TURKISH MFA ON IRAQ ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 007377 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2015 TAGS: PREL IZ TU SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA ON IRAQ ELECTIONS REF: A. STATE 220728 ¶B. STATE 223612 Classified By: POLCOUNS JANICE WEINER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D). ¶1. (C) Summary. The Turkish Foreign Ministry released a generally positive press statement December 15 on the Iraqi elections (para 7). The statement did note that the GOT is concerned about information it has received on alleged irregularities in northern Iraq. MFA officials told us Turkmen (Turcoman) and "other" sources have reported thousands of Kurdish voters bused in to Kirkuk from Erbil and Suleymaniya despite the pre-election travel ban. The MFA considers this, together with the 45 percent increase in registered voters in Kirkuk compared to an 8 percent increase country-wide, signs of a "serious discrepancy" in the vote. The MFA also reported that a Turkish TV crew from "Cihan TV" was detained by Iraqi forces in the Kirkuk Governorate; the current status of the crew is not known. End Summary ¶2. (C) MFA Middle East DG Oguz Celikkol and Iraq Department Head Fazli Corman told us December 15 that Turkmen and "other" sources (NFI) reported up to 15 thousand Kurds from Erbil and Suleymaniya were bused in to Kirkuk in the last two days for the purpose of illegally voting there, despite the travel ban imposed before the elections. (Iraqi Turkmen Front Ankara representative Ahmet Muratli told us December 14 that local Turkmen had recorded the license plates and other details of the buses reportedly used to transport the Kurds). MFA officials stressed that Kirkuk had experienced a 45 percent increase in registered voters since the January elections, compared to an 8 percent Iraq-wide increase. These two observations together, they insisted, constitute a serious discrepancy in the Kirkuk vote. They said that, even if observed irregularities are not sufficient to alter the outcome of the vote, they should be condemned because they undermine voter confidence in the election process. ¶3. (C) MFA officials were also concerned that some of the 81 thousand voters in Kirkuk de-registered by the IECI would be allowed to vote if they provided adequate identification. They insisted that only registered voters should be allowed to vote and seemed unmoved by our explanation that some of the de-registered voters were removed from the lists because of improperly prepared registration cards, not necessarily fraudulent ones, and should be permitted to vote if they provide adequate proof of status. ¶4. (C) Corman admitted that Turkmen claims were transmitted in an "emotional" atmosphere and said the MFA allowed for significant exaggeration. He also accepted our observation that the Turkmen community, divided within itself and with numerous Turkmen and non-Turkmen parties to choose from, may well win fewer seats that it believes it deserves and that this may color its outlook on the elections. Nevertheless, Corman and DG Celikkol stated the Turkmen have significant influence in certain circles in Turkey and the GOT cannot ignore their views. ¶5. (C) MFA officials also reported the detention of a Turkish "Cihan TV" crew in Kirkuk Governorate, reportedly by Iraqi security forces. They had no further information on the incident or the current status of the TV crew. They noted that, apart from Kurdish efforts to bring outside voters to Kirkuk, there had been reports of violence and intimidation against Turkmen voters at polling places. ¶6. (C) With that background, DG Celikkol passed us the just-released MFA press statement on the elections, noting that the MFA had hastened to release the statement on voting day, rather than a day later, fearing that Turkmen allegations of voting irregularities would hit the Turkish press December 16 and make a positive MFA statement more difficult. An informal embassy translation of the MFA's December 15 statement follows. ¶7. (U) Begin text: General elections will be held today in neighboring Iraq. As is known, these elections constitute an important phase in the political process in Iraq. We hope the elections will have positive consequences for the Iraqi people. The participation in these elections of Iraqi groups that had boycotted the January 30, 2005 elections will provide an opportunity for all sectors of the Iraqi population to be represented in the new parliament in a broader way. The Iraqi Assembly that will be established after the elections will assume responsibilities such as amendment of the constitution and arrangement of the administrative structure of the country -- matters of vital importance to the future of Iraq. We wish success to the new members of the Iraqi Assembly on their historical endeavor, which they will realize through compromise with all sectors of Iraqi society. Having no shadow cast over the issue of holding fair and transparent elections is of great importance from the point of view of advancing a healthy political process. We hope that allegations to the effect that there were irregularities in preparation of voters lists and during voting procedures, and that voters were transported between provinces, will be meticulously investigated by Iraqi authorities. For the legitimacy of the election results and a healthy functioning of the political process, elimination of suspicions in this regard bears importance. We shall continue to follow this. Turkey, a friend and neighbor of Iraq, has made it a priority to establish a dialogue based on mutual confidence with all Iraqi groups without distinction, and has strongly supported the political transition process since the beginning. Turkey will pursue this understanding in the coming period and will continue to engage the friendly and brotherly Iraqi people and government in every field. End text. WILSON