STATE MINISTER WAILI TO MEET WITH TURKEY'S PKK

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004323 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINR PINS PNAT PTER TU IZ SUBJECT: STATE MINISTER WAILI TO MEET WITH TURKEY'S PKK COORDINATOR Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel V. Speckhard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Minister of State for National Security Shirwan Kamil Sibti al-Waili wants help outfitting his ministry, which focuses on domestic intelligence. He said he was looking forward to meeting Turkey's PKK Envoy during his November 16-17 trip to Ankara with PM Maliki (septel). Waili still has not met Iraq's deputy PKK envoy, KRG Interior Minister Sinjari, but they have arranged to meet in Makhmour sometime in the near future. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Minister Waili appealed to acting PolMilCouns on November 13 for an Embassy advisor to help strengthen his ministry. Waili explained that his ministry was an intelligence organization focused on domestic and regional security issues. When asked what kind of support he wanted from the US, he said "arms, vehicles, equipment, training..., things that any intelligence organization requires." (Comment: Waili has made this request in the past, both to EmbOffs and MNF-I. At this point, it is not clear what role the state ministry plays within the GOI, so we are proceeding cautiously and have not provided a ministerial advisor or material support. End comment.) ¶3. (C) As Iraq's special envoy on countering the PKK, Waili said he planned to meet with his Turkish counterpart, GEN (ret.) Edip Baser during his November 16-17 trip to Turkey with PM Maliki. Waili also said he still has not met KRG Interior Minister Sinjari, his deputy on the PKK issue. He added, however, that the two had spoken on the phone and had arranged to meet sometime in the near future in Makhmour. KHALILZAD