Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA372
2007-02-21 09:25:00
SECRET
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
IRAQ: TURKEY EAGER TO MOVE ON NEIGHBORS CONFERENCES
how-toVZCZCXRO2897 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHAK #0372 0520925 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 210925Z FEB 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1035 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T ANKARA 000372
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2027
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU IZ IR SY EG SA
SUBJECT: IRAQ: TURKEY EAGER TO MOVE ON NEIGHBORS CONFERENCES
REF: A. BAGHDAD 600
B. SATTERFIELD-WILSON EMAIL 2/14/07
Classified By: Ambassador Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
S E C R E T ANKARA 000372
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2027
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU IZ IR SY EG SA
SUBJECT: IRAQ: TURKEY EAGER TO MOVE ON NEIGHBORS CONFERENCES
REF: A. BAGHDAD 600
B. SATTERFIELD-WILSON EMAIL 2/14/07
Classified By: Ambassador Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) Following up on ref email conveying the Secretary's
interest in pursuing FonMin Gul's proposal to host a senior
"Iraq neighbors" plus P5/G8 meeting in the near future,
Ambassador met Feb. 16 with Gul and Feb. 19 with GOT Special
Coordinator for Iraq Celikkol. They confirmed that Turkey
envisions a senior officials/envoy meeting in Baghdad Feb. 26
or 27, then an "Iraq neighbors" ministerial in Cairo in early
March. The ministerial would in turn invite the neighbors
plus P5 plus G8 to a senior-level (minister or above) meeting
in Istanbul in late March or early April.
2. (S) Celikkol asserted that Egypt and Kuwait have agreed to
this program, and that Gul got the Saudis on board during his
Feb. 17-18 visit there. However, Celikkol added, the Saudis
are still quite hesitant to send even a senior official to
Baghdad; he asked us to work on Riyadh toward this. Celikkol
said Gul will pitch the concept to Iranian FM Mottaki during
his Feb. 20 visit to Ankara. Celikkol believed that if the
Iraqis are on board for this series of meetings, the Iranians
will not/cannot refuse, even though they will be reluctant to
go to Cairo. He added that Turkey will be able to deliver
the Syrians on this plan.
3. (S) Celikkol complained that Iraqi FonMin Zibari appears
to be insisting that the senior officials meeting in Baghdad
be held March 11-12, thus pushing the entire process back.
Zibari reportedly told the Turkish Ambassador in Baghdad Feb.
17 that the meeting cannot be held earlier for security
reasons. Celikkol emphasized the GOT view that this meeting
be held as soon as possible, and asked that we raise the
issue in Baghdad.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2027
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU IZ IR SY EG SA
SUBJECT: IRAQ: TURKEY EAGER TO MOVE ON NEIGHBORS CONFERENCES
REF: A. BAGHDAD 600
B. SATTERFIELD-WILSON EMAIL 2/14/07
Classified By: Ambassador Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) Following up on ref email conveying the Secretary's
interest in pursuing FonMin Gul's proposal to host a senior
"Iraq neighbors" plus P5/G8 meeting in the near future,
Ambassador met Feb. 16 with Gul and Feb. 19 with GOT Special
Coordinator for Iraq Celikkol. They confirmed that Turkey
envisions a senior officials/envoy meeting in Baghdad Feb. 26
or 27, then an "Iraq neighbors" ministerial in Cairo in early
March. The ministerial would in turn invite the neighbors
plus P5 plus G8 to a senior-level (minister or above) meeting
in Istanbul in late March or early April.
2. (S) Celikkol asserted that Egypt and Kuwait have agreed to
this program, and that Gul got the Saudis on board during his
Feb. 17-18 visit there. However, Celikkol added, the Saudis
are still quite hesitant to send even a senior official to
Baghdad; he asked us to work on Riyadh toward this. Celikkol
said Gul will pitch the concept to Iranian FM Mottaki during
his Feb. 20 visit to Ankara. Celikkol believed that if the
Iraqis are on board for this series of meetings, the Iranians
will not/cannot refuse, even though they will be reluctant to
go to Cairo. He added that Turkey will be able to deliver
the Syrians on this plan.
3. (S) Celikkol complained that Iraqi FonMin Zibari appears
to be insisting that the senior officials meeting in Baghdad
be held March 11-12, thus pushing the entire process back.
Zibari reportedly told the Turkish Ambassador in Baghdad Feb.
17 that the meeting cannot be held earlier for security
reasons. Celikkol emphasized the GOT view that this meeting
be held as soon as possible, and asked that we raise the
issue in Baghdad.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON