TURKEY PLEASED WITH SHARM MINISTERIAL, SEEKS INPUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001085 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV ENRG PREF PTER UN TU IZ SY SUBJECT: TURKEY PLEASED WITH SHARM MINISTERIAL, SEEKS INPUT ON FOLLOW-ON WORKING GROUPS REF: A. ANKARA 956 ¶B. BAGHDAD 1432 Classified By: Ambassador Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Turkey is generally happy with the Sharm ministerial but seeks clarification ASAP on Iraq's plans for follow-on working groups (WGs),GOT Special Envoy for Iraq Celikkol told the Ambassador May 8. Celikkol asked for U.S. assistance in ascertaining what Iraq wants for the WGs -- especially since Iraq wants Turkey to host the energy WG expeditiously. Celikkol reiterated Turkey's offer to work on the Syrians on foreign fighters, and noted upcoming visits by Iraqis on border gates, UNAMI's Deputy on Kirkuk, and his possible travel to Baghdad. End summary. ¶2. (C) Ambassador met May 8 with GOT Special Envoy for Iraq Celikkol to follow up on the May 3-4 Iraq ministerials in Sharm el-Sheikh. Celikkol reported that the meetings went well, and even that the communique drafting exercise was reasonably painless. The Iranians "played some games" in pushing for a fast U.S. withdrawal, and the Saudis tried to water down every reference to supporting the GOI (Celikkol understood the Saudis and Iraqis did not even meet at a senior level),but otherwise the participants worked together fairly well. Celikkol noted that the language designating Istanbul as the venue for the next ministerial had been in the original Egyptian draft and was not discussed at all (and no date was assigned). Celikkol added that State Minister Aydin held a good bilat with PM Maliki, and that Aydin reinforced Turkey's willingness to coordinate with Maliki on its efforts at Sunni outreach. On debt, the Turkish delegation announced that Turkey and Iraq planned to discuss the issue at the Finance Minister level. Celikkol did not know when this might occur. ¶3. (C) Celikkol asked for our assistance in working with the Iraqis to nail down specifics on the three follow-on working groups (WGs) on energy, security, and refugees. As Celikkol understands it, Iraq wants Turkey to hold the energy working group as soon as possible; Celikkol is thinking late May or early June. However, Iraq has not provided guidance on the invitees: Is it only the neighbors, or all the Sharm participants? (Turkey prefers the latter.) ¶4. (C) Turkey's vision is that all three WGs meet simultaneously in Turkey, but Celikkol understood there was "some problem" regarding the composition of the security WG. He said Turkey needs clarity on the Iraqis' vision: simultaneous WG meetings in Turkey, three WG meetings held in Turkey but separately, or only the energy WG in Turkey? He emphasized that Turkey will do what the Iraqis ask, but that the GOI has not explained its thinking. While he planned to put these questions to the Iraqi Ambassador May 9, Celikkol was not confident that the Iraqi embassy here will know the state of play in Baghdad. ¶5. (C) Celikkol suggested that the energy WG meeting could also provide an opportunity for another U.S.-Turkey-Iraq trilateral discussion on Iraq gas. He added that the presence of Amb. Crocker or S/I Satterfield could add heft to the WG proceedings. ¶6. (C) Celikkol noted the Secretary's brief meeting with Syrian FonMin Muallem, and reiterated Turkey's willingness to discuss our concerns about foreign fighter flow with Damascus (ref a). He reported that Turkey is preparing humanitarian aid for Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan, and that discussions on these matters with senior Syrians could provide Turkey an opening to raise security matters. ¶7. (C) Celikkol reported that the GOI will send a delegation to Turkey next month to discuss a second border gate and necessary road networks that would result from it. He hoped the Iraqis would be ready to seal a deal on this ANKARA 00001085 002 OF 002 long-standing issue. Celikkol added that UNAMI D/SRSG Schulenberg had agreed to visit Turkey -- also probably in June -- to discuss a possible UNAMI role in the Kirkuk issue (ref b). Not surprisingly, Turkey would enthusiastically support a UN role. Finally, Celikkol noted that he may travel to Baghdad soon to consult on a range of issues, including Sharm follow-on, bilateral questions, and Turkish efforts to assist the GOI's reconciliation objectives. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON