Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD3051
2006-08-22 11:20:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
KURDISH LEADERS DISCUSS PESHMERGA, PKK WITH
how-toVZCZCXRO7336 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #3051 2341120 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 221120Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6395 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0327 RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC//NSC// PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHWSR/WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 003051
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: KURDISH LEADERS DISCUSS PESHMERGA, PKK WITH
AMBASSADOR
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel V. Speckhard for Reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d).
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 003051
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: KURDISH LEADERS DISCUSS PESHMERGA, PKK WITH
AMBASSADOR
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel V. Speckhard for Reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d).
1. (S) SUMMARY: In a series of brief asides at the 60th
anniversary celebration of the Kurdistan Democratic Party
(KDP) in Erbil on August 16, the Ambassador discussed plans
to integrate the KDP and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)
Peshmerga forces into a single, unified structure and the
continuing conflict with Turkey over the PKK. According to
President Talabani, the Government of Turkey approached him
quietly about plans to send Turkish Foreign Minister Gul to
meet with Kurdistan Regional Government President Masud
Barzani on a way forward to resolve the situation with the
PKK in northern Iraq. END SUMMARY.
Plan to Merge the Peshmerga?
--------------
2. (C) At the 60th anniversary celebration in Erbil of the
founding of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) on August
16, the Ambassador spoke with both President Jalal Talabani
and KRG President Masud Barzani about the need to move
forward with integrating the KDP and Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan (PUK) Peshmerga forces. Talabani and Barzani
agreed, and claimed that by the end of August they intend to
present a plan to integrate the Peshmerga forces under a
single command, and make this single Peshmerga force
independent of the two parties' control. The two presidents
asked the Ambassador for assistance implementing this plan
and with training for the unified Peshmerga, which would be
become the "regional guard force."
3. (C) Talabani and Barzani indicated that they had not
discussed with the Government of Iraq (GOI) the planned
integration of the Peshmerga units or negotiated a mutually
acceptable number for the regional defense force. The
Kurdish leaders initially suggested that roughly 70,000
Peshmerga would be necessary, but the Ambassador noted that
it seemed very high for a regional defense force that would
be connected to the national security structure.
Turks Bypassing Baghdad on PKK?
--------------
4. (S) In a separate conversation on August 16, Talabani
informed the Ambassador that the Turkish Ambassador to Iraq
told Talabani privately that Ankara was planning to send
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul to Erbil to meet with Barzani on
resolving the PKK issue. According to Talabani, the PKK
could be persuaded to accept a unilateral ceasefire if the
leader of the legitimate Kurdish party in Turkey, Dr. Ahmad
Turk, was allowed to meet with jailed PKK leader Abdullah
Ocalan in person. According to Talabani, it was the Turkish
military that was blocking this request.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: KURDISH LEADERS DISCUSS PESHMERGA, PKK WITH
AMBASSADOR
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel V. Speckhard for Reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d).
1. (S) SUMMARY: In a series of brief asides at the 60th
anniversary celebration of the Kurdistan Democratic Party
(KDP) in Erbil on August 16, the Ambassador discussed plans
to integrate the KDP and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)
Peshmerga forces into a single, unified structure and the
continuing conflict with Turkey over the PKK. According to
President Talabani, the Government of Turkey approached him
quietly about plans to send Turkish Foreign Minister Gul to
meet with Kurdistan Regional Government President Masud
Barzani on a way forward to resolve the situation with the
PKK in northern Iraq. END SUMMARY.
Plan to Merge the Peshmerga?
--------------
2. (C) At the 60th anniversary celebration in Erbil of the
founding of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) on August
16, the Ambassador spoke with both President Jalal Talabani
and KRG President Masud Barzani about the need to move
forward with integrating the KDP and Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan (PUK) Peshmerga forces. Talabani and Barzani
agreed, and claimed that by the end of August they intend to
present a plan to integrate the Peshmerga forces under a
single command, and make this single Peshmerga force
independent of the two parties' control. The two presidents
asked the Ambassador for assistance implementing this plan
and with training for the unified Peshmerga, which would be
become the "regional guard force."
3. (C) Talabani and Barzani indicated that they had not
discussed with the Government of Iraq (GOI) the planned
integration of the Peshmerga units or negotiated a mutually
acceptable number for the regional defense force. The
Kurdish leaders initially suggested that roughly 70,000
Peshmerga would be necessary, but the Ambassador noted that
it seemed very high for a regional defense force that would
be connected to the national security structure.
Turks Bypassing Baghdad on PKK?
--------------
4. (S) In a separate conversation on August 16, Talabani
informed the Ambassador that the Turkish Ambassador to Iraq
told Talabani privately that Ankara was planning to send
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul to Erbil to meet with Barzani on
resolving the PKK issue. According to Talabani, the PKK
could be persuaded to accept a unilateral ceasefire if the
leader of the legitimate Kurdish party in Turkey, Dr. Ahmad
Turk, was allowed to meet with jailed PKK leader Abdullah
Ocalan in person. According to Talabani, it was the Turkish
military that was blocking this request.
SPECKHARD