TURKS CONCERNED ABOUT TALAFAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005165 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS TU IZ SUBJECT: TURKS CONCERNED ABOUT TALAFAR REF: A. ANKARA 3405 ¶B. ANKARA 4012 Classified By: ADCM James R. Moore for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The GOT Deputy Special Envoy for Iraq, Ethem Tokdemir, briefed PolMilCouns Sept. 1 on Turkish concerns and actions regarding Talafar. He reported that a delegation of 17 tribal Turkmen leaders from Talafar (nine Shia, six Sunni, two unknown--full list in para. 5) traveled to Ankara and met Aug. 17 with FonMin Gul. The Turkmen complained to Gul that Talafar's problems only began during and after CF operations there in Sept. 2004. The city now has serious infrastructure problems: lack of water, sewage, and electricity. They claimed the hospital in Talafar was under "peshmerga occupation" (former pesh in IA uniforms),and that these soldiers abuse those few Turkmen who dare go to the hospital for treatment. They accused the Kurds of fomenting Shia-Sunni conflict, and of arresting over 140 Talafar Turkmen. ¶2. (C) Tokdemir reported that Gul listened to their complaints, but urged the leaders to leave their disagreements behind them and work for the common good of the Turkmen and of Talafar. According to Tokdemir, Gul emphasized that the Turkmen must participate in the political process and that violence and armed struggle are simply not an option. Gul told the group that Turkey will provide humanitarian assistance to Talafar, and that the GOT would be in touch with U.S. and ITG authorities on this issue. ¶3. (C) We expressed appreciation for Turkey's mediation efforts, adding that we and the ITG continue to work together on this issue. Unfortunately, the insurgency continues to infiltrate the city, seriously exacerbating the problem. It is not clear how long the ITG and MNF-I can allow this situation to continue, we noted. ¶4. (C) Later on Sept. 1, MFA Director General for the Middle East Oguz Celikkol called the Charge. Under instructions from MFA Under Secretary Tuygan, Celikkol asked the Charge to urge the highest levels of the U.S. government not to carry out operations in Talafar like those of Sept. 2004. This is "an extremely sensitive issue" for Turkey, Celikkol stated. Charge responded that our forces in Iraq as well as Embassy Baghdad are sensitive to Turkish concerns about Talafar, and we will endeavor to share information as much as possible about events there. If the time comes when combat operations become necessary to remove the insurgents, we will do all we can to minimize civilian casualties and protect the civilian population. ¶5. (SBU) List of Talafar leaders who met FonMin Gul in Ankara Aug. 17 (embassy informal translation of list as provided by the Turkish MFA): BEGIN TEXT Dr. Ibrahim Arafat, Former Vice Governor of Mosul, Head of Mosul Iraqi Turkmen Front, Shia Yasar Abdulla, ITF Head in Talafar, Efendievi Tribe (8000 people),Sunni Hazim Muhammed Ali (NFI) Adil Muhammed Said, Emirbey Tribe (3000 people),Sunni Mohammed Emin Osman, Cebeller Tribe (12,000 people),Sunni Mohammed Halil Hanas, Alaybey Tribe (30,000 people),Sunni Fener Davud Suleyman, Beker Tribe (2000-3000 people),Sunni Izzedin Abdullah, Ali, Head of Bar Association, Eldevleti Tribe (15,000 people),Sunni Muhammed Resit, Talafar Village Guard Adil Hasan, Himmetli Tribe (10,000 people),Sunni Shaykh Cevad Mahmud, Talafar region's most respected Shia scholar, Shia Mohammed Kanber, Head of Talafar Da'wa Party, Shia Abdulmedhi Alihan, Elkanli Tribe (10,000 people),Shia Salim Kasim Hidir, Muratli Tribe (20,000 people),Shia Mohammed Ali Mahmut, Colak Tribe (20,000 people),Shia Galip Hasan Ahmet, Colak Tribe (20,000 people),Shia Huseyin Ali Colk, Colak Tribe (20,000 people),Shia Salah Vahab Mohammed Yunus, Seyitevi Tribe, Shia (at last moment did not attend) END TEXT MCELDOWNEY