(S) TURKS OFFER DEC 3 MEETING WITH IRAQI SUNNIS

S E C R E T ANKARA 007027

SIPDIS

S/I FOR AMBASSADOR JEFFREY
MOSCOW PLEASE PASS TO S/I ROBERT DEUTSCH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU IZ US
SUBJECT: (S) TURKS OFFER DEC 3 MEETING WITH IRAQI SUNNIS


Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (S) Turkish MFA Middle East Director General Celikkol
called in PolCouns November 30 to convey an invitation to
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Khalilzad, Ambassador Jeffrey or
another appropriate USG official to meet privately this
Saturday afternoon, December 3, in Istanbul with a group of
Iraqi Sunni figures. FM Gul, Celikkol said, supports the
initiative, will be in Istanbul Saturday as well, and would
be pleased to meet with Ambassador Khalizad. The Turks will
meet with the Iraqi delegation Saturday morning (see
preliminary list at para 3 below),and have been in regular
contact with some Sunni groups in Iraq to urge them to
participate in the political process. The Sunnis, Celikkol
said, had asked the Turks to arrange a meeting with U.S.
authorities, and Minister Gul believes this would be a
positive step.


2. (S) The Turkish Embassies in Washington and Baghdad had
been instructed to deliver this message as well. Ambassador
Logoglu had already met with Ambassador Jeffrey in
Washington, Celikkol said, but the Turkish Ambassador in
Baghdad had not yet been able to deliver the message to
Embassy Baghdad. With respect to logistics, Celikkol said
the Turks would arrange a venue and logistics in cooperation
with our Consulate in Istanbul.


3. (S) Celikkol handed over the following list of Sunni
participants, which he said Ambassador Jeffrey had requested,
and which he stressed is not final (titles are translated
informally from the Turkish). He pointed to several names as
significant figures (not all those listed are currently
resident in Iraq):

--Salah al-Mutlak, Former Spokesperson, National Dialogue
Council

--Adnan al-Duleimi, Ehli Sunni Group Chairman

--Tarik Hasimi, General Chairman, Iraq Islamic Party

--Dr. Ali Al Mashadani, General Secretary, Political Group
(and petrol engineer)

--Raad Nair, Businessman, resident in the United Arab Emirates

--Dr. Beshhar El Feyzi, Islamic Spokesman, Heyetul Ulema

--Dr. Hisham Al Drubi, Professor of Medicine, currently
resident in Great Britain; originally from Baghdad

--Ali Ubeyd, Leader of the Ubeyd Tribe

--Dr. Mustafa Falah, Turkmen, British citizen, resident in
the United Arab Emirates, Engineer, general manager of a
major construction firm.


4. (C) Comment: The notice is short, but the Turks appear
genuinely to be trying to act constructively to promote Sunni
participation in the run-up to the December 15 elections. It
is in Ankara's interest that Sunni participation in the
election process be more robust than in the past, especially
with an eye to achieving a balanced, representative outcome
in places such as Kirkuk. We note that Deputy Coordinator
for Iraq Deutsch will be in Ankara on Friday; an extension of
his stay through Saturday would allow for participation, if
desired. End comment.
MCELDOWNEY