INITIAL GOT RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON CLOSURE OF

S E C R E T ANKARA 001802 SIPDIS NOFORN STATE FOR S/CT, EUR/SE, NEA/NGA E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2013 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS TU IZ SUBJECT: INITIAL GOT RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON CLOSURE OF IRAQI MISSION REF: A) STATE 72921 B)ANKARA 1794 C) ANKARA 1743 (u) Classified by Ambassador W. Robert Pearson. Reasons: 1.5 (B and D) ¶1. (S/NF) During his March 20 meeting with MFA U/S Ziyal (ref c),Ambassador followed up his recent requests for the GOT to expel Iraqi intelligence officers (ref b) by urging the GOT to suspend Iraq's diplomatic presence in Turkey on a temporary basis and take steps to assure the prompt departure of the leading representatives of Saddam Hussein's government (ref a). The Ambassador said that the USG specifically requests that the GOT declare the Iraqi ambassador and other suspected Iraqi intelligence officers still in Turkey persona non grata, and ensure that they promptly leave Turkey. ¶2. (S/NF) Ziyal said the matter would require a political decision and agreed to refer it to the proper authorities. Ziyal went on to say that hypothetically speaking, if the GOT were to agree to shut down the Iraqi mission and expel Iraqi embassy staff, where would Turkey send them? Ziyal said the Iraqis could not be expected to return to Iraq. The Ambassador responded that the real issue was for the GOT to take the necessary steps now to disrupt the activities of the Iraqi intelligence services who are threatening US personnel and facilities in Turkey. The best way to disrupt these activities is to expel the high-level members of the Iraqi diplomatic mission and the intelligence officers, and to shut down temporarily the mission. ¶3. (S/NF) Ziyal asked the Ambassador if the USG was making the same request to other countries. The Ambassador replied yes. Ziyal asked if we knew which countries could be expected to receive the expelled Iraqis. The Ambassador said he did not know, but would refer the question to Washington. PEARSON