TURKS IN GEAR TO DECIDE ON STABILIZATION FORCE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005191

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR A/S JONES AND NEA A/S BURNS. NSC FOR BRYZA.
OSD FOR ISA AND ISP. EUCOM FOR J5, J2, POLAD. CENTCOM FOR
J5, POLAD.


E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS PTER TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKS IN GEAR TO DECIDE ON STABILIZATION FORCE
CONTRIBUTION BY SEPTEMBER 15


REF: OZKOK-JONES LETTER AUG 7


(U) Classified by Charge d'Affaires ad interim Robert
Deutsch. Reason: 1.5 (B and D).



1. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.



2. (S) DG for Mideast Affairs Burcuoglu met with Charge
d'Affaires August 14 to lay out additional steps the GOT
envisions towards obtaining parliamentary approval for a
Turkish contribution to the Iraq stabilization force by
September 15. He noted that three delegations planned to
travel to Iraq to assess the risks associated with a
deployment and get in touch with the local population.


-- The first delegation would be composed of six people from
MIT, TGS and possibly MFA plus two drivers. They tentatively
planned to drive from Turkey to Baghdad on Friday, August 22
and begin their work the next day. A car from the Turkish
embassy in Baghdad would meet the del at the border and guide
the convoy back to Baghdad. Full details would be
forthcoming as soon as the plan is finalized.


-- The second delegation would be composed of members of
Parliament and possibly some academics. No date had been set.


-- The third delegation would be high-level, certainly at the
ambassadorial level, possibly led by MFA U/S Ziyal.



3. (S) Burcuoglu noted that while details were yet to be
worked out, the GOT was eyeing a strict September 15 deadline
for obtaining parliamentary approval for deployment and thus
all these activities would occur in time to meet that
deadline. In addition, FM Gul planned to travel to
neighboring countries and Europe to explain Turkey's rational
for participating in the force. Burcuoglu noted that the GOT
would need to explain its situation as a neighboring country
particularly to France and Germany and would do so during
previously scheduled visits such as PM Erdogan's visit to
Germany Sept. 2 and FM Gul's trip to Italy for an EU informal
FM meeting (including candidates) Sept. 5-6. These visits
were in addition, Burcuoglu said, to the expected responses
and further work in military channels. Charge said he hoped
that answers to Ozkok's questions (ref A) would be
forthcoming shortly. Burcuoglu responded that information
about the location of the Turkish sector would be important
so that the delegations could feel out the populations in
that area. In response to our comment that the answer to
some questions would depend on Turkish plans for numbers,
Burcuoglu said they were talking about one full brigade,
parts of a second and a division headquarters, with the
division filled out by other contributors. An MFA deskoff
told polmiloff separately that FM Gul had telephoned the
owners of all the major newspapers in Turkey to explain that
a deployment was in Turkey's interest and should not be cast
just as a favor to the US.



4. (S) Burcuoglu then told Charge that Iraqi Governing
Council Representative Songul Cabuk had visited Ankara August
13 and proposed that five members of the GC make a visit to
Ankara before the end of August. Burcuoglu said Turkey would
enthusiastically welcome such a visit. While the composition
was clearly a GC decision, Burcuoglu said, a delegation
composed of Cabuk, the current Chairman, and the three
members who accompanied UN Iraq Envoy de Mello to New York
would be the most effective here. He noted however that "PKK
sympathizer" GC member Mahmoud Othman should not be part of
the delegation.



5. (S) Turning to two issues of less importance, Burcuoglu
raised the Iraqi budget. He said that he himself had
expressed concern to CPA Administrator Bremer in Washington
about the Kurds having a separate budget. Bremer adamantly
denied that this was the case. Nevertheless, MFA found on
CPA's website that the budget is divided among ministries,
except for the Kurdish regions, which is partitioned out. For
example, on page 3 of the 2003 budget, it says, "Each Iraqi
Ministry and Kurd region prepared a budget with their
Coalition Senior Advisor." Burcuoglu noted that the budgets
for Kurdish regions were higher than the budget for Baghdad
which was 30 percent more populous.



6. (S) Finally Burcuoglu noted with pleasure that a border
gate staffed with Iraqi customs officials had been opened on
the Kuwaiti border. He urged the US to provide the same
customs support on the Turkish border, which is currently
being manned by the KDP.

7. (S) Comment: It is clear the Turks are now taking steps to
persuade the Parliament and the Turkish public that
participation is in Turkey's interest. We should encourage
these proactive activities by supporting their visits to Iraq
and urging the GC delegation to say the right things in
support of Turkish participation when it comes to Ankara.
DEUTSCH