IRAQ AND HUMAN SHIELDS: TURKS NOT PERMITTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001034 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/NGA; OSD FOR USDP LUTI AND JAY WILKINS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2013 TAGS: PREL PHUM MARR MOPS TU IZ UNSC SUBJECT: IRAQ AND HUMAN SHIELDS: TURKS NOT PERMITTING VOLUNTEER HUMAN SHIELDS TO ENTER IRAQ FROM TURKEY REF: ANKARA 871 Classified by Political Military Affairs Counselor Stuart Brown. Reasons 1.5 b and d. (C) MFA Iraq Desk Officer Haldun confirmed to Operation Northern Watch POLAD Feb. 12 that Turkey will not/not permit individuals volunteering to be human shields to enter Iraq directly from Turkey. Haldun said MFA U/S Ziyal had given his word on this to Ambassador Pearson (see reftel). Haldun pointed out that the volunteers might be able to get into Iraq from other neighboring states after departing Turkey (he specifically mentioned Syria) and that there was nothing Turkey could do to prevent that. PEARSON