IRAQ: TURKISH MFA U/S ZIYAL AND AMBASSADOR PEARSON

S E C R E T ANKARA 000945

SIPDIS


STATE FOR P, EUR, EUR/SE, NEA AND NEA/NGA;
NSC FOR RICE AND HADLEY; OSD FOR DEPSECDEF


E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ: TURKISH MFA U/S ZIYAL AND AMBASSADOR PEARSON
DISCUSS MILITARY AND POLITICAL MOU'S

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



1. (S) Ambassador met with MFA U/S Ugur Ziyal mid-afternoon
February 6 to press on several issues. First, he got from
Ziyal a commitment to have the MFA, Treasury and other
concerned agencies available during the holiday next week
from Wednesday on to close on any outstanding questions.
Ziyal said he had given instructions to the MFA to have
critical, i.e., Iraq- related, offices staffed, and he knew
Treasury would also be available.



2. (S) Secondly, Ambassador explained why a "political MOU"
was unacceptable, pointing out interalia the dangers to
Turkey if such a document were misinterpreted as a U.S.-
Turkey political blueprint for Iraq and the region. He said
he understood, but that Turkey "is in a difficult spot." "We
have to have," he said, a document that the "PM can use to
convince the Parliament that the political concerns of Turkey
have been met, and the U.S. and Turkey are in agreement." He
asked for suggestions, and Ambassador told him to think in
terms of a statement. He asked if "Statement of Political
Principles" might work? (Note: Amb Khalilzad is currently
meeting with his Turkish counterpart on the substance of the
U.S. instructed paper, and we will have a fuller report to
forward from that meeting. End Note).



3. (S) On the third issue, Ambassador said the mil-to-mil MOU
negotiations needed closing instructions from the MFA
leadership. In those talks, we now were trying to resolve
taxation, claims and criminal jurisdiction questions,
Ambassador said. He explained that we were offering creative
solutions for taxation and claims questions, but that the
criminal jurisdiction issue is fundamental for the U.S. side.
Ziyal said he would discuss these points with the Turkish
negotiator. As Ambassador left Ziyal,s office, the Turkish
negotiator walked in, apparently to brief Ziyal on the
discussions. (Note: the U.S. team, led by Ambassador Lino,
has informed the Turks that we will stay tonight as late as
possible to close on the issues. End Note).
PEARSON