IRAQI OPPOSITION: ENSURING TURKMEN FRONT INCLUSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007980 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA CROCKER, NEA/NGA AND EUR/SE; OSD FOR HRHODE; LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; DAMASCUS FOR WALKER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2012 TAGS: PREL MARR TU IZ UNSC SUBJECT: IRAQI OPPOSITION: ENSURING TURKMEN FRONT INCLUSION IN OPPOSITION ACTIVITIES AND USG STATEMENTS TO GET TURKISH SUPPORT FOR REGIME CHANGE (U) Classified by Ambassador W. Robert Pearson. Reasons: 1.5 (B and D). ¶1. (U) The November 6 Washington File reported the Department spokesman referring to the planned November 22 Iraqi opposition conference, listing only the six organizations on the conference steering committee as those the USG had been working with on the future of Iraq. He said, "We've been working with six different opposition groups on the issue of the future of Iraq. And they've been working, in particular, with each other attempting to organize conferences and make progress towards examining the future of Iraq from a constitutional and democratic basis." ¶2. (C) This statement did not mention, perhaps for very understandable reasons, that the Department has been working with well over a dozen opposition goups on the future of Iraq. Critically for Ankara, however, failure to publicly mention the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) as one of the groups we are working with on the future of Iraq will hurt our efforts to garner Turkish support for opposition activities and regime change in Iraq. In addition, after the August 9th meeting of the six groups on the steering committee, the Department made a commitment to Turkey that from that time forward, all USG-supported Iraqi opposition activities would include the ITF. The Turks are certain to raise this issue with us. ¶3. (C) As we think is well understood, we would like to ensure the participation of the Iraqi Turkmen Front in all opposition activities and note the ITF's invovement in all public statements. As appropriate, we request a public disclosure of the invitation for the Turkmen to participate November 22, and the fact that we would be glad to have them participate. PEARSON