IRAQI KURDISH LEADERS CHECK IN WITH TURKS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005142

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2009
TAGS: PREL PTER ENRG TU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI KURDISH LEADERS CHECK IN WITH TURKS,
TALABANI OFFERS ALTERNATIVE ROUTE FOR TURKISH TRUCKERS

Classified By: Acting PolMilCouns Margaret H. Nardi for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) Summary: PUK leader Jalal Talabani and KDP official
Nechirvan Barzani each met separately Sept. 9 with FonMin
Abdullah Gul and other MFA officials during brief visits to
Ankara. MFA told us that both were pessimistic that national
elections can be held in Iraq by next January given the
security situation there, and Barzani predicted that the
census planned for October would be pushed to November.
Talabani offered security for Turkish truckers if they stay
in Kurdish-controlled areas, offered to meet the leader of
ITF, and told the Turks that the IIG would sign off on an oil
drilling deal with Turkey soon. End summary.


2. (C) Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal
Talabani made a brief visit to Ankara Sept. 7 on his way to a
European tour. Coincidentally, Kurdistan Democratic Party
(KDP) official Nechirvan Barzani also stopped here on the
same day on his way home from Europe. Both met separately
with FonMin Gul and other MFA officials. MFA Chief of
Section for the Middle East Hasan Sekizkok gave polmiloff a
readout on Sept. 10. Sekizkok reported that both Talabani
and Barzani believe that the security situation in Iraq would
not stabilize in time for January elections, and they
predicted the elections would be pushed back.


3. (C) KDP's Barzani added that he believes that the census
planned for October will be pushed back until November.
(Note: The census is particularly sensitive for the Turks,
who accuse Iraqi Kurds of seeking to change the balance of
population in Kirkuk so that they can control this key city.
End note.) Gul told both Talabani and Barzani that Turkey
was not seeking a "Kirkuk problem," and urged Iraq's Kurds
and Turkmen to work together. For his part, Talabani told
Gul that he would meet the leader of the Iraqi Turkmen Front.
(Note: We believe he has said this before, but to our
knowledge such a meeting has not taken place. End note.)


4. (C) Talabani told Gul that the PUK was prepared to provide
security for Turkish truckers from the border all the way to
Baghdad, provided the drivers followed the road through
Sulemaniye and Kirkuk instead of through Mosul. Sekizkok
said that Gul appreciated the offer, but it was not clear if
Turkish drivers would want to take this route (which would
take drivers well north and east of the most direct route
into the Iraqi heartland). Sekizkok added that this would be
a commercial decision for Turkish drivers and trucking
companies.


5. (C) Sekizkok told us that Talabani and Gul also discussed
the oil field near Tak-Tak. Talabani reported that the
Turkish oil company, TPAO, is near to reaching an agreement
with the Iraqis on drilling rights, and that soon the IIG
Minister for Oil would sign off on the deal. We understand
this deal had been held up due to uncertainty over whether a
Kurdish regional official or IIG official would sign the
deal. (Comment: We think it is good news that both sides
here took the high road and recognized IIG sovereignty over
this oil. End comment.)


6. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
EDELMAN