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