SAWYERS AND DE MELLO VISIT ANKARA TO CONSULT ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004949

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR A/S JONES


E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2013
TAGS: MASS MOPS MARR PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: SAWYERS AND DE MELLO VISIT ANKARA TO CONSULT ON
IRAQ

(U) Classified by CDA Robert Deutsch, reasons 1.5, b/d.



1. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.



2. (C) Summary: Outgoing British Iraq Special Envoy Sawyers
and UN Iraq envoy de Mello visited Ankara July 30-31 and
August 4 respectively. Both visitors exchanged assessments
of Iraq with the GOT and noted the usefulness of a Turkish
contribution to the stability force without applying pressure
in that regard. End Summary.



3. (C) Departing British Iraq Special Envoy Sawyers visited
Ankara July 30-31. According to UK DCM David Fitton, Sawyers
met with FM Gul, MFA U/S Ziyal, DefMin Gonul, Opposition
leader Baykal and several AK MPs. Fitton noted the visit was
primarily a useful exchange of views on Iraq. Turkish
officials expressed their concerns about approving the
deployment of Turkish troops to participate in the Iraq
stabilization force. Gul was the most optimistic about a
potential contribution, while Gonul and Ziyal focused more on
the difficulties. The AK parliamentarians noted the uphill
struggle they faced to approve such a deployment with public
opinion currently very downbeat on a contribution and the US
in general. Sawyers noted Turkish participation would be
useful and congratulated the GOT on its recently passed
rehabilitation law aimed at reintegrating PKK/KADEK members
back into Turkish society. Fitton said the Turks were "quite
hopeful" the law would be effective, although, not
surprisingly, Baykal was skeptical.



4. (C) MFA Iraq Head of Department Kerim Uras said the
Turkish interlocutors noted to Sawyers the GOT's concerns
about the situation in Iraq saying, "you know the issues"
(i.e. Mahmoud Othman, PKK, the Turkmen, lack of contact with
the CPA, etc.). Uras said Sawyers was very blunt and not
very open to hearing the Turkish views. In addition, Turkish
officials believed Sawyers painted an overly rosy picture of
the situation in Iraq and "his arrogance left a very bad
taste in our mouths."



5. (C) Uras said de Mello was in Ankara for a short period of
time, coming from and returning to Baghdad on the same day.
He met only with FM Gul and had a working lunch and dinner
with Turkish officials. Uras said de Mello came with no
particular message, but like Sawyers, was merely here to
exchange views on and assessments of Iraq. De Mello
expressed frustration at the low level of cooperation with
the UN on Iraq, noting that better cooperation would be good
for the security situation. De Mello also noted a Turkish
contribution to the stability force would be useful, but
acknowledged there were risks involved for Turkish soldiers.
He doubted another UN resolution would be possible under the
current circumstances. De Mello was pleased with the
humanitarian aid coming from Turkey and congratulated the GOT
on the August 1 passage of a law that allows a "more
official" WFP office to open in Turkey that will serve as a
hub for food aid to Iraq. De Mello also told the Turks that
US forces had discovered and confiscated a large amount of
weapons at UNHCR's Mahmur Refugee camp, near the Turkish
border. He suggested a joint plan by the US, TU, UNHCR and
his office to implement the rehabilitation law and repatriate
the PKK/KADEK members, most of whom were non-militant Kurds.
DEUTSCH