TURKEY PREPARING FOR IRAQ NEIGHBORS MINISTERIAL

S E C R E T ANKARA 002460

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/I AND EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2017
TAGS: PREL IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY PREPARING FOR IRAQ NEIGHBORS MINISTERIAL


Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (S) Summary: Turkish MFA Iraq Coordinator Oguz Celikkol
met October 2 with Ambassador to outline Turkey's plans for
the upcoming Iraq Neighbors Ministerial in Istanbul, November
2-3. Participants will finalize the statement during
sub-ministerial planning sessions on November 1-2. MFA is
completing the draft statement, which it believes should
reaffirm the continuation of the working groups; propose a
new committee on economic cooperation between Iraq and its
neighbors; express support for the UN and the USSYG's concept
of a UN support mechanism for the neighbors' process; and
advocate a meeting between the UNSYG and Iraqi political
parties. Celikkol welcomes U.S. input on the ministerial
statement and hopes to get us a draft text by about October

12. He solicited U.S. advice on securing President Talibani
and PM Maliki's participation, noting that FM Babacan would
encourage their attendance at separate events during his
October 20 trip to Baghdad. Babacan plans to use his
upcoming tour of Middle East capitals to solicit support for
the Ministerial and the Neighbors process. End Summary.


2. (C) The Ambassador met October 2 with MFA Iraq
Coordinator Oguz Celikkol to discuss plans for the upcoming
Iraq Neighbors meeting in Istanbul. Celikkol reported the
GOT plans to officially open the Ministerial portion of the
meeting on November 3, with preceding planning sessions on
the afternoon of November 1 and the following morning. At 8
PM on November 2, Foreign Ministers will attend a working
dinner to finalize the statement, which will be presented at
the plenary meeting on November 3. Celikkol noted the
schedule will be similar to Sharm el Sheikh. MFA will send
out amended invitations on October 3 with the revised dates.
Celikkol added, as he has received confirmation that UK
Foreign Secretary Miliband will attend, he did not see any
reason Saudi Arabian FM Al-Faisal could not. Due to a
concurrent energy summit in Cairo, the Egyptian Government
has urged postponement by another day. As PM Erdogan and FM
Babacan must be in Washington by November 5, Turkey believes
that further delay is impossible.


3. (C) Celikkol reported he had previewed the GOT's proposed
ministerial statement outline with U.S. officials the week
before. One paragraph will reaffirm the continuation of the
three working groups. A second will propose a new committee
on economic cooperation between Iraq and its neighbors,
drafted in such a way as to not duplicate the International
Compact. A third paragraph will express support for the
UNSYG's concept of a UN support mechanism (vice secretariat)
to facilitate the Neighbors process. A fourth paragraph will
express support for the UN role in Iraq, and Turkey's idea
for this is that ministers should call for a UN-led meeting,
preferably in Istanbul, of all political parties represented
in the Iraqi parliament. After the draft is completed, the
MFA will provide a preview copy to the Embassy, probably by
about October 12. The MFA intends to widely distribute the
draft statement during the last week of October.


4. (S) According to Celikkol, FM Babacan will utilize his
two-part tour to Middle East capitals to garner support for
the Ministerial. He noted tentative plans for Babacan to
visit Baghdad on October 20 (please protect date) to meet
with Iraqi PM Maliki, President Talabani, FM Zebarai, and
Vice Presidents al-Mahdi and al-Hashimi. While in Baghdad,
Babacan plans to express Turkey's interest in Talabani and
Maliki's attendance at the Istanbul Ministerial, which Turkey
believes would be helpful. Celikkol solicited U.S. advice on
encouraging the participation of the two leaders.

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

WILSON