ICRC SEEKS TO ESTABLISH ROLE IN TURKEY AND IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001433 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM TU IZ SUBJECT: ICRC SEEKS TO ESTABLISH ROLE IN TURKEY AND IRAQ Classified By: PolCouns Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: ICRC is working to establish a permanent presence in Turkey and to bring the Turkish Red Crescent into conformity with Geneva standards, according to the ICRC's new Turkey representative. ICRC also hopes to be able to establish contact with PKK detainees and to use Turkey as a corridor to bring humanitarian supplies into Iraq. End summary. ¶2. (C) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is seeking to build a new relationship of trust with the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay),the GOT, and Turkish military, according to ICRC Turkey Representative Pierre Ryter. Ryter (please strictly protect) is the first ICRC representative in Turkey, and has since last year been working for ICRC to have a permanent representation here. Ryter told us that ICRC considers Kizilay highly politicized and often corrupt, and he is attempting to bring its work into conformity with Geneva's standards. ¶3. (C) Ryter is also negotiating with the Turkish General Staff (TGS) and the GOT for the ICRC to have access to PKK terrorists captured in Turkey. For many years, Turkish authorities have expressly barred ICRC from any contact with the PKK. Ryter asserts that he has received some positive signals -- including from the military -- that Turkey may/may be reconsidering this position, which he asserts would bring Turkey into accordance with international rules of war. He notes, for example, that the ICRC provided a "train the trainers" course on the laws of war early in the history of Turkey's PfP Training Center, and that a number of officers are proud that the Center still offers this training and has provided it for over 70 countries. ¶4. (C) Ryter is also hopeful that the GOT will approve ICRC's request that Turkey become a corridor for provision of international relief supplies for Iraq. He noted that after severe flooding in the north some months ago, it would have been most efficient to ship humanitarian supplies through Turkey; the GOT did not allow this, however. ICRC proposes to establish a humanitarian supply warehouse in Gaziantep, from which goods could move expeditiously to Iraq. Ryter told us that a number of MFA interlocutors were enthusiastic about this idea, but noted there would be resistance because it would be seen as Turkey providing aid and comfort to the Iraqi Kurds. Ryter admitted that many here -- especially the military -- view the KRG as the enemy. ¶5. (C) On all these issues, Ryter is taking the long view. He said he knows these goals will be unattainable before July 22 parliamentary elections, or perhaps even for some time afterward. In the meantime, he is convening a meeting in Turkey during the week of June 11 of Iraqi Red Crescent (IRC) and Kizilay senior officials (the IRC's Director General, Mazen Abdullah, plans to attend). Ryter believes that relations between the two national bodies are improving after the rancorous and poorly-coordinated Kizilay deliveries of humanitarian aid to Talafar following coalition operations there in 2004 and 2005. ¶6. (C) Ryter told us that the ICRC's President, Jakob Kellenberger, will make an official visit to Turkey a decent interval after the upcoming elections. Ryter has received assurances from TGS that CHOD GEN Buyukanit has already agreed that he would meet Kellenberger, potentially a signal that TGS is willing to be accommodating. Ryter is hopeful that this visit will improve the often chilly relationship between Turkey and the ICRC. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON