Turkey's public security undersecretary in talks with US offivials on terror

Turkish Undersecretary of Public Security and Order Murat Ozcelik has had a series of talks with high-level US officials since last weekend to discuss US-Turkey cooperation on counterterrorism efforts and measures aimed at preventing foreign financing for the terrorist PKK. Ozcelik, who is scheduled to stay in the US until the end of the week, will have met with four undersecretaries and a special envoy by the end of his visit. Sources say that during his trip Ozcelik will meet with Obama's top terrorism and intelligence adviser, John O. Brennan; Daniel Benjamin, the coordinator for counterterrorism at the United States Department of State; Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen; Under Secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate at the US Department of Homeland Security Rand Beers; and US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy. Turkey established the Undersecretariat of Public Security and Order with the aim of coordinating the work of state institutions responsible for security. The bill on the undersecretariat was passed in Parliament in 2010 and was approved by President Abdullah Gul, starting a new era in counterterrorism efforts. The General Staff was previously the sole authority combating terrorism, but with the establishment of the undersecretariat, counterterrorism efforts are now coordinated by a civilian authority.