TURKISH MFA PROTESTS ON GREEN ZONE ACCESS ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000244

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2026
TAGS: PREL ASEC TU IZ US
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA PROTESTS ON GREEN ZONE ACCESS ISSUES

REF: BURGER-HORNER EMAIL 12/27/06

Classified By: POL/C Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) MFA Head of Department for Iraq Fazli Corman called us
in Feb. 2 to protest "increasingly inappropriate treatment"
by U.S. authorities in Iraq (text of note in para. 5).
Corman recounted two attempts by Turkish Embassy officials to
access the International Zone (IZ). On Jan. 31, the Turkish
DCM's motorcade was "subjected to a thorough search." During
the search, a Turkish official reportedly took a photograph
of the proceedings. During this time, the Turks allege that
a U.S. security official raised the "trap," puncturing the
tire of a Turkish vehicle. After the motorcade entered the
IZ, it then stopped to change the tire, at which time U.S.
personnel approached the Turks and confiscated the camera.
Corman alleged that U.S. personnel treated the Turkish DCM
discourteously.


2. (C) The Turkish Embassy's Administrative Attache attempted
to enter the IZ on Feb. 1 to deliver letters from the Turkish
Ambassador to various IZ locations, Corman continued. He
alleged that the motorcade was ordered to remain outside the
IZ, and Turkish personnel were ordered to exit the vehicles
for a thorough search. Corman said that Turkish security
personnel evaluated the situation and -- citing numerous
attacks on vehicles awaiting IZ entry -- deemed the U.S.
request as putting the Turkish personnel in danger. The
motorcade departed.


3. (C) Corman said that the Feb. 1 incident was for him more
disturbing, in that the Turkish Embassy believed it was in
retaliation for the Jan. 31 incident. We responded that
there are two sides to every story, but that we would pass on
Turkish concerns to Washington and to Embassy Baghdad. We
also reminded Corman that taking photos at these checkpoints
is a serious matter.


4. (C) Corman reminded us that the Turkish Embassy's Third
Secretary, Alper Aktas, has been refused an IZ badge by U.S.

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authorities, and that during his Dec. 3 farewell call the
former Turkish Ambassador had handed Ambassador Khalilzad a
note on the matter (see ref email chain--text of MFA note on
the badging issue in para. 6). Corman said the new Turkish
Ambassador to Baghdad, Derya Kanbay, would raise these issues
in his Feb. 6 courtesy call with Ambassador Khalilzad.


5. (C) Text of Turkish MFA note on IZ Access Incidents
(handed to us Feb. 2)--as received:

BEGIN TEXT

2 February 2007

NOTE FOR THE US EMBASSY - ANKARA

Turkish Embassy staff members in Baghdad receive increasingly
inappropriate treatment by the US military and security
authorities.

Previously, the Third Secretary of the Embassy was indicated
as a "security threat" and was refused to be issued a badge.

This problem was communicated to the US Embassy-Ankara. To
day, no response has been given to our request and a badge
has not been provided.

On 31 January, the official armored vehicles of the Turkish
Embassy-Baghdad were subjected to a thorough search at the
entrance of the Green Zone.

The tire of one armored SUV was pierced by the vehicle trap
on purpose. Our security personnel were concerned by the
danger that the rest of the Embassy vehicles in line were
exposed to as a result of this extended stop and search.

The Turkish Embassy's DCM who was present was treated
inappropriately by the US soldiers at the gate.

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The stated reason for this action -- that one personnel took
a photo of the control point -- is hardly a justification for
this kind of unfriendly treatment. We have warned our
personnel not to take a photo again.

The following day (1 February),again at the entrance to
Green Zone, the official vehicles and the diplomatic
personnel together with the members of the Turkish Police
Forces Team accompanying them were bluntly reminded of this
incident.

They were asked to keep the doors of the vehicle open, step
down of the vehicles and were told to walk to another
location to be searched. As this was an exposure to danger,
they refused to comply with (sic) and left the premises
without being able to complete their duties.

Turkey, a NATO aly and a key partner of the US in the rgion
as far as Iraq is concerned, has two diplomatic missions in
Baghdad and Mosul.

In order to keep these missions operational, the cooperation
of US military and security authorities is decisive. This is
fundamental for the missions to be able to continue their
work.

END TEXT


6. (C) Text of Turkish MFA note on Badging Issues (handed by
former Turkish Ambassador Cevikoz to Ambassador Khalilzad on
Dec. 3, copy provided to us Dec. 19, contained in ref
email)--as received:

BEGIN TEXT

MNF BADGE APPLICATIONS FOR THE MEMBERS OF TURKISH EMBASSY

As you know many of the Embassies in Baghdad and various
Iraqi Ministries are currently located in the Green Zone,
which can be accessed only by those in possession of an MNF
badge.

The same situation applies for easy access to the Baghdad
International Airport (BIAP).

Therefore obtaining MNF ID Cards that facilitate the entry to
these locations has become a de facto prerequisite for
members of Embassies, especially for those which are situated
outside the Green Zone.

In addition, MNF ID cards are the only form of identification
recognized by the international and Iraqi security forces as
a proof of identity.

In any case process for obtaining MNF ID cards for the
members of the diplomatic missions is a detailed and lengthy
one that requires submission of information by the applicants
which do not conform to internationally recognized standards
concerning treatment of diplomats. However recognizing the
extraordinary nature of the security environment that all
members of the diplomatic corps need to perform their duties
in Iraq, personnel of my Embassy have shown utmost attention
to meet all requirements during their applications.

Unfortunately, our attention to conformity with the
regulations concerning MNF ID card applications has not been
reciprocated. In various cases, there have been long delays
for the conclusion of these applications. In some others,
application forms were lost by the badge office (JASG
Command) that required their resubmission.

Incidents as these and the need to wait at least for 20 to 30
days put our security teams which serve for 90 days in a
difficult position as some members of the team do not possess
MNF badges and do not have access to the Green Zone or the
BIAP. You would understand that, this situation puts members
of Turkish Embassy in a position where they will not be able

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to conduct their official business, including contacts with
your Embassy.

You would recall that, when such delays left our whole
security team without MNF ID Cards at the beginning of this
year, we had to ask for intervention of the US authorities in
Ankara and Washington to find a solution to this problem.
Although we have observed a slightly speeded processing for
our applications after this intervention, I have to note that
the process is still lengthy and there are various problems
concerning members of our security teams and career
diplomats.

One of the latest examples is the application for Counselor
Muhittin Ahmet Yazal, Deputy Chief of the Mission. He applied
for an MNF ID card on 26 September 2006 and after various
inquiries we found out that, he required LEP screening to see
whether he could receive a badge.

A more disturbing example involves Third Secretary Alper
Aktas. When he applied for the renewal of his expired badge,
he had to go through an interview, that contained questions
which we believe does not fall within customary ules of
diplomatic courtesy.

There were also other members of the Embassy who had to wait
for more than 1,5 months for their applications to be
concluded.

These problems were also brought to the attention of the
Commander of the JASG and Deputy Political Counselor of the
US Embassy in Baghdad.

On 26 November, two months after his application, we were
told that the issue with Mr. Yazal was corrected and it was
hoped that he would be "able to finish the process and
receive his badge." On the same day, as for the application
of Mr. Aktas, a Turkish diplomat and official representative
of our Government, we were informed that, he "will be unable
to receive a badge" as the JASG "had received information
that causes them some concern" and
"determined that it would not be in the best interest of
Coalition Forces that he receive a badge."

I would like to strongly stress that the way the applications
submitted by my Embassy are handled and the denial of MNF
badges to members of my mission are not acceptable.

Since I would like to believe these to be simple mistakes
that should be solved in Baghdad, I wanted to bring them to
your attention before I reported these incidents to Ankara.

Therefore I would appreciate your personal attention and
intervention on this matter for solving these problems and
ensuring that they do not repeat in the future.

END TEXT

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

WILSON