TALAFAR SITUATION: TURKS WANT TO SEND HA SEPT. 10

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005247

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS EAID TU IZ
SUBJECT: TALAFAR SITUATION: TURKS WANT TO SEND HA SEPT. 10

REF: ANKARA 5221

Classified By: Counselor for Political-Military Affairs Timothy A. Bett
s for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action request -- see para 3.


2. (C) Recalling his discussion with us the previous day
(reftel),MFA MidEast DG Oguz Celikkol contacted polmilcouns
Sept. 8 to relay that the Turkish Red Crescent was preparing
to send "on Saturday or Sunday" (Sept. 10 or 11) from Ankara
three trucks of humanitarian assistance to Talafar. The
trucks would be carrying 120 tons of food, 30 tons of water,
water purification tablets and up to 500 tents.
Additionally, on Sept. 12, Turkey plans to send two trucks
carrying medical supplies. He said instructions to contact
Embassy Baghdad and PM Jafari's office had been sent to the
Turkish Embassy in Baghdad. He reiterated his earlier
request that we specify which route these trucks should
travel--i.e., over the Syrian border or through the Habur
Gate. MFA was preparing a detailed list of the relief
supplies and would provide it to us late Sept. 9.


3. (C) Action Request: We request immediate guidance on what
to tell the Turks about the preferred route to Talafar
(through Habur or through Syria, and then by which road). We
would appreciate Embassy Baghdad's assistance in keeping
abreast of the ITG's consideration of the Turkish offer, as
we have found that communications through the Iraqi Embassy
here or, at times, the Turkish Embassy Baghdad can be slow.
MCELDOWNEY