TURKEY/IRAQ: PM JAFARI VISIT TO ANKARA AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001066

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2016
TAGS: PREL IZ IR TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: PM JAFARI VISIT TO ANKARA AND
PROBABLE SADR VISIT

REF: A. BAGHDAD 643

B. ANKARA 1020

Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for Reasons 1.4 (b,d).

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Summary
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1. (C) Turkey's Iraq Coordinator Oguz Celikkol reviewed his
visit to Baghdad (ref a),described PM Jafari's meetings in
Ankara, and discussed Muqtada al-Sadr's probably visit here
with Ambassador on March 1. Turmoil surrounding the Samarra
bombing dominated both sets of talks, although the two sides
also discussed the status of Kirkuk, the opening of
additional border crossings, and economic cooperation. He
said the PKK was not discussed. Celikkol reported that,
having carefully considered U.S. arguments against, Turkey
has decided to invite Sadr at a date to be determined.
Ambassador urged Turkey to ensure Sadr pays a price for any
high-level contacts in Turkey in the form of clear public
statements renouncing violence and in favor of Iraqi unity.
He also urged Turkey to invite Sunni and Kurdish leaders as
well. Celikkol took the point, but noted it would be very
difficult to invite Barzani or President Talabani. End
Summary.

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Celikkol to Baghdad
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2. (C) Celikkol said his discussions with Iraqi political
leaders in Baghdad were dominated by the turmoil surrounding
the bombing of the al-Askariya shrine. He reported on IIP
leader Tariq al-Hashemi's complaints at the delay in imposing
the Baghdad cufew, the use of Shi'a security forces to
patrol Sunni neighborhoods, and the detention of numerous
Sunnis without hearings. Celikkol said he encouraged Hashemi
and other Sunnis not to boycott the government's crisis
management activities and to stay in the government formation
process. FM Gul raised these Sunni concerns with Jafari
during the latter's February 28 visit to Ankara, and Jafari
promised remedial measures. Celikkol said his discussions
with Iraqi leaders also covered opening additional border
gates, Turkey's provision of electrical power to Iraq, and
improved economic cooperation.


3. (C) Celikkol said he told President Talabani that the
status of Kirkuk cannot be solved by a referendum. He urged
instead negotiations leading to a consensus among Arabs,
Turkmen and Kurds. Talabani reportedly agreed, said he had
talked to Ambassador Khalilzad about the issue, but admitted
he had not yet raised it with Barzani. Celikkol said he also
met with Barzani and discussed the prospect of improved
relations between Turkey and the KRG. Celikkol told us he
would visit northern Iraq soon for detailed discussions on a
package of simultaneous or phased additional border crossings
(including a possible rail link) and deeper economic
cooperation. Barzani reportedly agreed to consider
additional gates.

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Jafari in Ankara: Border Crossings, SOMO, and Investment
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4. (C) PM Jafari came to Ankara February 28 for a one-day
visit, accompanied by DPM Chalabi and the ministers of
electricity and transportation. The delegation called on PM
Erdogan, President Sezer, and FM Gul, while the accompanying
ministers met separately with their counterparts. Celikkol
said Turkish officials stressed to Jafari the need for Iraq
to avoid further widening of the rifts created in the
aftermath of the Samarra bombing and to forge ahead with a
government of national unity. The two sides discussed
economic cooperation, including additional border crossings,
electricity supply, the possibility of building a natural gas
pipeline along the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipeline, and
Turkey's plan to rebuild the Razi hospital in Baghdad.
Celikkol said SOMO arrears were also discussed, and he
understood a solution to the recurring problem had been

ANKARA 00001066 002 OF 002


found. FM Gul reportedly briefed Jafari on Turkey's plan to
manage the Erez Industrial Zone in Gaza and said Turkey would
consider a similar project in Iraq, which Jafari welcomed.

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Sadr Coming to Turkey
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5. (C) Celikkol said he met separately with Transportation
Minister Maliki, known to be close to Sadr, to discuss the
latter's request to visit Ankara. The GOT's invitation to
Sadr stands, Celikkol said, although the timing and the level
at which he will be received are not yet decided. Celikkol
insisted the GOT has heard our concerns, including from
Ambassador Khalilzad, but remains convinced Sadr is an
important player who "can be moved" to distance himself from
violence and engage in the political process. He added that
Sadr had already been received at high levels in other
countries in the region, as well as in Russia.


6. (C) Ambassador referred to messages we had given Ankara
and that Ambassador Khalilzad had given in Baghdad regarding
Sadr. If Turkey decides to go ahead, it should consider two
things. First, Turkey should insist Sadr pay for any
high-level Turkish attention he receives by making clear and
public statements renouncing violence and endorsing the
political process. In this regard, Ambassador noted that GOT
statements at the time of the February 16 Hamas visit to
Ankara were disappointingly vague; Turkey should publicize
its messages to Sadr more effectively. Second, Turkey should
ensure balance in its contacts with Iraqi groups and consider
the message sent by receiving here in short order Jafari and
Sadr. The GOT should reach out to Iraqi Sunni and Kurdish
leaders as well. Celikkol said that the GOT has invited
Sunni leaders Hashemi and Salah Mutlak, as well as a leader
of the Kurdish Islamic Union, but would find it politically
difficult to invite Talabani or Barzani (in anything other
than his role as leader of the KDP),especially in view of
the latter's frequent public statements supporting Kurdish
independence. Ambassador noted that there are other senior
Iraqi Kurds, including Barham Saleh and FM Zebari. When
Celikkol expressed exasperation at our objections to Sadr,
given all the other places he had been lately, Ambassador
noted that none of those countries is a U.S. treaty ally.
WILSON