Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA3405
2005-06-15 13:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY SEEKS MEDIATION ROLE FOR TALAFAR
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003405
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD PLS PASS BASRAH AND HILLAH
BAGHDAD PLEASE PASS TO MNF-I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2015
TAGS: PREL MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY SEEKS MEDIATION ROLE FOR TALAFAR
Classified By: DCM Nancy E. McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003405
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD PLS PASS BASRAH AND HILLAH
BAGHDAD PLEASE PASS TO MNF-I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2015
TAGS: PREL MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY SEEKS MEDIATION ROLE FOR TALAFAR
Classified By: DCM Nancy E. McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para. five.
2. (C) Late on June 10, MFA Head of Department for Iraq H.
Avni Botsali informed PolMilOff that Turkey was planning to
bring approximately 20 Sunni and Shia leaders--presumably
Turkmen--from the troubled northwest Ninewa city of Talafar
to Turkey. The plan was that they would travel overland from
Talafar to the Turkish border, then proceed to Ankara to meet
FonMin Gul June 14. Botsali explained that Gul was seeking
to mediate the apparent Sunni-Shia conflict in the city.
PolMilOff advised Botsali to provide us with as much advance
notice of the group's movements as possible so that we could
coordinate with Embassy Baghdad and MNF-I.
3. (C) Botsali subsequently informed us June 12 that the
group of leaders would not be coming to Turkey imminently due
to "communications problems" within the group as well as
FonMin Gul's busy schedule after June 14. He added that
Turkey would seek to carry out this plan in the near future,
however.
4. (C) COMMENT: Embassy believes that we should support the
Turks' initiative. Turkey has long claimed to have influence
on Iraq's Turkmen population. We believe this is a good
opportunity for Turkey to try to demonstrate this influence.
Gul's involvement also indicates that Turkey is attempting to
be constructive at the highest levels of the GOT. END
COMMENT.
5. (C) Action Request: We will encourage the Turks to
approach the ITG, Embassy Baghdad, and MNF-I and Task Force
Freedom (through liaison officers) to coordinate this
initiative. Embassy requests USG elements in Iraq support
the Turks' plan and assist with security if possible and
appropriate.
6. (U) REOs Mosul and Kirkuk minimize considered.
EDELMAN
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD PLS PASS BASRAH AND HILLAH
BAGHDAD PLEASE PASS TO MNF-I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2015
TAGS: PREL MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY SEEKS MEDIATION ROLE FOR TALAFAR
Classified By: DCM Nancy E. McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para. five.
2. (C) Late on June 10, MFA Head of Department for Iraq H.
Avni Botsali informed PolMilOff that Turkey was planning to
bring approximately 20 Sunni and Shia leaders--presumably
Turkmen--from the troubled northwest Ninewa city of Talafar
to Turkey. The plan was that they would travel overland from
Talafar to the Turkish border, then proceed to Ankara to meet
FonMin Gul June 14. Botsali explained that Gul was seeking
to mediate the apparent Sunni-Shia conflict in the city.
PolMilOff advised Botsali to provide us with as much advance
notice of the group's movements as possible so that we could
coordinate with Embassy Baghdad and MNF-I.
3. (C) Botsali subsequently informed us June 12 that the
group of leaders would not be coming to Turkey imminently due
to "communications problems" within the group as well as
FonMin Gul's busy schedule after June 14. He added that
Turkey would seek to carry out this plan in the near future,
however.
4. (C) COMMENT: Embassy believes that we should support the
Turks' initiative. Turkey has long claimed to have influence
on Iraq's Turkmen population. We believe this is a good
opportunity for Turkey to try to demonstrate this influence.
Gul's involvement also indicates that Turkey is attempting to
be constructive at the highest levels of the GOT. END
COMMENT.
5. (C) Action Request: We will encourage the Turks to
approach the ITG, Embassy Baghdad, and MNF-I and Task Force
Freedom (through liaison officers) to coordinate this
initiative. Embassy requests USG elements in Iraq support
the Turks' plan and assist with security if possible and
appropriate.
6. (U) REOs Mosul and Kirkuk minimize considered.
EDELMAN