TURKEY AND IRAQ SIGN COUNTER-TERRORISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002437 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER IZ TU SUBJECT: TURKEY AND IRAQ SIGN COUNTER-TERRORISM AGREEMENT...FINALLY Classified By: Political Counselor Janice Weiner for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Turkey and Iraq signed on September 28 a bilateral accord that provides for cooperation in countering terrorist groups and acts of terrorism in both countries. The two sides were unable to come to agreement on specific language concerning hot pursuit of terrorists across the Turkish-Iraqi border, a provision sought by the GOT. However, both sides agreed to continue negotiations in the near future to try to reach accommodation on this aspect of their overall cooperation on the terrorism issue. While not closing the deal on this point is disappointing for the Turks, GOT officials are pleased with the overall framework agreement. They deem it to be a very important, positive development in the bilateral Turkey-Iraq relationship. They also believe the accord will provide them some political space to reach out to Iraqi Kurdish officials, beginning with President Talabani and, hopefully, Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) leaders, once PKK-related violence drops off for the winter. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) Turkey and Iraq concluded a counter terrorism agreement at the end of a four-day visit by Iraqi Interior Minister Bolani September 28. During a meeting with Department of Defense and Department of State Inspectors General Kicklighter and Krongard on the arms leakage issue (reported septel),MFA U/S Apakan described the accord as a "very important" framework agreement. It: -- identifies as terrorist organizations the PKK, al-Qaeda, Ansar al-Islam and Ansar al-Sunni; -- establishes a bilateral, interagency security commission headed by the two interior ministers to work on counter terrorism matters; -- states the countries' agreement to curb the actions of the designated terrorist organizations, including their financing/fund raising, training, and other activities; and -- sets forth the "prosecute or extradite" principle with regard to terrorists apprehended, per relevant UN principles. ¶3. (C) The issue of hot pursuit was not resolved. Apakan said that the two sides "agree on hot pursuit," just not on the language to describe it. The final agreement includes language that indicates the sides agree that technical experts will do additional work on border security and terrorism that is to be completed "as soon as possible." An annex that will not be released publicly contains the language put forth by each side on hot pursuit as a reference point for further negotiations. Apakan noted that most of the drafting of the agreement was done by the Turkish side. He added that had Minister Bolani had the authority to sign the agreement as GOT officials had been told he would, negotiations would have been completed within 3 hours. As it was, it required nearly four days, with negotiations continuing throughout September 27 until 2:00 a.m. September 28, and resuming again later that morning. Despite the difficulty in reaching agreement, Apakan characterized the exchanges as friendly and cordial. ¶4. (C) GOT Deputy Coordinator for Iraq Amb. Murat Ozcelik told us in a separate meeting September 27 that the two sides were stuck on whether "permission" must be granted prior to forces from one country entering the other in active pursuit of terrorists attempting to flee security personnel (the Iraqi position) or whether there should be "coordination" (the Turkish proposal). Ozcelik was confident that, in the end, agreement will be found that is mutually satisfactory. He added that GOT officials believe the agreement, once finalized, will provide them some maneuvering space to reach out to Iraqi Kurds, beginning with President Talabani and, perhaps, continuing with the establishment of a dialogue with KRG leaders. The expected annual drop-off in PKK-related violence that occurs with the onset of winter snows in southeastern Turkey/northeastern Iraq will help further. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: While the Turkish press, probably stoked by the military and nationalists, is likely to point out what was not agreed (hot pursuit),the overall agreement -- and the tenacity with which the two sides worked to achieve it -- is nonetheless a big step forward for Turkish-Iraqi relations. It represents the type of direct Turkish-Iraqi dialogue on security and terrorism issues (among others) that we have long been encouraging and holds out hope for deeper bilateral engagement. We have been promised by MFA a copy of the text as signed. We will forward a copy to EUR/SE and NEA/I upon receipt. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON