TURKEY/IRAQ: MESSAGE RECEIVED ON MUQTADA AL-SADR

S E C R E T ANKARA 001390 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER IZ TU SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: MESSAGE RECEIVED ON MUQTADA AL-SADR OUTREACH REF: STATE 77015 Classified By: PolCouns Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) We delivered reftel demarche June 5 to MFA Head of Section for Iraq Aydin Selcen. Selcen reported that GOT Special Envoy for Iraq Celikkol had met with Sadrist representatives during his May 27-28 visit to Baghdad, and that the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad maintained contacts with some Sadrists as part of Turkey's policy to reach out to all political elements in Iraq. While there had been general discussion of Sadr's representatives visiting Turkey at some point, no dates have been set. Selcen said the Foreign Ministry would report any such visit to us. ¶2. (S) Selcen speculated that Sadr may be attempting to transform his movement to a "more purely political force" and that his apparent outreach to the Sunni Arab community may be part of this. We responded that Sadr's record -- including killing of CF and Iraqis, intimidation against ISF and civilians, and ties with Iran -- is still extremely problematic. We urged that, should Turkish interlocutors encourage Sadr to seek political reconciliation, they also make clear that his behavior until now has been unacceptable. Selcen acknowledged the point. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON