IRAQ: TURKISH DELEGATION TO TRAVEL TO IRAQ TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003078

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR/SE, NEA/NGA, PMAT. JCS FOR J5. EUCOM FOR J5,
AND POLAD. CENTCOM FOR J5 AND POLAD;


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ: TURKISH DELEGATION TO TRAVEL TO IRAQ TO
MEET WITH KDP/PUK, TURKMEN


REF: ANKARA 2982


(U) Classified by Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Scot
Marciel. Reasons: 1.5 (B and D).



1. (C) MFA Deputy Director General for Middle East Affairs
Safak Gokturk informed us May 12 that Turkey intends to send
a three-person "specialized" team to northern Iraq (Mosul,
Irbil and Kirkuk) to meet with KDP, PUK and Turkmen
leadership. The team is planning to fly from Ankara (via
Turkish Airlines) to either Diyarbakir or Mardin (plans still
being coordinated) and cross the Habur Gate (via ground
transportation) into northern Iraq May 14 in the morning
(Ankara time). The MFA already has informed Ankara-based KDP
and PUK reps, and asked if Barzani and Talabani would be
available. Gokturk said the team also intends to travel to
Baghdad to meet with newly arrived TU embassy staff.

2. (C) The team consists of:


--AMB Selim Karaosmanoglu: MFA Director General for the
Balkans. MFA's "political coordinator for Iraq." Formerly
Turkey's ambassador to Iraq before Mehmet Akat (who served
before current Amb. Osman Paksut).


--AMB Ecvet Tezcan: MFA Director General for Intelligence
and Research (INR). Former TU Amb. in Baku and DDG for INR
(when INR had the lead for northern Iraq issues).


--Kerim Uras: MFA Department Head for Iraq.



3. (C) Gokturk asked us to convey this information to US
military authorities in Iraq. He promised to provide
additional details (e.g. automobile license plates,
personnel, equipment, etc.) as the MFA had done when Turkish
Amb. Paksut's group crossed Habur Gate last week (reftel).
PEARSON