Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BAGHDAD3394
2005-08-17 11:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR CEVIKOZ: WE SHARE YOUR GOALS

Tags:  PTER PGOV PREL TU IZ 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003394 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2015
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR CEVIKOZ: WE SHARE YOUR GOALS
FOR IRAQ

REF: A. ANKARA 3388

B. BAGHDAD 3201

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003394

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2015
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR CEVIKOZ: WE SHARE YOUR GOALS
FOR IRAQ

REF: A. ANKARA 3388

B. BAGHDAD 3201

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C//REL AUS,GB) Turkish Ambassador Unal Cevikoz opened his
August 11 courtesy call on the Ambassador with a
reaffirmation of his government's commitment to the
Coalition's political goals for Iraq. "We support the
political process," he said, "We're in the same boat as you."
He regretted Turkey's non-participation in the military
campaign "because of past events that should be forgotten,"
but renewed his government's offer to the Coalition of access
to Turkey's extensive Sunni contacts so as to advance
sectarian reconciliation. The ultimate motivation for
Turkey's positive contribution in Iraq, he implied, is his
government's desire to maintain the best possible
relationship with the United States.


2. (C//REL AUS,GB) Noting the Turkish people's frustration
with the continued presence of the Kurdistan Workers Party
(PKK) in northern Iraq, Cevikoz requested the Ambassador's
support in eliminating the terrorist group's safe haven. The
Ambassador said American military forces are currently fully
engaged in the counter-insurgency campaign; however, he will
continue to press the Iraqi government and the Kurdish
Regional Government (KRG) towards action against the PKK.


3. (C//REL AUS,GB) Cevikoz questioned Iraqi interest in
curbing the PKK. He complained the Iraqi Transitional
Government (ITG) had sent a "weak delegation" to early August
tri-lateral talks in Washington (Note: Cevikoz's criticism
is unfair. The Turks had agreed to a technical-level meeting
limited to a discussion of extradition procedures.) He
alleged that a senior PKK member had recently met with KRG
President Barzani and another had been present at the opening
of the Kurdish parliament. He disputed FM Zebari's recent
assertion that the bilateral relationship is without serious
disagreement. Cevikoz even mistakenly complained of a lack
of Iraqi responsiveness to Turkey's request to extradite two
detained Turks suspected of involvement in the 2003 Islamist
bombing of Britain's Istanbul consulate. (REF B)


4. (C//REL AUS,GB) The Ambassador pledged to incorporate
Turkey's security concerns into his regular dialogue with ITG
and KRG officials and to report back to Cevikoz on his
communications.
Khalilzad