IRAQ: TURKISH REACTION TO DRAFT UNSCR TEXT

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