Diplomatic Cable Türkiye | Australia

[Jay]

Dışişleri Bakanlığı Ministry of Foreign Affairs​

AUTHENTIC COMMUNIQUE OF THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Security Clearance: Secure and Encrypted ŞİFRELEME KORUMASI: KAPLUĞA​

[Recipient]: The Honourable Kevin Rudd < Owen > [Sender]: Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye, Australia < korhan.kuralAU@db.tr.gov > [Subject]: Confidential // Re: Meeting Request – Deepening Bilateral Relations

The Honourable Kevin Rudd, MP The Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye presents its compliments to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia and has the honour to convey the following communication on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Türkiye. The Government of the Republic of Türkiye wishes to express its appreciation for the Government of Australia's recent intentions to go after the financing networks of the PKK, a designated terrorist organisation. This step, taken in the period following the last exchange between this Embassy and the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is regarded by Ankara as a welcome and constructive development, and as a positive reflection of the shared commitment of both nations to combating terrorism in all its forms. I have been instructed by my Government to convey Ankara's wish to explore avenues for deepening the relationship between our two countries, grounded in our shared standing as pro-Western democracies. In this regard, the Government of the Republic of Türkiye wishes to propose consultations on the following areas: a) Security and Defence Cooperation: Expansion of bilateral security dialogue and practical cooperation in relation to Thailand's destablizing role in West Asia and Southeast Asia; b) Defence Industry Investment: Facilitating opportunities for Australian defence firms to invest in and partner with Türkiye's growing defence industrial base and Encouraging Turkish companies to pursue investment opportunities within Australia, in different economic sectors; and c) Trade Agreement: Initiating exploratory discussions toward a potential bilateral trade agreement, with a view to eliminating duties on a defined range of goods traded between our two countries. The Embassy is further instructed to convey that the Prime Minister of the Republic of Türkiye has personally underscored her strong interest in the expansion of Turkish-Australian ties. Should the above areas of cooperation advance toward a substantive and final agreement, the Prime Minister has expressed her interest in undertaking an official visit to Canberra, with a view to convening a Turkish-Australian Summit at which any resulting agreements might be formally signed. The Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye would be grateful for the Department's views on the above proposals and stands ready to facilitate further technical-level discussions between the relevant ministries and agencies of both Governments at the Department's earliest convenience. The Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia the assurances of its highest consideration. Korhan Kural Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye 6 Moonah Place, Yarralumla ACT 2600 Canberra, Australia E: korhan.kural@turkiye.org.au T: +61 2 6273 9300

 

[Owen]

There was absolutely no way that the Turkish Government could've known about the attempts to curtail the financial networks of the PKK in Australia as that was a secret operation conducted by AUSTRAC. As there was clearly a compromise in the intelligence services of Australia and someone within the organisation had leaked this information to the Turkish Government, the Australian Federal Police would seize the electronic correspondence from the Turkish Government as evidence into potential espionage being conducted against AUSTRAC. No further communications on this matter would be allowed by the AFP between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Turkish Ambassador.

Jay