Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08ANKARA1248, ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08ANKARA1248.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08ANKARA1248 2008-07-10 13:46 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Ankara
VZCZCXRO3834
OO RUEHDA
DE RUEHAK #1248/01 1921346
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101346Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6812
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC//PA
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 9015
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 4460
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 3067
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 6718
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 6551
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3130
RUEUITH/DET 1 39LG ANKARA TU
RHMFISS/USDOCO 6ATAF IZMIR TU
RHMFISS/39OS INCIRLIK AB TU
RHMFISS/AFOSI DET 523 IZMIR TU
RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU
RHMFISS/AFOSI DET 522 INCIRLIK AB TU
RUEUITH/AFLO ANKARA TU
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 001248 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/SE, EUR/PD, NEA/PD, DRL 
JCS PASS J-5/CDR S. WRIGHT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU
SUBJECT: ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT 
THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2008 
 
In Today's Papers 
 
Armed Attack on U.S. Consulate in Istanbul 
All news outlets report three Turkish policemen and three gunmen 
were killed in an armed attack on the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul. 
On Wednesday, a vehicle carrying four people came to the main gate 
of the Consulate around 10:30 in the morning.  Three of the 
assailants got out of the car and fired at the police officer 
standing guard in front of the Consulate.  An armed clash erupted as 
the police officer as well as two other traffic policemen patrolling 
in the neighborhood responded the fire.  Three assailants who got 
out of the car were killed; the driver of the car fled the scene. 
One policeman died at the scene and two others were rushed to the 
hospital for serious injuries.  Eyewitnesses reported to television 
news that bystanders who were waiting for visas were also injured in 
the attack.  (These claims were later confirmed to be false.) 
 
Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said police determined the 
identities of the three slain assailants, who are all Turkish 
citizens.  One of them has a criminal record for theft.  Papers say 
the perpetrators are said to have "received training in 
Afghanistan," and they are "allegedly members of al-Qaeda." 
Investigations have identified the assailants as Erkan Kargin, 
Bulent Cinar and Raif Topcil.  Cinar has a record for theft and 
Kargin for swindling.  There is no verification of the claims that 
the third dead assailant Raif Topcil was detained in Guantanamo and 
then released a month ago.  Various unnamed sources were cited in 
papers who speculated that al-Qaeda groups targeted the U.S. 
Consulate in Turkey in retaliation for the killing of four AQ 
members in the province of Gaziantep in January.  "After the 
Gaziantep operation, we realized that al-Qaeda might carry out a 
reprisal attack.  Wednesday's attack sends a message to both the 
U.S. and Turkey," a senior official told Milliyet.  Security 
measures were heightened at the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul and in 
Ankara around the Prime Minister's Office and the U.S. Embassy. 
 
Turkish Reaction to Attack on U.S. Consulate 
All papers report President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Koksal 
Toptan, Prime Minister Erdogan and Turkish General Staff (TGS) Chief 
General Yasar Buyukanit strongly condemned the attack.  "Turkey will 
fight until the end against the mindset that organizes such 
attacks," Gul said.  Prime Minister Erdogan said in a message, 
"these heinous attacks targeting Turkey's stability will not reach 
their goals, thanks to the determination of our brave security 
forces."  Turkey's main opposition party CHP leader Deniz Baykal 
expressed "profound sorrow" over the killing of three police 
officers in the attack.  "Killing the three attackers shows our 
security forces' determination in the fight against terrorism," 
Baykal said.  In a statement posted on the Turkish General Staff's 
(TGS) webpage, General Yasar Buyukanit harshly condemned the attack. 
 The Turkish Foreign Ministry (TGS) also condemned the attack, and 
said that security measures were increased in and around the U.S. 
diplomatic missions in the country. 
 
International Reaction to Attack on U.S. Consulate 
All papers report European Commission spokesperson Amadeu Altafaj 
Tardio said they share the grief with Turkish authorities and 
relatives of the policemen who were killed in the attack.  European 
countries, including Greece, Spain, France and Denmark also strongly 
condemned the deadly attack.  In "Wilson: 'We Are Grateful to 
Turkish Police," mainstream Milliyet says U.S. Ambassador to Turkey 
Ross Wilson denounced the armed attack as an "act of terror," and 
said that Turkish and American security officials were "working 
together to clarify the details of the attack."  Wilson called the 
act, "a dastardly and coward attack," and stressed the U.S. and 
Turkey would "stand together and confront this, as we have in the 
past."  Addressing journalists at a news conference on the Embassy 
grounds in Ankara, Wilson offered condolences from U.S. Government 
to the families of the three police officers who lost their lives in 
the attack.  "The police responded effectively and quickly," he said 
 
ANKARA 00001248  002 OF 004 
 
 
and expressed gratitude to Turkish police for their efforts to guard 
the U.S. official buildings in the country.  Wilson added the U.S. 
would continue to be a close friend and ally of Turkey and that acts 
of terror could not damage the ties between the two countries. 
 
Turkish Press Play of Attack on U.S. Istanbul Consulate 
Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak carries the front-page banner headline, 
"Lowlifes!" and asks, "Is this a warning to the police in 
retaliation against the Ergenekon investigation or the January 2008 
police operation that killed four members of an al-Qaeda cell in 
Diyarbakir?" or "Is this another Al Qaeda attack after its 2003 
Istanbul attacks?"  Yeni Safak points out that the Diyarbakir 
operation, "took place based on intelligence provided by the U.S. to 
Turkey." The paper also notes that Osama Bin Laden's 16-year-old son 
Hamza recently "made a call via the internet to continue the fight 
against the U.S. and its allies Britain, France, and Denmark."  In 
"The Last Thing Turkey Needed: Armed Attack on the U.S. Consulate in 
Istanbul," mainstream Hurriyet speculated yesterday's attack "was 
ordered by Osama bin Laden's youngest son." Leftist Taraf carries 
the banner front-page headline, "Al-Qaeda's Response to the 
Gaziantep Operation."  In "Al-Qaeda Strikes After Five Years," 
mainstream Sabah blames al-Qaeda for the attack and notes the three 
dead assailants were from Bitlis, Turkey and "last week U.S. forces 
killed an al-Qaeda member in Afghanistan that was also from Bitlis." 
 Sabah wonders if this is retaliation against this killing.  In 
addition, the paper says, "The goal of the attacks was to harm the 
improving ties between Turkey and the U.S. by raiding the 
consulate."  Sabah also notes the alleged ties between the 
assailants and the "Afghani Group" led by Necef Abu Necani, who also 
perpetrated the bomb attacks in Madrid.  In "Six Turks Die in Attack 
on America," mainstream Vatan reports one of the assailants, Raif 
Topcu, "returned to Istanbul from the U.S. prison in Guantanamo one 
month ago," and, "had traveled to Afghanistan."  In "Heroic 
Policemen Foil Attack on U.S. Consulate," Islamist-oriented Zaman 
reports, "The goal of the attack was to create chaos in Turkey," 
because, "The U.S. Consulate represents U.S. presence in the Middle 
East."  Conservative-nationalist Turkiye blames the attack on 
al-Qaeda, but claims it was "supported by the radical Turkish 
Islamist group IBDA-C." 
 
Editorial Opinion on Attack on the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul 
 
"Terror and Chaos" 
Ergun Babahan wrote in mainstream Sabah (7/10):  "Every terror 
attack aims to damage the public's feelings of security, thus 
forcing the public to seek a strong authority.  It is not possible 
to understand Turkey's recent history without understanding this. 
Now, this terrorist attack happened in Istanbul while the Ergenekon 
investigation is continuing.  Whether Al-Qaeda, the PKK or DHKP-C, 
or whoever is responsible of the terrorist attacks, the aim is 
always to create chaos and fear.  But, we can beat terror through a 
strong democratic system." 
 
"Why Istanbul?" 
Sami Kohen questioned in mainstream Milliyet (7/10):  "The fact is 
yesterday's target was the U.S.  However, the facts that Istanbul 
was the location chosen for the attack and the attack took place at 
the time of increasing tensions in the region makes us think that 
this can be linked to the developments in the Middle East.  In fact, 
the assessments made by experts on terrorism and foreign policy 
yesterday right after the attack also implied that." 
 
"To Live Together with the Terror" 
Oktay Eksi commented in mainstream Hurriyet (7/10): "It is not yet 
clear whether those who attacked the US Consulate General in 
Istanbul yesterday are insane people who belong to Al Qaeda, as 
everyone claims, or whether they are killers belonging to another 
evil group who sees no harm in killing innocent people. But it is 
clear that really there is no difference between the two." 
 
 
ANKARA 00001248  003 OF 004 
 
 
"Lessons Learned" 
Gungor Mengi wrote in mainstream Vatan (7/10):  "[The building of] 
the US Consulate General in Istanbul was constructed as one of the 
most protected fortresses in the world. The four terrorists who 
yesterday attacked the police checkpoint at the entrance of this 
building probably did not really think they would enter the 
building. They probably targeted the police. In other words, this is 
an act of blind vengeance the likes of which are quite common for us 
in the periods of instability." 
 
"Was Yesterday's Shooting Against the Ergenekon Investigation?" 
Tamer Korkmaz questioned in Islamist-oriented Yeni Safak (7/10): 
"The coup-planning Ergenekon organization is now cornered by the 
authorities. Right at this time, a terrorist attack takes place. 
Yesterday's incident is extremely interesting in terms of its 
timing, targets and the picture it tries to hide. I wonder if 
yesterday's attacks want to give this message: 'Do not clamp down on 
the Ergenekon organization.'" 
 
PKK Abducts German Climbers in Mount Ararat 
All papers report five PKK members abducted three out of thirteen 
German mountaineers who were climbing Mount Agri (Ararat) in eastern 
Turkey.  Liberal Radikal reports, "The PKK came into the Germans' 
camp at 23:00 the night before last and took three of the tourists," 
and the kidnappers said, "We'll keep them for a few days and then 
release them."  Mainstream Sabah reports, "Agri Governor Mehmet 
Cetin said the kidnappings are in retaliation to the German 
government's actions against the PKK."  The ten remaining 
mountaineers were safely transferred to the town of Dogubayazit in 
Agri province while gendarme launched a wide-scale search and rescue 
operation. 
 
Destito: Turkey One of the U.S.' Best Partners in Combating 
Narcotics 
Islamist-oriented Zaman reports White House anti-drug section second 
chief Scott Burns, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting 
Administrator Michele Leonhart, and DEA Ankara bureau director Mark 
Destito briefed Turkish press in Istanbul on Wednesday.  The 
Americans participated in the 26th Annual International Drug 
Enforcement Conference (IDEC) in Istanbul.  Destito said Turkey was 
"one of America's best partners" in combating drug trafficking. 
Leonhart praised Turkey's fight against drugs, saying Turkish police 
seized over 13 ton of narcotics last year, reports Zaman. 
 
TV Highlights 
CNN Turk 
 
Domestic News 
 
- Forest fires in the Mediterranean province of Mersin are finally 
under control after three days. 
 
- On Wednesday, an Istanbul court rejected the prosecutor's appeal 
against the release of four suspects, including dailies Cumhuriyet 
and Tercuman editors, who were detained last week within the 
'Ergenekon' probe. 
 
- A Turkish Central Bank survey says yearend inflation was expected 
to stand at 10.76 percent. 
 
International News 
 
- Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan's op-ed in The Wall Street 
Journal calls for "dialogue with Turkey for the normalization of 
ties and the opening of the border." 
 
- Russian President Dimitri Medvedev said plans to deploy parts of 
the U.S. missile shield in the Czech Republic "deeply distresses" 
Moscow. 
 
 
ANKARA 00001248  004 OF 004 
 
 
- The U.S. Treasury Department prohibits all transactions with four 
Iranian firms which are known to be close to Tehran's nuclear and 
missile programs. 
 
WILSON