TURKISH APPEAL FOR PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ COMPACT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004132 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2016 TAGS: PREL EAID EFIN TU IZ SUBJECT: TURKISH APPEAL FOR PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ COMPACT REF: A. STATE 109400 ¶B. WILSON/JEFFREY TELCON 7/13/06 Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) MFA U/S Tuygen used a meeting with Ambassador and visiting EB A/S Sullivan to urge that Turkey's exclusion from the upcoming Iraq compact preparatory meeting be reconsidered. He said it is clear that the compact will deal with issues beyond economic reform, stabilization and pledges/donor support, including political and security matters. Especially in this circumstance, Turkey finds it difficult to believe why it is excluded and finds this a real disappointment. While it is true Turkey is not a major donor, its role as a strongly supportive neighbor is clear. On this basis, Turkey should come in, on the ground floor, of any new, multinational Iraq initiative. Tuygen concluded that he did not know whether change in the preparatory meeting participants is still possible, but asked that Turkey's views be taken into consideration. ¶2. (C) Ambassador responded that information available here has stressed the economic orientation of the compact. As was the case in Afghanistan, Iraq would undertake specific reform, transition and developments goals, and major international donors would commit to support those goals. We are not aware in Ankara of a major security or political focus. We also understood that agreement had been reached on a major donor threshold of USD 200 million at or since Madrid or the forgiveness of at least USD 4 billion in official debt on Paris Club terms. He and A/S Sullivan noted their appeal earlier in the day to Turkish Economy Minister Babacan regarding debt relief for Iraq (septel). Tuygen, like Babacan, responded negatively on the debt relief issue, as have other Turkish officials -- including because the Iraqis have apparently not raised it here. At the end of the discussion, Ambassador said he would relay Turkey's concerns to Washington. ¶3. (C) Comment: Painstaking diplomacy over the past 15 months has turned Turkey from a problem as far as Iraq is concerned to a supporter of the government there and of US/Coalition efforts to assist the Iraqi people, broaden participation in the political system and back the new government. While its financial contribution is not particularly large, its political and logistical commitment has been very substantial. Ankara has just given its agreement to retrograde equipment out through Turkey that will save the US military millions of dollars in transportation costs. Including helpful Turkey while excluding Iraqi neighbors Syria and Iran will send exactly the right message about those countries' isolation from the international community on Iraq and other matters. In the Shared Vision document released together by the Secretary and FM Gul, we pledged to continue collaborating on Iraq. We strongly encourage that Turkey be invited to participate in this effort. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON