Wikileaks - 10COPENHAGEN49

CONFIDENTIAL
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB 
DE RUEHCP #0049/01 0281323
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 281323Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5454
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0238

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000049 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR EUR/SE, S/CT, EUR/NB 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2020 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, PINR, TU, DA 
SUBJECT: (C) NEW TURKISH AMBASSADOR ASKS FOR CONTINUED USG 
SUPPORT ON ROJ-TV 
REF: 09 COPENHAGEN 446 
Classified By: Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; reason 1.4 (b, d) 

1. (C) SUMMARY: Turkey´s new Ambassador to Denmark Ahmet 
Dibek requested continued USG assistance in getting Denmark 
to engage on Turkish concerns about Roj-TV. He also spoke of 
Turkish - Danish cooperation to facilitate integration of 
Turkish immigrants to Denmark, and how these issues relate to 
the democratization process in Turkey. Brief biographical 
information on the Ambasssador is provided. END SUMMARY. 

2. (C) Turkey´s new Ambassador to Denmark, Ahmet Berki 
Dibek, paid an office call on Ambassador Fulton January 26. 
Stressing Turkey´s friendship with the US throughout the 
meeting, he thanked the USG for its assistance in urging 
Denmark to work with Turkey regarding its claims that Roj-TV, 
which transmits from Denmark, is connected to the terrorist 
PKK and incites terrorism in Turkey (reftel). Ambassador 
Fulton replied that she was familiar with the issue and had 
discussed it with US and Danish officials, including the 
Prime Minister´s Office last week. She said that as an 
attorney, she understands Denmark´s position that it needs 
evidence to be able to evaluate whether Danish law has been 
violated, and that there is sufficient evidence to succeed in 
a Danish court, before proceeding to bring charges. She said 
the position of the USG is to encourage the Danish 
prosecuting attorneys to meet at the appropriate level with 
people in Turkey to gather and receive evidence, and to 
remind Denmark that this is an important issue to all three 
countries, but without trying to direct Danish action. 
Ambassador Dibek was appreciative of the US interest and 
asked for continued assistance. He said Turked has provided 
all the evidence, including DVDs of the broadcasts, and that 
there is no more evidence to provide. He reported that Mr. 
Sezgin, General Director for Security within the Turkish MFA, 
and his deputy Mr. Aydin, were in town to meet with Danish 
authorities; they had met the previous day with MFA Permanent 
Secretary Claus Grube, and were meeting January 26 with the 
Danish Intelligence and Security Service PET. He hoped the 
Danes would now accelerate their process. He reported that 
Danish MFA had indicated PET needs to weigh in because the 
Danish courts would not give due weight to US or EU 
determinations that the PKK is a terrorist organization. 
Ambassador Fulton asked him to update her at the conclusion 
of the visit of Messrs. Sezgin and Aydin. 

3. (C) Ambassador Dibek stated that the largest immigrant 
population in Denmark is Turkish (some 60,000 strong). He 
said his government works closely with the Danish authorities 
to help the Turkish immigrants integrate and become good 
Danes. On January 25, Ambassador Dibek had attended the 
opening of a new Turkish Islamic center. He said there are 
26 imams in Denmark who were trained in Turkey´s secular 
system, hand-picked and sponsored by the Turkish Government 
to live here in order to serve the spiritual needs of the 
Turkish immigrant community and assist with their 
integration. Ambassador Dibek acknowledged that there are 
some problems with gangs in the immigrant community. He said 
it is a priority to help young Turkish immigrants stay out of 
gangs, and noted that a well-respected former Turkish police 
officer is working with Danish police to help them find ways 
to help the Turkish community avoid gangs. Ambassador Fulton 
expressed interest in meeting with some of the immigrants and 
visiting some of their centers to learns how they are working 
with youth in particular. 

4. (C) Ambassador Dibek referenced the arrests of some 250 
persons in Turkey the previous week for perceived ties to Al 
Qaeda. He acknowledged that while dozens would likely be 
indicted, others would likely be released. He commented that 
democratization is difficult while simultaneously fighting 
terrorism. He affirmed the desire for close cooperation on 
counterterrorism issues and said that Turkey had exchanged 
information with the Danes the previous day and had invited 
PET to Turkey. 

5. (C) Ambassador Dibek said there are "three legs" that 
are needed for successful democratization: (1) the terrorist 
attacks have to be stopped; (2) there must be improved 
individual rights for all persons; (3) the money needs to be 
cut off that funds terrorist groups. He noted that 
international terrorist groups have interconnections and 
raise money abroad for attacks in home countries like Turkey. 
He opined that European countries do not seem to understand 
this interconnectedness, nor how to stop money laundering and 
other terrorist funding schemes. He assessed that the PKK 
fund-raising is not as strong as it used to be in Denmark: 
where the PKK used to extort money from about 600 persons, 
that number may now be down to 20 - 30. He referred to the 
1,400 small businesses owned in Denmark by Turkish immigrants 
as the targest for PKK extortion, but noted that the Danish 
authorities have been helpful in bringing this under control. 

6. (C) He added that cooperation between Turkey and Iraq on 
PKK issues has improved since Masood Barzani has been 
President of Iraqi Kurdistan. He also noted that Turkey has 
survived the economic crisis, and its economy is growing. 

7. (U) BIO: Prior to his current assignment, Ambassador 
Ahmet Berki Dibek (born in Denizli on May 8, 1951) served as 
Director General for Bilateral Political Affairs and Maritime 
and Aviation Affairs (since October 2007). Earlier 
assignments of note include Ambassador to Ireland (2003-2007) 
and postings to Washington (1987-91), Chicago (1982-85), and 
Havana (1980-82). He is married and a graduate of Ankara 
University in political science. 

FULTON