Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA1020
2006-03-01 16:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY/IRAQ: FM GUL AND UNSYG ANNAN DISCUSS
how-toVZCZCXRO3752 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHFL RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHMOS RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHAK #1020 0601605 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 011605Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3610 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU PRIORITY RHMFISS/425ABS IZMIR TU//CC// PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// PRIORITY RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001020
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2016
TAGS: PREL IR SY IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: FM GUL AND UNSYG ANNAN DISCUSS
MEETING OF IRAQ'S NEIGHBORS
REF: 05 ANKARA 04230
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001020
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2016
TAGS: PREL IR SY IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: FM GUL AND UNSYG ANNAN DISCUSS
MEETING OF IRAQ'S NEIGHBORS
REF: 05 ANKARA 04230
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) Turkey's Iraq Coordinator Oguz Celikkol told
Ambassador March 1 that, at a February 26 meeting in Doha,
Foreign Minister Gul and UN Secretary General Annan discussed
holding an "Iraq and its Neighbors" meeting of foreign
ministers. This would be in the context of an existing
series of "Neighbors of Iraq" meetings, the last of which (in
its interior minister format -- see reftel) Turkey hosted in
Istanbul in July 2005. Gul and Annan reportedly discussed
expanding the format to include Iraq, the Perm-5 and UN.
Celikkol said that such a meeting would show strong
international support for the Iraqi leadership and for the
unity of Iraq, with the goal of calming the security
situation there. In their conversation, Gul reportedly
suggested the initiative should come from the UNSYG.
Celikkol implied that the ball is in Annan's court.
2. (C) Celikkol noted that it is Tehran's turn to host such
a meeting, but that Turkey would also be willing to host
again. He said it would be best to hold the meeting in the
region, although other venues would be possible. Celikkol
added that Turkey had been in touch with the Iranians on
this; Tehran expressed interest but proposed waiting until
the new Iraqi government is formed.
3. (C) Ambassador expressed great skepticism about senior
level U.S. officials attending any meeting that included the
Iranians. He added that the European P-5 members would
likely feel the same way. Celikkol suggested the U.S. could
be represented by Ambassador Khalilzad, given the latter's
authority to deal with Iranian officials on Iraq-related
matters. Ambassador undertook to relay this information to
Washington.
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2016
TAGS: PREL IR SY IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: FM GUL AND UNSYG ANNAN DISCUSS
MEETING OF IRAQ'S NEIGHBORS
REF: 05 ANKARA 04230
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) Turkey's Iraq Coordinator Oguz Celikkol told
Ambassador March 1 that, at a February 26 meeting in Doha,
Foreign Minister Gul and UN Secretary General Annan discussed
holding an "Iraq and its Neighbors" meeting of foreign
ministers. This would be in the context of an existing
series of "Neighbors of Iraq" meetings, the last of which (in
its interior minister format -- see reftel) Turkey hosted in
Istanbul in July 2005. Gul and Annan reportedly discussed
expanding the format to include Iraq, the Perm-5 and UN.
Celikkol said that such a meeting would show strong
international support for the Iraqi leadership and for the
unity of Iraq, with the goal of calming the security
situation there. In their conversation, Gul reportedly
suggested the initiative should come from the UNSYG.
Celikkol implied that the ball is in Annan's court.
2. (C) Celikkol noted that it is Tehran's turn to host such
a meeting, but that Turkey would also be willing to host
again. He said it would be best to hold the meeting in the
region, although other venues would be possible. Celikkol
added that Turkey had been in touch with the Iranians on
this; Tehran expressed interest but proposed waiting until
the new Iraqi government is formed.
3. (C) Ambassador expressed great skepticism about senior
level U.S. officials attending any meeting that included the
Iranians. He added that the European P-5 members would
likely feel the same way. Celikkol suggested the U.S. could
be represented by Ambassador Khalilzad, given the latter's
authority to deal with Iranian officials on Iraq-related
matters. Ambassador undertook to relay this information to
Washington.
WILSON