ANKARA PUK REP SAYS TALABANI STRONGLY OPPOSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000982

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2025
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU IZ
SUBJECT: ANKARA PUK REP SAYS TALABANI STRONGLY OPPOSES
JA'AFARI FOR PM


Classified By: Counselor for Political-Military Affairs Timothy A. Bett
s for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Ankara PUK Representative Bahros Galali--who has
proven to be well-connected to the PUK leadership--pulled
PolMilOff aside after a Feb. 23 briefing Galali provided to
local diplomats on the Iraqi elections (reported septel). He
expressed party leader Jalal Talabani's deep concern that the
United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) has chosen Ibrahim Ja'afari as
its candidate for Prime Minister. Galali said that Talabani
strongly opposes Ja'afari and believes that he is controlled
by Iran.


2. (C) Galali reported that Talabani is now working along two
tracks: to persuade UIA to put up another candidate as well
as to seek to override the UIA's choice and install Allawi as
PM. Galali asked for the U.S.'s support for these
initiatives, and specifically asked for our views on Allawi
continuing as PM. PolMilOff responded that this is an issue
for Iraqis to resolve.


3. (C) Galali will accompany the GOT's Special Envoy for
Iraq, Amb. Osman Koruturk, to Dokan on Feb. 24 for a meeting
with Talabani. We will get a readout from both Galali and
the Turks upon their return.


4. (U) Iraq posts minimize considered.
EDELMAN