TURKEY/IRAQ: MALIKI VISIT FOCUSED ON SUNNI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002028

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: MALIKI VISIT FOCUSED ON SUNNI
ENGAGEMENT; FEATURES PUBLIC STATEMENT ON PKK TERRORISM

REF: ANKARA 1998

Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Iraqi PM Maliki's August 7 visit to Ankara
achieved the Turks' principal objective of sending a positive
signal about the overall bilateral relationship. Coming at a
moment of intense domestic crisis in Iraq, the Turks
explicitly intended the visit to show support for Maliki and
his efforts to hold the country together. The Turks pushed
Maliki hard on the need to ensure Sunni participation in the
political process and warned that Sunni disenfranchisement
would only lead to further instability and violence. On
bilateral issues, the Turks' overly ambitious agenda had
included four separate draft agreements, covering
counter-terrorism, border security, economics, and energy.
While only the energy agreement was signed, the two
governments hammered out a catch all MOU that addressed the
remaining issues, and the Iraqis promised to send a
delegation within two weeks to continue work on the
counter-terrorism and security draft texts. Maliki's public
statement, reiterated in the MOU, on working together with
Turkey to combat PKK terrorism is a major step forward which
the Turks hope to build upon via joint concrete steps. END
SUMMARY


2. (C) MFA Under Secretary Apakan told Charge on August 8
that Turkey achieved its principle objective for the visit:
to convey a positive signal about the bilateral partnership.
GOT officials recognize that Maliki is seriously weakened by
the Sunni walkout and they want to support his efforts to
hold the country together. They expressed their deep concern
about Sunni disenfranchisement and urged Maliki to do
everything possible to bring Sunni representation back into
the political process. Without that, there is no chance for
improved stability in Iraq.


3. (C) PM Erdogan and Maliki discussed other bilateral
issues, leading to the announcement of a new Turkish
consulate opening in Basra, supplementing Turkey's recently
inaugurated Mosul Consulate, and an Iraqi consulate opening
in Gaziantep. Though the GOT had previously floated four
separate draft agreements (counter-terrorism, economic
cooperation, border security, energy),only the energy MOU
was signed. Unable to reach agreement on the other texts,
the two delegations cobbled together a general MOU that
touched on the remaining issues and committed to follow up
via a subsequent visit to Ankara by the Iraqi Interior
Minister and National Security Advisor within a few weeks.
(Text of general MOU at para 7 below. Energy MOU text
e-mailed to Department and Embassy Baghdad.)

Expanded Neighbors Ministerial...Istanbul This Fall
-------------- --------------


4. (C) PM Maliki encouraged Turkey to continue its support
for the Iraq Neighbors process and asked the GOT to host the
next Expanded Neighbors ministerial this Fall in Istanbul.
Maliki proposed that the Istanbul ministerial take place in
October and suggested a senior officials meeting at UNGA
would be a logical step to maintain the Neighbors process
momentum.

Coordination on PKK Fight
--------------


5. (C) Apakan told us Maliki appeared ready to accept
Turkey's proposed Qguage on PKK terrorism, but FM Zebari
was much more hesitant. Iraq's Ambassador in Ankara, Sabah
Omran, confirmed the GOT had wanted stronger language on the
PKK but claimed the Iraqis had gone as far as they could. He
also complained that Turkey had only communicated with Iraq's
Ministry of Interior on the bilateral security agreement,
leaving Iraq's foreign ministry in the dark on the details.
This, and Interior Minister Bulani's absence, hobbled Iraqi

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flexibility.


6. (C) Maliki's public remarks were forward leaning on Iraq's
intent to increase counter-terrorism cooperation, in line
with Iraqi spokesman Dabbagh's August 6 public comments.
Maliki noted that, "The PKK and similar organizations are not
allowed to maintain a presence on Iraqi soil and we will not
permit them to do so in the future. We are in favor of
launching cooperation in that field without any delay."
Maliki committed to send Minister Bulani, Security Advisor
Rubaie and others for talks with Turkish counterparts within
the next two weeks.


7. (SBU) Begin text of Bilateral MOU:

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRAQ
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
(07 August 2007)

Turkey and Iraq, expressed their commitment to good
neighbourly relations based on mutual respect, solidarity,
friendship and non-interference in each other's internal
affairs.
In this vein, Turkey wishes to see security established in
Iraq and condemns all terrorist activities in this country.
This visit allowed the reconfirmation of Turkey's support to
the Iraqi process of reconciliation and democratization.
The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed that they view the
relations between Turkey and Iraq, covering economy, energy
and security as well as social and cultural aspects as a
whole and underscored their commitment to make full use of
this multi-dimensional relationship for the benefit of their
peoples and the region. In this respect, they look upon this
relationship from a wider and long term perspective. As two
countries whose economies complement and reinforce one
another, Turkey and Iraq are determined to mobilize all
existing bilateral cooperation opportunities.
The two Prime Ministers and their respective delegations held
very fruitful and positive consultations. Bilateral relations
and opportunities for cooperation were discussed and a full
and frank exchange of views took place concerning the
political process in Iraq including security.
This memorandum of understanding provides a framework for
cooperation between Turkey and Iraq in preventing and
suppressing terrorism and organized crime.
Both countries acknowledge the existing cooperation between
Turkey and Iraq on security and law enforcement matters, and
desire to strengthen and expand that cooperation to combating
terrorism;

The two Prime Ministers, expressed their joint will to fight
against terrorist organisations and activities including
PKK/KONGRA-GEL and reiterated their common understanding to
activate every effort to isolate, pacify and eradicate the
presence of all terrorist organisations in Iraq.
Both countries recognize that, regarding the legal and
judicial matters, the Ankara Agreement signed on 5 June 1926,
Friendship and Good Neighbourly Relations Agreement between
Turkey and Iraq, signed on 29 March 1946 and the Agreement
Between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Iraq on
Legal and Judicial Matters signed on 19 September 1989 are in
force between the two states,
They also emphasize their obligation to implement in full UN
Security Council Resolutions 1373 (2001),1546 and 1566
(2004) and 1624 (2005),as well as their common desire to
cooperate effectively in combating the terrorist activities
perpetrated by the terrorist groups,
In this respect, the two Prime Ministers instructed their
relevant authorities to expedite and finalize the work on
"The Agreement on Combating Terrorism" and "The Memorandum of
Understanding between Interior Ministries on Cooperation to
Combat Terrorism and Organised Crime" within two months time.
To this end, the Iraqi Minister of Interior will visit Turkey
in two weeks to prepare the said agreements.

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The two Prime Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the
signing of "The Memorandum of Understanding between the
Energy Ministries" and instructed their respective competent
authorities to finalize as soon as possible the
"Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement" within the
framework of the Joint Iraqi-Turkish Economic Committee.
Turkey has reactivated its Consulate-General in Mosul in line
with its comprehensive approach towards Iraq. Now, the Iraqi
Prime Minister welcomed Turkey's decision to open a second
Consulate-General in Basra. The two Prime Ministers agreed
that Iraqi side would provide every support to Turkey to
complete the preparations of the opening of the new consular
mission. Iraqi side declared its interest to open a second
Consulate-General in Turkey, probably in Gaziantep.
At their initial meeting of the enlarged ministerial meeting
of neighbours of Iraq in Sharm al Sheikh, the Foreign
Ministers had agreed to hold their second meeting in
Istanbul. In this context, the two Prime Ministers underlined
the importance they attach to this process and worked on the
preparations of the second meeting. The Enlarged Foreign
Ministers Meeting of the Neighbours of Iraq is planned to be
held in the coming months.
With a view to furthering the bilateral relations and
materializing the strategic perspective they agreed upon, the
two Prime Ministers decided to strengthen their political
dialogue and cooperation and intensify the contacts,
including establishment of new mechanisms through proper
official channels and to better utilize the existing
structures such as the Joint Economic Committee.

END TEXT

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MCELDOWNEY