ACTION REQUEST: AIRLIFT FOR WOUNDED IRAQI KURDS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002651

SIPDIS

BAGHDAD PLEASE PASS TO MNF-I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2015
TAGS: MOPS MASS PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: AIRLIFT FOR WOUNDED IRAQI KURDS

REF: ANKARA 2578

Classified By: A/DCM James R. Moore for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 5.


2. (C) Late May 6, MFA Iraq Department Head Avni Botsali
informed polmiloff that KDP leader Massoud Barzani had
requested that Turkey medivac 27 of the injured from the
Erbil bombing and 10 of their family members for advanced
medical care in Turkey. (The GOT had offered such care in
its message of condolences for the bombings, reftel.)
Botsali said that MFA was trying to charter an aircraft or,
failing that, would request the Turkish military provide an
aircraft. If there were no other alternatives, Turkey might
turn to the US for airlift support. They hoped to be able to
fly the patients out of Erbil on May 7. Subsequently, Botsali
informed polmiloff that MFA U/S Tuygan thought it would be
better if the US provided the airlift.


3. (C) Polmilcouns contacted MFA MidEast DDG Safak Gokturk
and advised that, as we had learned in previous cases, it was
unlikely that the US could make a decision on airlift for
these patients and the necessary logistical arrangements in
time to move them May 7. If Turkey had the means, then the
Embassy would do all it could to facilitate the necessary
clearances. Moreover, a 100 pct Turkish operation would
likely have a more positive impact on Turkey-KDP relations.


4. (C) After consulting within MFA, Gokturk informed
polmilcouns that KDP foreign relations head Safeen Dizayee
had insisted that the patients be moved May 7, if not by air,
then over land. Gokturk said Turkey would provide the
airlift. They had not yet made final arrangements, so MFA
did not have the information necessary to file a formal
diplomatic clearance request. Polmilcouns advised that a
formal request should be filed with Iraqi MFA as soon as the
information was known, and suggested that the Turkish LNO to
CENTCOM should work the details with the staff there.
Gokturk said MFA would also contact us. Polmiloff followed
up with Botsali to reiterate that the Turkish request should
be submitted as soon as possible.


5. (C) Action request: We request Embassy Baghdad's and
CENTCOM's assistance in facilitating the clearance request
for this humanitarian mission once it is delivered to the ITG
and CENTCOM staff in Tampa.


6. (U) Iraq posts minimize considered.
EDELMAN