MFA U/S ZIYAL STRESSES IRAQ IN 5/22 MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 003528

SIPDIS


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


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS TU IZ PTER ASEC
SUBJECT: MFA U/S ZIYAL STRESSES IRAQ IN 5/22 MEETING WITH
EUR DAS PASCOE

REF: ANKARA 2373


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


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SUMMARY
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1. (C) MFA U/S Ziyal told visiting EUR DAS Lynn Pascoe May 22
his main objective was to get the US-Turkey bilateral
relationship back on track. Ziyal said he was looking
forward to meeting with USG officials in Washington and
suggested the second week of June. On Iraq, Ziyal said it
was important for the US and Turkey to work together to 1)
make sure there is proper representation of the Turkmen in
the IIA, 2) correct the perception that the US prefers the
Kurds over Turkey and 3) make sure the "jockeying" for
positions of authority by the groups in Iraq leads to a
representative, cohesive IIA. Ziyal thanked DAS Pascoe for
the USG's support for the MFA delegation's recent visit to
Iraq. Based on the delegation's recommendations, Ziyal said
the MFA will be looking to increase humanitarian assistance
to the north and expand the Habur gate to increase commerce.
Ziyal reiterated that Turkey's relations with Syria and Iran
were not inconsistent with USG policy. DAS Pascoe closed by
noting that the way to overcome disappointment over Iraq and
Cyprus was for Turkey to take concrete steps on issues of
concern to both our countries. End summary.


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VISIT TO WASHINGTON
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2. (C) Ziyal opened the meeting by saying he looking forward
to traveling to Washington soon to engage in "open and frank"
discussions with USG officials. He said the second week of
June "worked best" for him, adding that the initial set of
dates (May 28-29) under discussion "would not give him time
to do his homework." Ziyal said if U/S Grossman were able to
visit Ankara beforehand, "that would be great."


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MFA DELEGATION TO IRAQ: THANKS
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3. (C) Ziyal said that while the situation in Iraq appeared
to be improving, there were a number of issues which required
close watching. These include: relations among the parties
on the ground, coordination of humanitarian assistance, the
increasing confidence of the Kurds, and the PKK/KADEK threat.
Ziyal said one of his long-term concerns was the increasing
possibility of Kurdish-Arab conflicts. He also stressed it
was important the Turkmen not be seen as an extension of
Turkey. Ziyal said it was important to make sure the
"jockeying" for positions of authority by the groups in Iraq
leads to a representative, cohesive IIA in Baghdad.



4. (C) Ziyal thanked the USG for its support for the MFA
delegation's recent visit to Iraq. Ziyal said the team had
had a number of good and constructive meetings with US
officials, Kurdish groups (including PUK leader Talabani and
hopefully KDP chief Barzani 5/23) and Turkmen (note: Ziyal's
assessment is consistent with the readouts the MFA delegation
provided the Embassy via telephone from Iraq during its
visit. End note.) Ziyal said the delegation was
particularly pleased with its meeting with 101st Commander MG
Petreus in Mosul, a meeting Ziyal he characterized as
extremely useful.



5. (C) Ziyal said the delegation's findings during its visit
to Iraq had led to three main conclusions:


--There needs to be a "proper" representation for the Turkmen
in the IIA. Ziyal stressed that the representation must be
"proper" and not "undue," since "undue" representation for
any group in Iraq would be counterproductive. Ziyal stressed
the importance of making sure the Turkmen do not suffer in
the new Iraq and that the Turkmen not be seen as an extension
of Turkey.


--The Habur border gate needs to be "opened and
demilitarized" on both sides to allow a greater flow of
people and commerce into Iraq. Ziyal added the Turks were
also looking into the possibility of opening a second gate
(one near Syria but one that did not open into Syria).
(Note: MFA DDG for the Middle East Gokturk later told us the
loosening of restrictions at Habur on the Turkish side likely
will involve considerable internal debate between Turkish
civilian/commercial organizations -- who favor the opening of
the border -- and the Turkish military -- which has
controlled the border since 1991 and sees the gate's
"militarization" as essential to preventing the influx of
PKK/KADEK. Gokturk speculated that the PKK/KADEK issue would
have to be addressed to the satisfaction of the Turkish
military in order to secure the military's cooperation on
Habur. End note.)


--There is a vital and immediate humanitarian role that
Turkey can and should play.



6. (C) Ziyal said the delegation would depart Baghdad May 23
for Mosul/Dohuk (where it hoped to meet with KDP leader
Barzani) and return to Turkey March 24. Ziyal said the MFA
would provide the Embassy a complete readout of its visit
upon its return.


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TURKEY'S POLICIES ON SYRIA/IRAN: CONSISTENT WITH WASHINGTON
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7. (C) Ziyal reiterated the arguments that he made to the
Ambassador May 13 (reftel) -- Turkey's relations with Syria
and Iran were not inconsistent with USG policy. Ziyal said
Turkey shared the same values and goals in the Middle East as
the USG: stability, democracy and prosperity throughout the
region. Ziyal said the Middle East Peace Process was an
important part of Turkey's overall Middle East policy, and
Turkey strongly supported current US efforts to bring about
peace between Israel and Palestine. Ziyal noted that the
Israeli president had accepted President Sezer's invitation
to visit Turkey and would be doing so July 8-9, and that the
Israeli MOD would be visiting Ankara the week of May 26. Abu
Mazen would be visiting Turkey in the near future and FM Gul
planned to travel to Israel and Palestine "soon."


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THE VIEW FROM WASHINGTON -- NEED FOR CONCRETE ACTIONS
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8. (C) DAS Pascoe closed the meeting by reminding U/S Ziyal
that Washington hoped to see concrete actions by Turkey to
deal with the disappointment in the US over Iraq and Cyprus.
We had worked very hard to address Turkish concerns on Iraq
and on the Annan plan for Cyprus and had expected both to be
successful. He noted he had been discussing at length the
areas for possible steps with others in the Foreign Ministry.





9. (U) DAS Pascoe has cleared this message.
PEARSON