Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ANKARA4222
2003-07-03 13:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

IRAQ: TURKS REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT KURDISH

Tags:  PREL MARR MOPS TU IZ 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004222 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ: TURKS REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT KURDISH
INFLUENCE AND SEEK ANSWERS TO THE "ZIYAL LIST"

REF: A. DUNNIGAN-SILVERMAN EMAIL (MATRIX)

B. ANKARA 3975

C. ZIYAL PAPER PROVIDED JUNE 16


C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004222

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ: TURKS REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT KURDISH
INFLUENCE AND SEEK ANSWERS TO THE "ZIYAL LIST"

REF: A. DUNNIGAN-SILVERMAN EMAIL (MATRIX)

B. ANKARA 3975

C. ZIYAL PAPER PROVIDED JUNE 16



1. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.



2. (U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch. Reasons: 1.5 (B
and D).



3. (C) Action Request: Refs A and B list GOT offers of
assistance related to the reconstruction and stability of
Iraq, for which Post has requested guidance from the
Department or OCPA. DG for Mideast Affairs Burcuoglu
convoked the DCM July 2 to raise several points of GOT
concern (see below),including concerning the Turkish
proposals cited previously in Refs A-C. Embassy looks
forward to receiving Department's guidance on ref A issues,
as well as those raised by Burcuoglu.



4. (C) Summary: DG for Mideast Affairs Burcuoglu convoked
the DCM July 2 to discuss several issues of concern to the
GOT. According to Burcuoglu:
-- the disarmament of all groups in northern Iraq except the
Kurds will create tensions and gives the impression that
Kurdish predominance in Iraq is predetermined;
-- Turkmen underrepresentation on the "Iraqi Political
Advisory Committee" would be detrimental to the future of
Iraqi democracy (Turkmen should be the third largest group
represented among the 25-30 members);
-- the KDP levying of ad hoc taxes and fees at the Habur gate
is obstructing the return to normalcy of commercial traffic;
-- the GOT is still waiting for a US response on the GOT's
intention to reopen its consulate in Mosul;
-- the Turkish embassy in Baghdad, like many others,
continues to have difficulties finding points of contact at
CPA and hopes the USG can facilitate this. End Summary.



5. (C) DG Burcuoglu convoked the DCM July 2 to raise numerous
concerns regarding events in Iraq, but first he expressed the
GOT's sympathy for the casualties coalition forces in Iraq
were sustaining on an almost daily basis. He added that the
US's success in Iraq was also a success for Iraq and for
Turkey. Burcuoglu emphasized that the main issue of concern
regarding events in Iraq was the coalition decision to disarm
all groups in northern Iraq except the Kurds, which the GOT

believed was discriminatory and provocative. Furthermore
giving the Kurds the authority to approve other groups'
licenses to carry small arms gave the impression that Kurdish
authority in the north was predetermined, even though the
interim authority had not yet even been established. He
cited as an example a June 23 press conference in which a US
LTC implied that among the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion's
goals were to support the Kurdish authority in northern Iraq.
Burcuoglu pressed for the USG to allow Assyrians and Turkmen
to carry small arms for self-protection without the need for
Kurdish approval.



6. (C) Burcuoglu's second item of GOT concern was the
composition of the "Iraqi Political Advisory Committee." He
noted that the GOT expected the Turkmen to be the third
largest group on the 25-30 person body, as their exclusion or
underrepresentation would be detrimental to the future of
Iraqi democracy. In the same vein, the GOT expected the US
to address the situation in Kirkuk, which he said was heavily
favoring Kurdish influence there.



7. (C) On the issue of the Habur gate, the GOT was in the
process of normalizing the commercial flow of traffic through
that crossing, but the KDP on the Iraqi side was levying fees
and taxes at will and disrupting that flow. Burcuoglu asked
that the US take control of the Iraqi side of the border
(from the KDP) or at least increase the US presence to
prevent the KDP from creating problems. (Comment: The KDP
denies that it is charging any taxes or fees, and the GOT
denies that it is creating long queues by submitting
transporters to intense scrutiny/bureaucracy. In addition,
the truckers are undoubtedly complicating the situation by
smuggling goods or claiming that they are paying fees they
are probably pocketing. End Comment.)



5. (C) Burcuoglu then asked to follow up on two items that
Ziyal raised in Washington on which the GOT is awaiting a
reply: opening a Turkish consulate in Mosul and establishing
better points of contact between the Turkish embassy in
Baghdad and CPA. On the first, Burcuoglu said the GOT would
like to send a couple of diplomats, probably accompanied by a
couple of security personnel, to re-establish the Turkish
consulate in Mosul. He noted that if, like the embassy in
Baghdad, the US discouraged but did not prevent the opening
of this office, the GOT would be satisfied. On the question
of POCs at the CPA in Baghdad, Burcuoglu said that other
diplomats in Baghdad were complaining of the same problem;
Turkey did not feel discriminated against, but does not
understand why the fruitful US-TU cooperation conducted in
Washington and Ankara cannot also occur in Baghdad.



6. (C) DCM committed to relaying Burcuolgu's concerns to
Washington and Baghdad. He asked for patience regarding the
POCs in Baghdad as the situation/personnel there is
constantly in flux and communications are not easy for
anyone.
PEARSON