AMBASSADOR'S DECEMBER 3 MEETING WITH TURKISH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004473

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S DECEMBER 3 MEETING WITH TURKISH
AMBASSADOR

REF: ANKARA 6524 (EXDIS)

(U) Classified by Ambassador Khalilzad, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) Summary: In a December 3 meeting with the Ambassador,
outgoing Turkish Ambassador Cevikoz relayed the GOT's
contacts with Sunni Hewar party leader Mutlaq (reftel). The
Ambassador told Cevikoz the U.S. opposes any
extra-constitutional effort to change the GOI and suggested
the GOT urge Mutlaq to play a more positive role. Cevikoz
said de-Ba'athification had been hard on Iraqi Sunnis; the
Ambassador agreed de-Ba'athification has gone too far but
said that Sunnis have failed to take action to help
themselves. Cevikoz confirmed the GOT will fund training for
Iraqi police. The Ambassador said the timing is not right
for a regional conference on Iraq, and any such proposal
should come from the GOI. End Summary.

U.S. and Turkish Meetings with PM Maliki
--------------


2. (C) Cevikoz told the Ambassador PM Maliki's November trip
to Turkey had been useful and fruitful, encompassing all the
important bilateral issues. Cevikoz said the trip's had
achieved its primary purpose: to demonstrate Turkish support
for the GOI. The Ambassador gave Cevikoz a readout of the
PM's November 30 meeting in Amman with President Bush, and of
the progress of a small group of Iraqi leaders who are
forming a moderate front. However, the Ambassador added,
violence is impeding political progress.


3. (C) Cevikoz agreed violence is too high and predicted that
2007 would not be easy, particularly if "some forces" try to
push a referendum on Kirkuk. In his meeting with PM Maliki,
PM Erdogan tried to persuade him to resolve Kirkuk "by
consensus." Cevikoz also said PM Maliki needs to show Sunnis
he is not sectarian. He noted that Sunni VP Hashimi is
seeking to enhance the "Sunni presence" in the GOI.

Turkey and Iraq's Sunnis
--------------


4. (C) Cevikoz said that hard line Sunni Hewar party leader
Saleh Mutlaq has been in touch with the GOI; Mutlaq claimed
to have support from five blocs in Iraq's Council of
Representatives (CoR),including Iyad Allawi's Iraqiyya bloc.
The Ambassador asked what Mutlaq's aim appeared to be;
Cevikoz said Mutlaq claims he is trying to form a "national
front" bloc, ostensibly to enhance and stabilize the GOI.
The Ambassador told Cevikoz the USG opposes any GOI changes
outside the framework of Iraq's Constitution and elected CoR.


5. (C) The Ambassador noted that Mutlaq had been working with
hard line Sunni cleric Harith al-Dari, head of the
Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS) and with CoR followers
of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. In the wake of a
recent GOI warrant against him, al-Dari's statements had
become more radical, including a call for governments to
withdraw recognition of the GOI. Mutlaq had failed to agree
to the original 33-point unity government plan, partly out of
pique at not receiving a high GOI position. The Ambassador
suggested that the GOT urge Mutlaq to play a more positive
role.


6. (C) Cevikoz noted that de-Ba'athification has been
"disturbing" for Iraq's Sunnis; GOI flexibility on
de-Ba'athification could ease Mutlaq's position and help
control Sunni violence. The Ambassador agreed
de-Ba'athification has gone too far and said the process
should be changed to a judicial process for those who
committed crimes. However, Iraq's Sunni political leaders
are failing to take action on the issue; they should focus
their efforts on working the CoR's legislative process.

Police Training; Regional Conference
--------------


7. (C) Cevikoz noted that Turkey is prepared to train Iraqi
police and to pay the costs. The Ambassador noted that
President Talabani had been uncertain about who would fund
the training (septel); Cevikoz confirmed the GOT will pay for
training in Turkey.


8. (C) Cevikoz asked the Ambassador's opinion about a
regional conference on Iraq. The Ambassador said the timing
is not good now, given Iraq's internal situation. Iraq
should first deal bilaterally with its neighbors, and any
proposal for a regional conference on Iraq should come from
the GOI.

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Khalilzad