TURKEY/IRAQ: IRAQI POLITICAL LEADERS SEEK

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000721 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER PREF ETRD IZ IR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: IRAQI POLITICAL LEADERS SEEK INVITATIONS TO ANKARA REF: A. ANKARA 685 ¶B. ANKARA 581 ¶C. ANKARA 567 Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for Reasons 1.4 (B,D). -------------- Summary and Action Request -------------- ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See para 3. ¶2. (C) Summary and Comment. MFA Iraq Coordinator Oguz Celikkol informed DCM February 14 that Iraqi PM Jafari has been invited to Ankara and is expected to come after formation of the new government. At the same time, Moqtada al-Sadr and the Kurdish Islamic Union have asked to visit and Turkey is inclined to invite them. Salah al-Mutlak will visit February 17. Celikkol solicited our views on these visits and offered to pass messages. On northern Iraq issues, Celikkol expressed frustration with Barzani and punted on issues related to the Makhmour refugee camp. ¶3. (C) Action request. Mission requests Department and Embassy Baghdad views on GOT invitations to al-Sadr, Mutlak, and the Kurdish Islamic Party. End Summary and Action Request. -------------- Iraqi Pols Want to Visit -------------- ¶4. (C) Celikkol told DCM that Turkey had invited Iraqi PM Ibrahim al-Jafari to visit Ankara before his recent reelection by the Shia coalition. The GOT had suggested February 16 for a visit but Jafari had asked for a postponement as he prepares to form a government. No date is currently set, but the GOT expects Jafari to visit soon after the government is formed. ¶5. (C) Moqtada al-Sadr also wishes to visit Ankara. The GOT has not yet responded, but is inclined to invite him, Celikkol told us. He justified Turkey's decision based on its perception that al-Sadr: plays an important balancing role among the Shia, wishes to hold Iran at arm's length, and appears to be avoiding violence. Celikkol acknowledged al-Sadr's contacts with Iran and Syria, but noted Turkish information indicating al-Sadr's Tehran visit was "not without problems." Celikkol solicited our views on such a visit and offered to relay messages to al-Sadr. ¶6. (C) Celikkol also reported that Salah al-Mutlak of the National Dialogue Council as well as a delegation from the Kurdish Islamic Union had requested invitations to visit Turkey. Mutlak will arrive February 17 and stay in Istnbul, while no date has been set for the visit of the KIU. Celikkol solicited U.S. views on these visits as well. He assured us that, in any case, the GOT's messages to all Iraqi political leaders would continue to be: reject violence, accept the new political realities, and participate in the democratic system. DCM urged Turkey to make clear to all Iraqi visitors the need to work for national unity while creating a government that has the capacity to govern effectively and build strong social institutions that can meet the needs of all Iraqis. -------------- Talks with Iraqi Kurds -------------- ¶7. (S) DCM asked about the status of dialogue with the Iraqi Kurds. Celikkol said that Barzani's foreign affairs advisor Safeen Dizayee had visited Turkey the week of February 5 but had not requested meetings at the MFA. Celikkol then complained that the Iraqi Kurds are not satisfied with the gains they have made so far -- including a federal Iraq and political domination over what Celikkol claimed were the formerly Assyrian town of Dohuk and the Turkmen city of Erbil -- but still want more. Barzani's attitude, Celikkol warned, is extremely unhelpful. ANKARA 00000721 002 OF 002 -------------- Concerns about Makhmour... -------------- ¶8. (C) Concerning the possible closure of the Makhmour refugee camp (ref b),Celikkol resisted DCM's suggestions that Turkey indicate its willingness to facilitate the repatriation of Turkish refugees wishing to return to Turkey. While noting that Turkey could not legally prevent any citizen from returning to Turkey, he argued that the camp had been in existence for such a long time, and dominated by the PKK to such an extent, that he could see no easy way of screening refugees to ensure terrorists are kept out of Turkey. Responding to the DCM's explanation that refugee screening procedures exist and that Turkey had proclaimed amnesties before, Celikkol admitted that this was a very difficult political issue. -------------- ...and Habur Gate -------------- ¶9. (C) Turning to the congested Habur Gate border crossing, Celikkol said the GOT is reluctant to publicly announce agreement to a "package deal" on opening additional crossings for fear Barzani will reject the deal and embarrass the GOT. DCM urged Celikkol to find a way to indicate publicly Turkey's willingness to move forward on additional crossings and thus indicate Turkey's flexibility. Celikkol said that such an announcement could be made during a prospective Jafari visit to Ankara. -------------- Still Interested in PRT -------------- ¶10. (C) Celikkol said the GOT would consider providing increased training to Iraqi political and security personnel, but this would depend on the willingness to engage on the part of the new Iraqi Defense and Interior Ministers. Celikkol also emphasized that the GOT remains quite interested in participating in a PRT in Iraq. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶11. (C) We have promised a more intensive exchange of views on Iraq and would welcome information and analysis from the Department and Baghdad that we can share with the MFA and other government officials. At the same time, we will continue to press the government to show flexibility and increase constructive engagement with Iraq. End Comment. WILSON