(S) IRAQ: TURKEY ENCOURAGES SUNNI PARTICIPATION,

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006099

SIPDIS

NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2015
TAGS: PREL IZ TU
SUBJECT: (S) IRAQ: TURKEY ENCOURAGES SUNNI PARTICIPATION,
MEETS WITH SADRISTS

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR JANICE WEINER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D).


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

Summary
--------------


2. (S/NF) MFA Director General for the Middle East and South
Asia Oguz Celikkol briefed us October 7 on recent GOT
contacts with Iraqi Sunni representatives as well as two
envoys from Muqtada al-Sadr. Celikkol said the GOT urged the
Sunnis to participate in the political process and not repeat
their past mistakes. The al-Sadr representatives asked if
they could open an office in Ankara to improve contacts with
the GOT. They reportedly told the MFA they are willing to
participate in the political process, share common ground
with the Sunnis on the importance of Iraqi unity, support
Iraq's Arab identity, fear that the Kurds are overrunning
Kirkuk, and fear Iranian penetration in Iraq. Celikkol
expressed interest in U.S. perceptions of the Sadrists and
explicitly requested our assessment of their political reach
and intentions. End Summary.

Turks to Sunnis: Don't Make Same Mistake Twice
-------------- --


3. (C/Rel MCF-I) Celikkol told Poloff and PolMiloff that, in
meetings the last week of September with visiting Sunni
leaders Tariq al Hashemi (Iraqi Islamic Party) and Salih
Mutlaq (National Dialogue Council) in Ankara, the MFA
strongly encouraged Sunni participation in the constitutional
referendum and December elections. The Sunnis were told the
GOT would have little sympathy for them if they "repeated
their mistake," of not participating in the political
process. In a separate discussion, MFA Iraq Director Avni
Botsali told Poloff the Sunnis heard the message but
reiterated their concerns about constitutional provisions on
the use of Arabic and the indivisibility of the Iraqi state.
Botsali added the GOT is also encouraging the Kurds at every
opportunity to maintain contact with the Sunnis, especially
during the process of developing implementing legislation
once the constitution is approved.

Turks Meet Visiting al-Sadr Reps
--------------


4. (S/NF) Celikkol said the MFA had met recently with
Muqtada al-Sadr representatives Sheikh Saad al-Jabr (name as
heard),a political advisor to al-Sadr, and Sheikh Fatel
abu-Zayed al-Dakel, head of the Sharia court. The al-Sadr
representatives asked about the possibility of opening an
office in Turkey to improve contacts with the Turkish
government. (Note: The PUK, KDP, SCIRI, and the Iraqi
Turkmen Front all have offices in Ankara. End note.)
Celikkol said the MFA is considering this request "in a
positive light." Celikkol said that, in discussions with him
and GOT Special Envoy for Iraq Koruturk, the two al-Sadr
representatives came across as "intelligent and moderate,"
which pleasantly surprised the Turkish side. The two
appeared well-informed and stressed that al-Sadr supporters
want to participate in the political process despite enduring
misgivings about the current draft constitution. According
to Celikkol, they are concerned about growing Iranian
influence and suggested they are willing to work with the
Sunnis to counter this. In general, they took an "Arab
nationalist" approach, fearing the fracture of Iraq and
sharing many ideas in common with the Sunnis. In that
regard, they look at the Badr group with skepticism,
regarding them as a foreign force in Iraq. Celikkol further
reported the representatives stressed Kirkuk belongs to the
whole nation. They claimed al-Sadr has the allegiance of
70-80 percent of Iraq's Shiites. (Comment: The Turks shared
our skepticism on the last point. End Comment.)


5. (S/NF) Action Request: Celikkol asked if the U.S. and
Turkey could share, on a confidential basis, our respective
views on al-Sadr and assessments of the group's influence and
intentions in Iraq. Emboffs promised to look into what we
could share in that area. Celikkol seemed to prefer we share
notes in Ankara but Washington or Baghdad would seem more
logical to us. He asked that we keep secret the fact that he
discussed his meeting with the Sadrists with us.


6. (S/NF) Comment: The Turks seemed impressed and intrigued
by the al-Sadr envoys, who appeared willing to be
constructive in Iraq and who appeared to share deeply-held
GOT concerns regarding the potential for Iraq's fracture and
growing Iranian influence. End comment.
MCELDOWNEY