Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ANKARA2974
2004-05-27 15:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

IRAQ: TURKISH REACTION TO DRAFT UNSCR TEXT

Tags:  PREL TU IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002974 

SIPDIS


DEPT. FOR IO/UNP, EUR/SE AND NEA/NGA;
BAGHDAD ALSO FOR CJTF-7


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2024
TAGS: PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ: TURKISH REACTION TO DRAFT UNSCR TEXT

REF: A. STATE 116099

B. STATE 115262

C. ANKARA 2916


(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch. Reasons 1.4 B and D.


-------
Summary
-------


C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002974

SIPDIS


DEPT. FOR IO/UNP, EUR/SE AND NEA/NGA;
BAGHDAD ALSO FOR CJTF-7


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2024
TAGS: PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ: TURKISH REACTION TO DRAFT UNSCR TEXT

REF: A. STATE 116099

B. STATE 115262

C. ANKARA 2916


(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch. Reasons 1.4 B and D.


--------------
Summary
--------------



1. (C) DCM presented Ref B points on introducing the draft
Iraq UNSCR to MFA Director General for Middle East Affairs
Burcuoglu May 26, and discussed the text of the draft.
Burcuoglu said it was important to Turkey that the UNSCR
offer a high degree of visible sovereignty to the Iraqis and
that there be a clear and appropriate relationship between
MNF-I and Iraqi forces. Burcuoglu said Turkey supported all
of the preambular paragraphs. He asked for clarifications of
operative paras 8 and 9, suggested that op para 2 should
state that the IGC would cease to exist June 30 along with
the CPA, and recommended greater distinction be made between
forces that would protect the UN and the rest of the MNF.
Finally, he said Turkey would like to see language calling on
Iraq to eliminate all terrorist groups in Iraq that
constitute a danger to Iraq's neighbors. He offered
suggested language (see para 7). End Summary.



2. (C) On May 26, DCM called on MFA Middle East DG Tahsin
Burcuoglu to present Ref B points and discuss the draft Iraq
UNSCR. Burcuoglu opened the meeting by pulling out a
marked-up copy of the draft text and a page of notes, and
telling DCM he appreciated that the task before us was not
easy and that changing language in the draft would also be
difficult. Stressing the importance of the Iraqi people
feeling that Iraqi political and military forces are in
charge and that their sovereignty is real, not virtual,
Burcuoglu said Turkey was focused on two main questions: 1)
the degree of visible sovereignty that would be transferred
to Iraqis; and 2) the relationship between the MNF-I and
Iraqi forces. He said Iraqis should not have to get
permission from others to take actions, adding that if the
first impression of the new IIG was negative or mediocre we
would all have problems. Iraqis, he added, must feel the
leaders are the right people, and Turkey hoped that Ayatollah
SISTANI would be happy with Brahimi's list. DCM noted that
US views largely coincided with those of Turkey and referred

to Ref B points.


--------------
Full Support for Preambular Paras
--------------



3. (C) Turning to the draft text, Burcuoglu said we had
Turkey's support on all the preambular paragraphs. Reading
through them he said, "bravo!" after each. He noted Turkey's
satisfaction that there was no mention of the TAL in the
draft. Turkey fully supports the timetable outlined in the
text as well as a national conference to "resolve any
legitimacy deficit." The composition of the conference, he
said, would be important.


--------------
Turkish Suggestions
--------------



4. (C) Burcuoglu suggested that operative para (2) have the
words "and the Iraqi Governing Council" added after the CPA,
to make clear that the IGC would cease to exist with the CPA
on June 30. He noted Turkey's strong support for a census,
as envisioned in op para (5)(b)(iv),the sooner the better
from Turkey's perspective.



5. (C) In op para (7),Burcuoglu said that for Turkey, the
wording did not make a big enough distinction between the
MNF-I forces that would deal with future Fallujahs and Najafs
and the troops that would protect the UN. He said to get
other countries like Pakistan, India or Slovenia to
contribute to the UN protection force, an enhanced
distinction would be needed. They should be two clearly
separate things, otherwise countries will hesitate to
contribute. The difference should be clear to contributors
as well as Iraqis.



6. (C) Calling for more explanation of what was intended by
op para (8),Burcuoglu also questioned what was meant by
"international and regional security organizations" in op
para (9). He said he could only think of one such
organization and asked what we had in mind besides NATO.

7. (C) Burcuoglu moved to op paras (11) and (13),noting
their direct references to Iraq's neighbors, which he said
was a negative reference (though he conceded that he
understood why). He said the current formula makes no
reference to the dangers to Iraq's neighbors of threats
emanating from Iraq, and cited the presence in Iraq of the
PKK and the MEK as two cases in point. Burcuoglu pointed out
that the meetings of the countries neighboring Iraq had
agreed language concerning this and urged that we consider
inclusion in the text of something along the same lines.
Without such language, he said, Iraq's neighbors are given
obligations to fight terrorism threatening Iraq, but Iraq is
given no obligation to fight groups in Iraq threatening the
neighbors. "We expect something from Iraq on this matter,"
he said. DCM pointed out language in op para (10) on
combating terrorism in Iraq, but Burcuoglu said Turkey hoped
for more explicit language addressing the threat to
neighbors. He suggested consideration of language along the
lines of the following:


-- Reaffirming the necessity of eliminating all terrorist and
other armed groups from the Iraqi territory that constitute a
danger for the neighboring states;" (from a meeting in Kuwait
of Iraq's neighbors); or


-- reaffirming the necessity of removing from Iraqi territory
those terrorists and armed groups that constitute a danger
for neighboring countries, and calling upon the Iraqi
authorities to extend their full cooperation to this effect.
(from an Amman meeting of neighboring states' parliamentary
speakers)



8. (C) Finally, he said that Turkey would like a reference in
the text to Iraqi ownership of all Iraqi natural resources.
Burcuoglu concluded that getting the UNSCR finished and
passed would not be easy, but Turkey wished us success.


9.(U) Baghdad minimize considered.
EDELMAN