(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