IRAQ: TURKEY TO TRAIN IRAQI DIPLOMATS

UNCLAS ANKARA 001343 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL TU IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ: TURKEY TO TRAIN IRAQI DIPLOMATS We learned March 5 from Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Ankara rep Bahros Galali that Turkey will train Iraqi diplomats from May-June 2004 and that the Iraqi MFA had selected a list of Iraqi participants. Turkish MFA Iraq deskoff Ferhat Alkan confirmed this information, saying that the Turkish MFA's training academy will organize the course for 20 Iraqi diplomats and had proposed to the Iraqi MFA that the course run May 3-June 11. Alkan promised to provide more details in the coming days. Comment: This is an excellent opportunity to build bridges between Turkey and Iraq, and is exactly the type of cooperation we have been encouraging between these two neighbors. EDELMAN