TURKEY PRESSING FOR CONSTRUCTIVE FOLLOW-UP TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002077 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER IZ TU SUBJECT: TURKEY PRESSING FOR CONSTRUCTIVE FOLLOW-UP TO MALIKI VISIT REF: ANKARA 2028 Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) The GOT is committed to a quick and constructive effort to build on the progress achieved during the August 7 visit to Ankara by Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki (ref). The Turks' top priority now is to ensure that the promised follow-up visit by the Iraqi National Security Advisor and Interior Minister takes place within the agreed two week time frame. The GOT has asked that the U.S. support this effort by encouraging the Iraqis to make the promised trip and to come prepared to make concrete progress. ¶2. (C) MFA Deputy Under Secretary (and Special Envoy for Countering the PKK) Rafet Akgunay and GOT Iraq Coordinator Oguz Celikkol have both contacted Charge to underscore the GOT's interest in maintaining the momentum of the Maliki visit. They believe the MOU was a positive step forward and want to do everything possible to continue advancing bilateral relations. The next specific step is the follow-on visit by GOI Interior Minister Bulani and National Security Advisor Rubaie, intended to allow for more detailed discussion of security topics in general as well as specific steps to counter PKK terrorists in Iraq. The Turks would like us to reinforce to the Iraqis the importance of undertaking this visit within the agreed time frame. ¶3. (C) While awaiting an Iraqi decision on the date for the follow-on meeting, the GOT has scrupulously (and uncharacteristically) avoided jumping into the media debate here. The Turkish press has had a field day covering the initial negative statements about the MOU from Iraqi Kurdish representatives, including KRG security minister Cafer Mustafa, Kurdistan Alliance rep. and Iraqi MP Mahmoud Osman, and Massoud Barzani's representative to the Article 140 Commission Kadir Aziz. Despite press conclusions that the MOU is a "joke" and a "sham" in light of these statements, the GOT has insisted to us that it is confident the GOI will fulfill its commitments. Iraqi FM Zebari's comments (appearing in the Turkish press on August 14) that the Iraqi Kurd remarks criticizing the MOU are "non-binding" and PM Maliki's reiteration of his commitment to prevent Iraq from being a base for PKK terrorist attacks against Turkey should help considerably. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ MCELDOWNEY