Wikileaks - 09COPENHAGEN446

CONFIDENTIAL
VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB 
DE RUEHCP #0446 2821533
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 091533Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5233
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0234

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000446 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR S/CT, EUR/SE, EUR/NB 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2019 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, DA, TU 
SUBJECT: (C) ROJ-TV: DANES HOPEFUL ABOUT NEW TURKISH 
EVIDENCE 
Classified By: (U) Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; reason 1.4 (b, d)

1. (C) SUMMARY: Denmark does not rule out that the latest 
evidence provided by Turkey will be of the type needed to 
prove Roj-TVīs ties to the terrorist PKK in a Danish court, 
national security advisor Ahrenkiel told the Ambassador 
October 9. Prosecutors are studying the file and are 
expected to reach a conclusion this autumn. The Danish 
Government cannot intervene in the judicial process but has 
emphasized to the prosecutors the importance of the case. 
Ahrenkiel noted that anti-terrorism cooperation between 
Turkey and Denmark has increased; he credited USG good 
offices with helping the Turkish Government to realize that 
Denmark wants to support it, and to understand Denmarkīs 
domestic legal requirements. END SUMMARY. 

2. (C) The Ambassador met October 9 with the Prime 
Ministerīs national security advisor, Thomas Ahrenkiel, to 
discuss matters that are important to the bilateral 
relationship but were left off the agenda for the Presidentīs 
October 2 meeting with the Prime Minister. Top of the list 
was the case of Roj-TV. Ahrenkiel said this matter had been 
looked into by Danish police and prosecutors for a number of 
years, and the evidence had always been deemed insufficient 
for prosecution in a Danish court. Until recently, the 
evidence provided by Turkey had focused on program content; 
under Danish law, the prosecution would have to meet the 
difficult standard of proving direct incitement to terror. 
Denmark is also pursuing a second track, looking into 
financial ties to the PKK. A Danish prosecutor last visited 
Ankara in March; contrary to speculation at the time, the 
visit was about Roj-TV and not about then-PM Anders Fogh 
Rasmussenīs candidacy for NATO Secretary General. Thanks to 
the good offices of S/CT, Turkey now: 
- realizes the Danish Government is treating the matter with 
utmost seriousness and wants to support it, 
- has a better understanding of what Denmark needs for a 
successful prosecution, and 
- grasps that a loss in court would be "a big problem." 

3. (C) Stressing that the Government cannot intervene in 
the independence of the prosecutorial function, Ahrenkiel 
emphasized that it has impressed upon prosecutors the 
importance of the case. He said the prosecutors are 
encouraged by the latest evidence Turkey has provided and 
hope to conclude their investigation this autumn. (He noted 
the possibility that the investigation could continue past 
autumn.) He acknowledged that a decision not to prosecute 
would create "a big crisis" between Turkey and Denmark. At 
the Ambassadorīs behest, Ahrenkiel promised to let her know 
immediately if the prosecutors decided to close the case. 

4. (C) Ahrenkiel noted that Denmark has increased its 
anti-terrorism cooperation with Turkey, e.g. confiscating 
substantial sums of money from Kurdish couriers. Within the 
EU, Denmark has been very active in support of listing the 
PKK as a terrorist organization and "was one of the first to 
act." The Danish Embassy in Ankara includes a police liaison 
officer, who has good contacts with his hosts. 

5. (C) By way of background, Ahrenkiel recalled that when 
PM Erdogan visited Copenhagen in 2006, he discovered that a 
Roj-TV reporter accredited through NATO was to be present for 
his joint press conference with PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen. 
When his demand that the reporter be barred was not met 
(because the reporter had been credentialed by NATO), he left 
in a huff, and the two leaders did not speak again until 2008 
when they met in Paris. After that, Ahrenkiel visited Ankara 
and persuaded his interlocutor (now the Foreign Minister) of 
Denmarkīs sincere desire to help. While Ahrenkiel credits 
the U.S. assistance in improving Danish-Turkish communication 
since March 2009, he made clear that the two countries are 
working together in an improved manner now. 

FULTON