Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1892
2007-07-25 06:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKEY: ENGAGEMENT WITH IRAQ

Tags:  PREL ENRG PGOV TU IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 250641Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3112
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
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RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/425ABS IZMIR TU//CC// PRIORITY
RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU PRIORITY
RUEPGAB/MNF-I C2X BAGHDAD IZ PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001892 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2017
TAGS: PREL ENRG PGOV TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY: ENGAGEMENT WITH IRAQ

Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001892

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2017
TAGS: PREL ENRG PGOV TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY: ENGAGEMENT WITH IRAQ

Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOT is open to the possibility of the
next ministerial meeting of Iraq's expanded neighbors process
taking place in the first half of September, but believes it
should be held in Istanbul as agreed to by participants in
the first meeting at Sharm-el-Sheikh. Turkish MFA Iraq
Coordinator Celikkol told Ambassador July 23 that he hopes to
consult with USG officials on Iraq in the near future on the
ministerial and other Iraq issues. The GOT is working on a
visit to Turkey by PM Maliki. We heard subsequently that the
Turks have proposed July 30. END SUMMARY

--------------
Neighbors Plus Ministerial
--------------


2. (C) Ambassador said that Washington is now interested in
two next steps out of the Expanded Neighbors of Iraq
exercise. One is to get a secretariat established soon.
Notionally, it would be led by the UNSYG Special
Representative for Iraq and would presumably be based in
Baghdad. A second step is to hold another Expanded Neighbors
ministerial meeting. Washington is interested in the first
half of September, and there have been some discussions with
the Iraqis about this. Iraqi FM Zebari had noted possible
conflicting Arab League and Non-Aligned Movement events the
first week of September. Celikkol said he would consult with
his Minister but thought that timing could work for Turkey.
However, Celikkol stressed the GOT's strong view that Turkey
host the meeting in Istanbul, as agreed upon by all of the
participants during the first ministerial held May 4 at Sharm
el-Sheikh. Celikkol urged a decision soon on timing so the
GOT has sufficient lead time to prepare the ministerial
logistically and substantively.

3. (C) Celikkol, who plans to attend the July 26 meeting of
the Neighbors process working group meeting on refugees,
expressed frustration in coordinating with the Jordanians, as
well as with the Syrians. He was not aware of the Syrians'
August 2-3 dates for the meeting of the security working
group in Damascus. On U.S. participation, he said the GOT

has always supported USG involvement in all of the working
group meetings, something for which Turkey would continue to
press.


4. (C) Celikkol also raised the possibility of bringing in
Iraqi Sunni groups to Istanbul around the period of the
ministerial. If the goal is to reinforce reconciliation and
new leadership power sharing, this would be a useful way to
promote it, Celikkol suggested. Ambassador cautioned against
anything that might look like a repeat of the post-Sharm
meeting in Cairo that was seen as an anti-Maliki initiative
by Baghdad. Celikkol agreed and said the GOT has no wish to
undermine Maliki.

--------------
U.S.-Turkey Consultations
--------------


5. (C) Celikkol noted that if the aim is to hold a
ministerial meeting by mid-September, USG and GOT officials
should come together soon to discuss goals for the meeting.
He invited Amb. Satterfield to visit Turkey at his earliest
convenience and reiterated his earlier invitation to Amb.
Crocker to stop through Turkey on one of his trips in or out
of Iraq. Ambassador noted MFA U/S Apakan's plans for
consultations in Washington with U/S Burns August 20 and
indicated that should Celikkol be able to accompany Apakan,
side meetings on Iraq could also be arranged.

--------------
USG Support for Kirkuk Referendum?
--------------


6. (C) Pointing to articles in the Turkish press alleging
U.S. officials had said the referendum on final status of

ANKARA 00001892 002 OF 002


Kirkuk should go forward as planned for November 2007,
Celikkol expressed concern and asked for clarification.
Ambassador repeated earlier observations that a referendum in
2007 seems unlikely. Technical preparations have not been
done. USG officials have been counseling Iraqi Kurdish
leaders on the need for them to prepare Kurdish public
opinion for a postponement. But Ambassador also cautioned
that the less Turkey says about Kirkuk and its interest in
postponing the referendum, the better. Celikkol noted that
officials in Turkey have muted the issue, but that press
stories about proceeding with a referendum do not help.

--------------
Maliki Visit to Turkey
--------------


7. (C) Celikkol noted PM Maliki had responded favorably to PM
Erdogan's invitation to visit Turkey for meetings. Maliki
had just proposed a July 27 visit in conjunction with his
trip to Iran. Celikkol did not know whether this works for
Turkey's leadership, as election campaigning had made them
inaccessible. The Ambassador said he could not necessarily
speak for Washington or Embassy Baghdad, but that he
personally felt that the sooner such a meeting can take
place, the better. Turkish PM/FM foreign affairs advisor
Ahmet Davutoglu told Ambassador that the Maliki visit would
"most likely" occur on July 30.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON