ESTABLISHING A US MISSION IN BAGHDAD: TURKEY

UNCLAS ANKARA 002407 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT. FOR NEA, PMAT AND EUR/SE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AMGT TU IZ SUBJECT: ESTABLISHING A US MISSION IN BAGHDAD: TURKEY BRIEFED REF: STATE 89241 ¶1. (SBU) On April 26, PolMilOff briefed Turkish MFA Iraq Department Head Serra Erarslan on plans for establishing a US Mission in Baghdad. Erarslan's only comment was to ask whether the US Mission would retain control over elements of Iraqi sovereignty, and referred to recent public statements by senior US officials on limited Iraqi sovereignty after June 30. We explained that post June 30, the interim Iraqi Government would assume full governing (although not legislative or security) authority and that we did not expect the US Mission as such to exercise sovereign authority in Iraq. ¶2. (U) Erarslan said that the Turkish Mission in Baghdad would retain its current staffing of an Ambassador plus four other diplomats (one counselor, one first secretary and two third secretaries) plus administrative staff. ¶3. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. EDELMAN