IRAQ: CENTCOM PROPOSAL FOR US-TURKEY-IRAQI KURD

S E C R E T ANKARA 001638

SIPDIS


EUR FOR PASCOE; NEA FOR CROCKER; ALSO FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/NGA


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ: CENTCOM PROPOSAL FOR US-TURKEY-IRAQI KURD
POLICY CELL TO DECONFLICT FORCES AND AVOID CONFRONTATIONS

(U) Classified by Ambassador W. Robert Pearson. Reasons 1.5
B and D.



1. (U) This is an action request. See para 4.



2. (S) DCM was contacted March 14 by CENTCOM POLAD, who said
that CDR CENTCOM wanted, as the minimum acceptable
deliverable for upcoming talks with Turks and Iraqi Kurds,
the establishment of a 24-hour/day policy-level cell staffed
by US, Turkish and Iraqi Kurdish reps. The cell would
deconflict forces, clarify rumors, and ensure that no
unintended confrontations took place. CENTCOM said the cell
could be based wherever it would be most effective, so long
as it had access to information on a real-time basis.



3. (S) Comment: While we believe there is significant merit
to a process to try to prevent misunderstanding spinning out
of control in northern Iraq, we are concerned the Turks will
not react positively, and we lack any details. The Turks
have told us in the past that they will not share their
military planning with the Iraqi Kurds. They will react
badly to any arrangement that implies equality between the
Turkish reps and reps of the Iraqi Kurdish parties. In
addition, the Turks are likely to insist on the participation
of an ITF rep, which could complicate matters in terms of
sharing sensitive information. We also do not know whether
this arrangement has been discussed with the Kurds or any
other parties in advance.



4. (S) Post urgently seeks Washington guidance on the CENTCOM
proposal in time to
deploy during Amb. Khalilzad's March 14-15 bilaterals with
the Turks.
PEARSON