KOREAN TROOPS TO NORTHERN IRAQ: NEED TO BRIEF PM

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000453

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR TU IZ KS
SUBJECT: KOREAN TROOPS TO NORTHERN IRAQ: NEED TO BRIEF PM
ERDOGAN BEFORE HIS FEB 7 VISIT TO SEOUL


REF: A) 03 SEOUL 6133 B) ANKARA 361 C) ANKARA 362


(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch. Reasons: 1.5 (B and
D).



1. (U) This is an action request. See para 4.



2. (C) DCM confirmed January 22 that PM Erdogan will travel
to Seoul to meet with Korean officials February 7.



3. (C) PM Erdogan may already know (possibly from information
obtained by the Turkish military liaison officers stationed
in northern Iraq) that ROK troops intend to deploy to Kirkuk
in April 2004 (ref a). Given the high degree of concern
expressed by the GOT, including the PM, about Kirkuk
developments, we expect the ROK deployment and Turkish
concerns to be part of the discussions with ROK officials
during the PM's visit.



4. (C) Action request: Given the Turkish sensitivities
surrounding northern Iraq (Kirkuk in particular),we
recommend that we receive instructions to brief the GOT on
the deployment of Korean troops to northern Iraq. We also
recommend that Washington provide guidance for Embassy Seoul
on the status of and our political efforts in the Kirkuk area
to share with ROK officials. We should also brief them on
Turkish concerns about recent Iraqi Kurdish efforts to gain
maximum advantage for their region and Kirkuk therein (refs
b-c). We need to ensure that the information conveyed to
Erdogan by Korean officials reflects an understanding of the
positions we have conveyed to the GOT and is consistent with
the information the PM receives during his meetings in
Washington.



5. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
EDELMAN