REVISED ACTION REQUEST: TURKS FORMALLY REQUEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007674

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

BAGHDAD ALSO PLEASE PASS TO MNF-I
REO MOSUL ALSO PLEASE PASS TO TF-BOB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2015
TAGS: PREL MOPS PGOV TU IZ
SUBJECT: REVISED ACTION REQUEST: TURKS FORMALLY REQUEST
ASSISTANCE FOR MISSION TO MOSUL

REF: ANKARA 7539

Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


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


2. (C) Summary: MFA has revised its request for assistance
for a Turkish team to travel to Mosul -- now o/a Jan. 16-19
-- to meet with local and U.S. officials and look at sites
for the new Turkish consulate. We hope our colleagues in
Mosul can meet this request; this will assist Turkey in
engaging meaningfully in the new Iraq. End summary.


3. (C) MFA Deputy Director General for the Middle East Sakir
Torunlar called us in Dec. 28 to "formally" request U.S.
assistance for a Turkish team to travel to Mosul in January
to meet with local and U.S. officials and look for a site to
re-open the Turkish consulate there. MFA has revised their
previous, "informal" request of Dec. 20 (reftel).


4. (C) The Turkish delegation now proposes to travel to Mosul
o/a Jan. 16-19 by air. They would plan to land at the
Military Air Field (MAF) in Mosul; their plane would
immediately go back to Turkey and return to collect the team
later. The team would consist of Consul General Avni
Botsali, three additional MFA personnel, five bodyguards
(with small arms),and one representative each from the
Turkish National Intelligence Organization, the Ministry of
Interior's Security Division, and the Turkish General Staff.
The Turks will provide three hard cars and drivers: one will
drive to Mosul from the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad, two
others will cross overland from the Turkish border to Mosul
to meet the team. Thus the total size of the delegation
--including drivers and bodyguards -- will be fifteen.


5. (C) In addition to permission to land at the MAF, the
Turks have requested that TF-BoB/REO Mosul provide food and
secure lodging for the team for three nights (GOT is happy to
pay for these services if required),a security escort
through Mosul to meet Iraqi officials and look at sites to
place the Turkish Consulate, calls on the Mosul RC and
TF-BoB's senior representative, and other meetings with CF
and REO officials to elicit our advice on security in Mosul.


6. (C) Torunlar emphasized that the safety of the Turkish
delegation is the GOT's top priority. He will instruct his
team to closely heed our advice on security, and only to
enter those parts of Mosul we consider sufficiently safe. He
added that MFA will provide us complete details on the small
arms the team's security detail will carry. Finally,
Torunlar said that while the GOT hopes to complete this
mission by the end of January, we are welcome to recommend
different dates than Jan. 16-19 if it is more convenient for
us.


7. (C) Action Request: We realize that providing the Turks
with this level of assistance is a significant undertaking
for our people in Mosul. At the same time, we want to
support Turkey's continuing positive engagement in building
the new Iraq. Turkey is Iraq's only democratic neighbor;
visiting senior Iraqis consistently note this. Over the past
year, the GOT has taken a number of positive steps toward
Iraq, such as hosting a meeting between Amb. Khalilzad and
Sunni Arab leaders in Istanbul earlier this month; providing
training for Iraqi diplomats, political parties, and military
officers; allowing the use of Incirlik Air Base for cargo hub
and tanker refueling flights in support of OIF; and opening
the Habur Gate ground line of communication for transport of
coalition sustainment supplies and humanitarian fuels for the
Iraqi people. Botsali, Turkey's incoming Consul General in
Mosul, has told us that opening a Turkish consulate in Mosul
sends a message of normalization of relations and solidarity
with the Iraqi government. We should assist them in sending
this important message.
WILSON