-RE9-01306)

REF: ANKARA 000779

Classified By: MICHAEL P.
OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).

1. (C) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS GREATLY APPRECIATED THE
INFORMATION PROVIDED IN REFTEL AND PREVIOUS REPORTING
PERTAINING TO POLICE VIEWS ON THE ERGENEKON INVESTIGATION AND TRIAL PROCESS. WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE ERGENEKON PROCESS AS THIS REMAINS A TOPIC OF HIGH POLICYMAKER INTEREST. WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION POSTS CAN PROVIDE REGARDING VIEWS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE TURKISH GENERAL
STAFF (TGS) RELATED TO ERGENEKON, AS TIME, RESOURCES, AND CURRENT WORKLOAD PERMIT. WE ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN ANY ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS POSTS CAN PROVIDE ON THE QUESTIONS BELOW. THANK YOU.

A. (C) TO WHAT EXTENT ARE THE TGS OR OTHER PARTS OF THE
MILITARY, SUCH AS THE NAVY, INVOLVED WITH THE ERGENEKON
NETWORK?

B. (C) WHAT IS THE TGS' ATTITUDE TOWARD THE INVESTIGATION? TO WHAT EXTENT DO THEY FEAR THE INVESTIGATION IS GROWING AND/OR MOVING BEYOND THEIR ABILITIES TO INFLUENCE IT?

C. (C) WHAT INDICATIONS, IF ANY, WOULD SUGGEST THAT TGS
MEMBERS ARE AWARE OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INVESTIGATION THAT ARE NOT YET PUBLIC? HOW DOES THE TGS KEEP INFORMED OF THE ERGENEKON TRIAL AND RELATED DEVELOPMENTS?

D. (C) WHAT, IF ANY, BACK-CHANNEL DISCUSSIONS, MEETINGS, OR NEGOTIATIONS RELATED TO ERGENEKON ARE TAKING PLACE BETWEEN TGS LEADERSHIP AND THE JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY (AKP)?

E. (C) AT WHAT POINT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ERGENEKON
INVESTIGATION OR RELATED ISSUES WOULD THE TGS OR ELEMENTS THEREOF BE LIKELY TO INTERVENE IN SOME WAY IN THE AKP GOVERNMENT? WHAT SHAPE WOULD SUCH AN INTERVENTION TAKE?

F. (C) WHAT IS TGS CHIEF ILKER BASBUG'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE INVESTIGATIONS? WHAT, IF ANY, INDICATIONS WOULD INDICATE THAT BASBUG APPROVES OF THE INVESTIGATION AND/OR IS TRYING TO USE THE INVESTIGATION TO ENHANCE HIS OWN AUTHORITY OR OTHERWISE "CLEAN HOUSE" WITHIN TGS AND THE HIGH COMMAND? WHAT INDICATIONS, IF ANY, WOULD SUGGEST THAT HE IS TRYING TO IMPEDE OR STOP IT?

G. (C) WHAT INDICATIONS, IF ANY, WOULD SEEM TO SUGGEST THAT BASBUG MIGHT TRY TO MAKE HIS OWN DEAL WITH PROSECUTORS TO AVOID ACCUSATIONS OF CORRUPTION OR ASSOCIATION WITH ERGENEKON ACTIVITIES? WHAT ARE BASBUG'S VIEWS ON CORRUPTION?

H. (C) TO WHAT EXTENT IS THE TGS CONCERNED THAT FORMER TGS CHIEFS HILMI OZKOK OR YASAR BUYUKANIT MIGHT BE COOPERATING WITH THE INVESTIGATORS?

2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-RE9-01306 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON

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