TURKISH ENVOY CELIKKOL PROPOSES SECURITY AGREEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001886 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2016 TAGS: PREL ECON KDEM TU IZ SUBJECT: TURKISH ENVOY CELIKKOL PROPOSES SECURITY AGREEMENT WITH IRAQ REF: ANKARA 3028 Classified By: Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Turkish Special Envoy for Iraq Oguz Celikkol met with Ambassador on May 31 to review his meetings with Vice President Tarik Hashimi, Foreign Minister Hoshyiar Zebari, Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh, Speaker Mashadani, and Prime Minister Maliki. Celikkol said he invited the Iraqi leaders to visit Turkey and said he expects visits to Ankara by FM Zebari and DPM Saleh in June. Celikkol proposed that Iraq consider a bilateral security agreement with Turkey. Celikkol said that Turkish FM Gul will likely not attend the June 20-22 Arab League reconciliation conference in Baghdad because Gul is going to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting in Baku. Ambassador suggested that FM Gul try to make it for at least part of the Arab League Baghdad meeting. Since FM Zebari will skip the Baku meeting, the GOT's idea for a neighbors meeting on the margins in Baku has been dropped. Celikkol asked about the USG position on the Iraqi Compact. Ambassador said the U.S. is sending a letter to the UN Secretary General saying that we want the UN to play a SIPDIS significant role in this process. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY CONT'D: Celikkol complained that Turcoman were inadequately represented in the new Iraqi government and suggested that a representative be put on the Iraqi National Security/Policy Council to represent Turcoman and Christian concerns. Celikkol also offered police and military training in Turkey for the Iraqi government. He said Turkey is considering participation in PRTs but needs more information on how it could contribute. Celikkol offered GOT assistance in reaching out to insurgents through political contacts or through bilateral means with insurgency supporters in the regions. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (C) Turkish Special Envoy for Iraq Oguz Celikkol called on Ambassador Khalilzad on May 31 to review his discussions with Vice President Tarik Hashimi, Foreign Minister Hoshyiar Zebari, Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh, Speaker Mahmud Mashadani and Prime Minister Nuri Maliki. Ambassador Celikkol was accompanied by Turkish Ambassador Unal Cevikoz, DCM Aydin Selcen, Fazli Corman, and Jamur Dereli. Celikkol told the Ambassador that a quick visit to Baghdad by Foreign Minister Gul would be unlikely because Gul, who had been unable to travel for a month because of an ear infection, has a full schedule for June. -------------- -------------- Turkey Proposes Security Agreement to Fight Terrorism -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Celikkol said he delivered a Turkish draft of a security agreement to combat terrorism to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister for the GOI to consider. He did not provide details of the agreement but promised to provide a copy to the Embassy within the next few days, which we will provide to the Department when we get it. -------------- -- Baku or Baghdad - Foreign Ministers Must Decide -------------- -- ¶5. (C) The Turks proposed that the neighbors conference be held on the margins of the Baku OIC meeting on June 19-20. However, that is not possible since FM Zebari will not go to Baku since he will participate in the Arab League National Reconciliation Conference in Baghdad on June 20-22. There was discussion whether Arab and other foreign ministers will want to travel to Baghdad for the AL Conference because of the Baku schedule conflict and because of security concerns in Baghdad. Ambassador said the USG would help provide security for the AL conference and asked Celikkol to urge FM Gul to come to Baghdad instead of Baku, or come for the end of the Baghdad conference after Baku. If all the neighboring country foreign ministers came to Baghdad, they could hold the neighbors conference here, Ambassador suggested. -------------- -------------- Support for New Iraqi Government, And Some Complaints -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Celikkol said the main purpose of his one-day visit to Baghdad was to show support for the new Iraqi government and to invite senior Iraqi officials to Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minster Gul has not committed to visit Iraq in the near future, Celikkol noted. FM Zebari and DPM Saleh are expected to visit Turkey in June. Celikkol said Speaker Mahumd BAGHDAD 00001886 002 OF 002 Mashadani, who has never been to Turkey, also wants to visit soon. Celikkol said the GOT would like the Iraqi Ministers of Interior and Defense to visit Turkey as soon as possible after they are named. GOT wants to offer training for Iraqi police and military (initially in Turkey but later in Iraq) as security allows, said Celikkol. The Turkish Consulate in Mosul will open in 3-5 weeks, added Celikkol. ¶7. (C) Celikkol asked why Saleh Mutlak is not in the Iraqi government. Ambassador explained that Mutlak was his own worst enemy by not being clear on what he wants and by making unhelpful public statements. He was offered the Ministry of State for National Dialogue and two ministries but offended some of the political parties by publishing remarks attacking the unity government. Mutlak may still be able to come in, Ambassador predicted, but he must be clear on what he wants (no ministries are possible) and he must support the government. ¶8. (C) Celikkol said he was instructed to deliver the following points to us rather than to the GOI, since GOT pressure to name Turcoman ministers would be seen as inappropriate. -- The GOT was unhappy that no Turcoman was a minister in the government. Ambassador pointed out that a Turcoman on the Shia list is Minister of Youth and Sports. If other Turcoman parties want to be represented in the government, Ambassador suggested, they could still work with PM Maliki to secure a Ministry of State since all the ministerial posts are filled. -- The GOT want Turcoman and Christians to be represented on the National Security/Policy Council. Ambassador said that Ayad Allawi, the expected Secretary General of the Council, wants to make it smaller than the current 17 member size. Perhaps the Council can be expanded and a smaller executive committee formed as an option to consider, Ambassador suggested. However, Ambassador pointed out, the Council cannot have any executive powers since that would violate the Constitution. -- The GOT would like to start discussions between willing Kurds, Turcomen, and Christians to reach consensus on the status of Kirkuk. Ambassador said that there is a growing desire among some political leaders to delay the 2007 referendum deadline on Kirkuk. -------------- -------------- UNAMI Constitution Conference in July in Istanbul -------------- -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Celikkol informed us that UNAMI is planning to hold a conference in Istanbul on July 21-24 to discuss the Iraqi Constitution. (NOTE: Poloff was informed by UNAMI on May 31 that the subjects to be covered include the demobilization and reintegration of militias and the establishment of a professional civil service. This is the last in a series of conferences sponsored by UNAMI on constitutional reform. END NOTE.) -------------- -------------- Turkey Offers Help With Iraqi National Reconciliation -------------- -------------- ¶10. (C) Ambassador asked for GOT support for a package of reconciliation and national unity programs in Iraq that would include demobilization, disarming, and reintegration of militias and insurgents, as well as fixing the de-Ba'thification process to focus on individual responsibility for specific crimes. Turkey could play a useful role in the Gulf States to promote such a reconciliation program, Ambassador noted. Celikkol said that the GOT has restricted its contacts to Iraqi political parties but could use them to seek contacts with the armed groups. Turkey is also willing to play a role at the inter-governmental political level with Syria, Jordan and the UAE, Celikkol said. -------------- -------------- PRT Participation Possible but More Information Desired -------------- -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Celikkol reported that the GOT is speaking with its government agencies about participating in the Iraqi PRTs. He also said he encouraged Turkish agencies to take on some projects in Iraq (e.g. a hospital project in Baghdad or water project in Tal Afar). KHALILZAD