Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA2196
2007-08-24 14:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

GOT OFFICIALS PRESS CODEL SPECTER ON CONTINUED

Tags:  PREL PTER PGOV TU IZ IR SY 
pdf how-to read a cable
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P 241447Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
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RUEPGAB/MNF-I C2X BAGHDAD IZ PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002196 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV TU IZ IR SY
SUBJECT: GOT OFFICIALS PRESS CODEL SPECTER ON CONTINUED
U.S. ENGAGEMENT IN IRAQ


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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002196

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV TU IZ IR SY
SUBJECT: GOT OFFICIALS PRESS CODEL SPECTER ON CONTINUED
U.S. ENGAGEMENT IN IRAQ


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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Turkish officials believe the U.S. must
remain in Iraq to ensure the country's future as a unified
state. They also see increased involvement by the United
Nations as an asset. Senator Specter argued that Iraqi
political leaders have had sufficient time to establish a
power-sharing arrangement and pass legislation critical to
the nation's future, but have squandered it with factional
squabbling. He said the American people have seen too many
American casualties sacrificed for a country whose leaders
are unwilling to compromise for their own nation's future.
GOT officials also warned against connecting the events of
1915 to genocide and the impact an Armenian Genocide
Resolution in the U.S. Congress would have on U.S.-Turkish
relations. They also discussed with Specter the efficacy of
sanctions on Iran, engagement with Syria, and the need for
results in the fight against the terrorist PKK. END SUMMARY


2. (C) Senator Arlen Specter met on August 24 with MFA
Undersecretary Apakan, Deputy Undersecretary for Americas
Berk, Director General for Americas Ocak, Director General
for Security Affairs Guven, and Americas Desk director Ercin.
Specter met separately with GOT Iraq Coordinator Oguz
Celikkol.

STAY ENGAGED IN IRAQ
--------------


3. (C) Specter said that the American public was very angry
about the situation in Iraq. There has been almost no
progress and he will not support further funding. Apakan
indicated that Turkey was very engaged with the Iraqis,
noting the August 7-8 visit of PM Maliki and the August 23-24
visit of VP Hashimi. Apakan said his message to the Iraqis,
and the U.S., is that there has to be an internal political
process that engages the Sunnis and brings them into power
for Iraq to survive as a strong, federal state. A government
whose main pillars are Shiites and Kurdish tribal leaders
will not lead to success. A failure by the U.S. in Iraq

would be a failure for all those interested in Iraq,s
future, including Turkey. Amb. Celikkol underscored the
point in his meeting, saying precipitous withdrawal from Iraq
by the U.S. would leave the country open to a battle for
influence by neighboring states, including Iran, bring about
a very bloody civil war, and endanger the security and future
of the entire region.


4. (C) Apakan said Turkey believes the United Nations is the
best actor to bring about the internal political process we
all seek. Iran says it wants a unified government, Ocak
said, but its actions supporting various factions call that
into question. Apakan said that Turkey very openly tells
Iran that it should keep its hands off of Iraq. Iran and its
radical supporters in Iraq will have difficulty maintaining a
jihad against the United Nations, particularly if neighboring
states support the UN,s participation. The Charge pointed
out that the UN has been the target of attacks in the past in
Iraq and, while necessary to the process, will not be a
panacea. Apakan agreed, and added that the UN without the US
is not a viable equation. But the UN needs to be the main
facilitator of internal reconciliation. Celikkol noted the
importance for the U.S. and other neighbors to continue to
press PM Maliki to share power with the Sunnis, a point
emphasized to GOT officials earlier in the day by Iraqi VP
Hashimi.


5. (C) Specter questioned why U.S. troops should bear the
full brunt of military operations, and asked whether a UN
peacekeeping force could be put in place in Iraq. Ocak said
that the UN would not put a peacekeeping force into place
unless it saw a political process underway that would lead to
peace and that would be supported by a peacekeeping force.
Thus, the U.S. needs to support the UN in building the needed
internal dialogue. Specter suggested neighboring states,
including Turkey, consider putting their own troops into Iraq

ANKARA 00002196 002 OF 002


to replace departing American forces. Celikkol remarked that
Turkey had offered to send 5,000 troops to Iraq two years ago
but Iraq refused.

IRAN SANCTIONS
--------------


6. (C) Specter asked about the use of economic sanctions
against Iran. Guven said that Turkey has not seen any effect
from this or prior attempts at using economic sanctions on
Iran. French, German, Russian and Chinese companies have
ignored the sanctions, and the current high oil prices, and
European demand for gas, all mean that sanctions are unlikely
to really pressure the Iranians. Apakan added that the Shias
are made happy by suffering, and that the sanctions
perversely reinforce Iranian solidarity. Instead, the Turks
said, there needs to be dialogue with the Iranians, who are
deeply suspicious of other countries.

ENGAGING SYRIA
--------------


7. (C) Noting that he was in Damascus in December, Specter
said he believes that the Syrians are key to solving many
problems, including some in Iraq. Would a settlement between
Syria and Israel on the Golan Heights get Syria to cut its
support for Hizbollah and Hamas? Apakan said there was more
hope for reconciliation between Syria and Israel than between
Israel and the Palestinians, who are so deeply divided
internally that it is hard to determine who is in charge of
which faction. Apakan said he thought it would be possible
to pull Syria away from Iran, but was more skeptical about
separating them from Hizbollah and Hamas. Apakan noted that
Turkey strongly supports the proposed Middle East Peace
Conference and has offered to host the Conference. Turkey
also will host the Neighbors of Iraq Ministerial meeting in
October.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION/PKK
--------------


8. (C) Apakan also raised the proposed congressional Armenian
Genocide Resolution (AGR) as well as the fight against the
PKK. He noted a long list of bilateral and international
issues where Turkey is cooperating actively with the United
States and will continue to do so. With a very loaded
agenda, Turkey does not deserve this AGR, he noted, adding
that it would damage bilateral relations and Turkey,s
ability to work with the U.S. Turkey also is looking for
more tangible support and results against PKK terrorism.
Senator Specter said he would relay Turkey,s views to his
colleagues.

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

WILSON