Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1990
2007-08-02 14:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY/IRAQ: MULLING THE WAY FORWARD ON PKK
how-toVZCZCXRO9391 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHAK #1990 2141448 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 021448Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3255 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA// PRIORITY 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 ANKARA 001990
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2017
TAGS: PTER PREL IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: MULLING THE WAY FORWARD ON PKK
REF: A. BAGHDAD 2544
B. ANKARA 1959
C. BAGHDAD 2419
Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001990
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2017
TAGS: PTER PREL IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: MULLING THE WAY FORWARD ON PKK
REF: A. BAGHDAD 2544
B. ANKARA 1959
C. BAGHDAD 2419
Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) As the pressure for a CBO into northern Iraq has
diminished somewhat in the post-election period (ref B),the
GOT is considering next steps in its dialogue with Iraq on
the PKK issue. GOT Iraq Coordinator Celikkol told Charge on
August 1 that the PKK will figure prominently in discussions
with Prime Minister Maliki during his August 7 visit to
Ankara. The Turks intend to push Maliki hard for a public
statement labeling the PKK as a terrorist organization and
condemning PKK terrorist violence. This, according to
Celikkol, is a key step that will allow the Turks to take the
dialogue forward in more expansive ways.
2. (C) During the Maliki visit the Turks also are considering
a plan to broach the idea of a written agreement that would
allow for Turkish operations against the PKK inside Iraq.
Celikkol noted that such an agreement had existed during the
Saddam era and it could be very useful now in clarifying that
action against the PKK was a shared concern and common
objective. He insisted that Turkey and Iraq do not have
bilateral problems and the PKK issue should not cloud that
fact. Turkey was open to either joint operations with Iraqi
forces or unilateral operations, as long as both had the
objective and result of eliminating PKK terrorism.
3. (C) Celikkol also noted that Turkey,s Ambassador in
Baghdad had been authorized to participate in meetings
proposed by Wa,ili (refs A and C). He reiterated that the
GOT has placed no preconditions on this participation and
their only caveat was that this dialogue not become a second
track that would detract from or undermine the senior-level
trilateral process.
4. (C) We have told Celikkol and other senior Turks that the
time for expanded dialogue is long overdue. The Turks need
to talk to the Iraqi federal authorities as well as the KRG
in an effort to identify a way forward. Overheated election
rhetoric about a cross border operation into Iraq was
counterproductive and should now be replaced by creative and
constructive thinking about positive outcomes. The Maliki
visit will be a crucial first step and an important
bellwether for both Turkish and Iraqi willingness to make
serious concrete progress.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
MCELDOWNEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2017
TAGS: PTER PREL IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: MULLING THE WAY FORWARD ON PKK
REF: A. BAGHDAD 2544
B. ANKARA 1959
C. BAGHDAD 2419
Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) As the pressure for a CBO into northern Iraq has
diminished somewhat in the post-election period (ref B),the
GOT is considering next steps in its dialogue with Iraq on
the PKK issue. GOT Iraq Coordinator Celikkol told Charge on
August 1 that the PKK will figure prominently in discussions
with Prime Minister Maliki during his August 7 visit to
Ankara. The Turks intend to push Maliki hard for a public
statement labeling the PKK as a terrorist organization and
condemning PKK terrorist violence. This, according to
Celikkol, is a key step that will allow the Turks to take the
dialogue forward in more expansive ways.
2. (C) During the Maliki visit the Turks also are considering
a plan to broach the idea of a written agreement that would
allow for Turkish operations against the PKK inside Iraq.
Celikkol noted that such an agreement had existed during the
Saddam era and it could be very useful now in clarifying that
action against the PKK was a shared concern and common
objective. He insisted that Turkey and Iraq do not have
bilateral problems and the PKK issue should not cloud that
fact. Turkey was open to either joint operations with Iraqi
forces or unilateral operations, as long as both had the
objective and result of eliminating PKK terrorism.
3. (C) Celikkol also noted that Turkey,s Ambassador in
Baghdad had been authorized to participate in meetings
proposed by Wa,ili (refs A and C). He reiterated that the
GOT has placed no preconditions on this participation and
their only caveat was that this dialogue not become a second
track that would detract from or undermine the senior-level
trilateral process.
4. (C) We have told Celikkol and other senior Turks that the
time for expanded dialogue is long overdue. The Turks need
to talk to the Iraqi federal authorities as well as the KRG
in an effort to identify a way forward. Overheated election
rhetoric about a cross border operation into Iraq was
counterproductive and should now be replaced by creative and
constructive thinking about positive outcomes. The Maliki
visit will be a crucial first step and an important
bellwether for both Turkish and Iraqi willingness to make
serious concrete progress.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
MCELDOWNEY