Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ANKARA1595
2003-03-13 14:41:00
SECRET
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

IRAQI OPPOSITION TALKS IN ANAKARA: TURKS ON BOARD

Tags:  PREL MOPS TU IZ 
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S E C R E T ANKARA 001595 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI OPPOSITION TALKS IN ANAKARA: TURKS ON BOARD
FOR THREE SETS OF TALKS

REF: A. STATE 66506

B. ANKARA 1512

C. ANKARA 1487


(U) Classified by DCM Robert S. Deutsch. Reasons 1.5(b) and
(d).


S E C R E T ANKARA 001595

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI OPPOSITION TALKS IN ANAKARA: TURKS ON BOARD
FOR THREE SETS OF TALKS

REF: A. STATE 66506

B. ANKARA 1512

C. ANKARA 1487


(U) Classified by DCM Robert S. Deutsch. Reasons 1.5(b) and
(d).



1. This is an action request. Please see paragraph 5.



2. (S) On March 13, DCM met MFA Director General for the
Middle East Burcuoglu and delivered Ref A points. Burcuoglu
agreed to the following schedule:


-- US-TU bilaterals, with Turkey represented by Deputy U/S
Tuygan, at 17:00 on March 14, followed by a March 15 session
from 10:00 to 13:00. A TGS representative, as well as other
Turkish representatives, are TBD. DCM committed to informing
the Turks as soon as possible regarding the identity of
representatives from OVP and CENTCOM.


-- US-TU-KDP-PUK-ITF talks on March 18. The GOT proposes
that it inform the KDP, PUK, and ITF to prepare to meet in
Ankara on that day. However, the Turks intend to await the
outcome of the bilats before issuing formal invitations to
the other three parties.


-- Talks with the wider Iraqi opposition late on March 18 or,
more probably, on March 19. As with the earlier March 18
five-party meeting, the GOT intends to inform the wider
opposition of the possibility of a meeting, but will refrain
from issuing formal invitations until the bilats are
underway, at the earliest.



3. (S) Burcuoglu questioned whether the KDP, PUK, and ITF
would be prepared to meet with the wider opposition, and
suggested that we discuss this issue further at the bilats.
The GOT is not willing to present the meeting with the wider
Iraqi opposition as a meeting with the "Leadership Committee"
unless an ITF representative has become a committee member.
Burcuoglu said that if the ITF were represented on the
Leadership Committee by March 18, it would "facilitate
everything.8



4. (S) DCM forcefully reminded Burcuoglu that, in the
absence of Turkish parliamentary permission for a US troop
deployment in Turkey, we cannot present positions to the
Kurds based on the military MOU or the economic and political
joint statements. Moreover, DCM reminded Burcuoglu of the
USG,s firm opposition to a unilateral Turkish deployment in
northern Iraq. He stressed that in the meetings we would be
focused on ending provocations and avoiding conflict.
Burcuoglu responded that the GOT would tell the Kurds that if
Turkish troops were to enter Iraq, it would only be on the
basis of coordination with the USG. He acknowledged that the
GOT fully understands the USG position on Turkish troops in
northern Iraq.



5. (S) Action Requested: Please advise on the remaining
composition of the delegation, including an authoritative
CENTCOM participant. We will also need resolution of the ITF
membership in the Leadership Committee issue now.


PEARSON