TURKEY PREPARES FIRST STEP FOR COOPERATION WITH

UNCLAS ANKARA 002787 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR NEA/REA:CLAWSON; OES/PCI:ASALZBERG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID ECIN IZ PREL SENV SY TU SUBJECT: TURKEY PREPARES FIRST STEP FOR COOPERATION WITH IRAQ ON THE TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES REF: A. 2004 ANKARA 5780 ¶B. 2005 ANKARA 248 ¶C. 2005 ANKARA 1230 ¶D. 2005 ANKARA 2389 ¶E. STATE 55035 Sensitive But Unclassified. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Turkey's MFA Water expert said water data received from the Iraqi Water Ministry showed Iraq's willingness to cooperate on the Tigris and Euphrates, and he hoped to issue soon an invitation for an Iraqi delegation to come to Ankara to start talks on cooperation. We recommend that Washington consider some projects to support this positive step. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) MFA DDG Mithat Rende told us that he was pleased to finally get a response to Turkey's long-standing request for water data from Iraq. Although Rende said the response did not address all the information asked for, he said the response from the Iraqi Water Ministry showed a certain willingness on the part of the new government to cooperate. Rende said the Iraqi response opens the door for Turkey to accept Iraq's offer, made by Minister Rashid during his August 2004 Ankara visit (ref a) and again in a March 2005 letter (ref e) to initiate talks on Tigris-Euphrates cooperation. Rende said he would consult with MFA's Middle East department and would probably accept the offer and invite an Iraqi delegation to come to Ankara. Rende noted the May 19 visit to Ankara of Iraqi PM Jafari, but did not indicate if an invitation would be ready in time for the visit. Rende did not say whether Syria would be included in the invitation, but he did note that Syria and Turkey have been talking about transboundary water issues recently (ref b) and have a slightly better record of cooperation. ¶3. (SBU) We explained our understanding that Minister Rashid had only recently received the Turkish water data request, which had been transmitted by diplomatic note to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry but apparently not forwarded to the Water Ministry, and therefore the delay should not be interpreted as intentional. Rende accepted that as correct and pointed out the Iraq's MFA needed a point person for water issues if the cooperation sought by Rashid is going to be successful. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: A Turkish invitation to Rashid to begin talks on Tigris-Euphrates cooperation may prove a turning point on the Tigris-Euphrates issue. Rende and others in Turkey have openly questioned Iraq's desire to cooperate, but now seem prepared to accept at face value that Rashid is sincere. Nevertheless, given the bitter history among the riparians on this issue, we should encourage all sides to keep their ambitions modest -- at least in the first meetings. Rende recalled his conversation April in Istanbul with NEA Science Advisor Lawson (ref d) and reiterated his desire for the U.S. to propose ideas to build confidence among the parties. Per refs a and c, now would be a good time for Washington to discuss proposals that could be presented to Iraqi and Turkish officials as an expression of U.S. support for this cooperation and to help address some of the needs. Baghdad Minimize Considered. EDELMAN