Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA996
2007-04-27 12:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY WILL SEND MINISTER TO SHARM MEETINGS,
how-toVZCZCXRO9422 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHAK #0996 1171259 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 271259Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1875 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA// IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// IMMEDIATE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/425ABS IZMIR TU//CC// IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU IMMEDIATE RUEPGAB/MNF-I C2X BAGHDAD IZ IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000996
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER TU IZ IR SY EG
SUBJECT: TURKEY WILL SEND MINISTER TO SHARM MEETINGS,
REPORTS SYRIA AND IRAN WILL AS WELL
REF: ANKARA 969 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000996
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER TU IZ IR SY EG
SUBJECT: TURKEY WILL SEND MINISTER TO SHARM MEETINGS,
REPORTS SYRIA AND IRAN WILL AS WELL
REF: ANKARA 969 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Turkey will send a state minister (to be
named) to the May 3-4 Iraq meetings at Sharm el-Sheikh, GOT
officials and the Iraqi Ambassador confirmed to us. MFA
expects Iran and Syria will also send ministers. FonMin Gul
reportedly appealed to visiting Iraqi FonMin Zebari April 26
for help on the PKK; Zebari was non-committal. End summary.
2. (C) GOT Deputy Special Envoy for Iraq Ozcelik told us
April 27 that Turkey will send a state minister to the May
3-4 Iraq meetings at Sharm el-Sheikh, and that FonMin Gul
conveyed this to visiting Iraqi FonMin Zebari the previous
day. Gul's presidential candidacy obviously complicates his
attendance, and the Iraqis understand this. Ozcelik reported
that senior Iranian and Syrian officials have confirmed to
Turkey that they will also be represented at the ministerial
level. (The Iraqi Ambassador separately confirmed to us all
the above information.) PM/FM foreign policy advisor
Davutoglu separately informed the Ambassador April 26 that
Turkey will send a minister to Sharm.
3. (C) Ozcelik reported that Gul and Zebari held cordial
talks. Gul once again expressed Turkey's annoyance at the
shift to Sharm from Istanbul for the Iraq meetings. Zebari
reportedly assured Turkey of Iraqi goodwill, candidly
explaining that the GOI chose Egypt primarily as a gesture
toward "the Arabs." Gul suggested that Turkey host
simultaneous meetings of the three working groups expected to
be approved at Sharm; Zebari did not reply substantively.
Ozcelik noted that the first drafting committee meeting for
the ministerial communique will be held in Cairo April 28,
with a subsequent session planned for April 30.
4. (C) The ministers agreed that 2007 was critical for Iraq,
with Gul pledging support even as Turkey goes through its
delicate political season. Gul told Zebari that the GOT will
be able to do much more for Iraq if the GOI can take steps
against the PKK, thus soothing Turkish public opinion.
According to Ozcelik, Zebari got the message, but offered no
specifics other than urging further dialogue, including the
trilateral process. Zebari reportedly did not raise Iraqi
debt held by Turkey.
5. (C) Comment: Turkey has seven state ministers, two of whom
also hold Deputy PM spots. We expect the most likely
representative would be Mehmet Aydin, who has substituted for
Gul in other foreign settings. Other possibilities are Trade
Minister Kursad Tuzmen, DPM Abdullatif Sener, and Ali
Babacan, all of whom also carry the state minister title.
End comment.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER TU IZ IR SY EG
SUBJECT: TURKEY WILL SEND MINISTER TO SHARM MEETINGS,
REPORTS SYRIA AND IRAN WILL AS WELL
REF: ANKARA 969 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Turkey will send a state minister (to be
named) to the May 3-4 Iraq meetings at Sharm el-Sheikh, GOT
officials and the Iraqi Ambassador confirmed to us. MFA
expects Iran and Syria will also send ministers. FonMin Gul
reportedly appealed to visiting Iraqi FonMin Zebari April 26
for help on the PKK; Zebari was non-committal. End summary.
2. (C) GOT Deputy Special Envoy for Iraq Ozcelik told us
April 27 that Turkey will send a state minister to the May
3-4 Iraq meetings at Sharm el-Sheikh, and that FonMin Gul
conveyed this to visiting Iraqi FonMin Zebari the previous
day. Gul's presidential candidacy obviously complicates his
attendance, and the Iraqis understand this. Ozcelik reported
that senior Iranian and Syrian officials have confirmed to
Turkey that they will also be represented at the ministerial
level. (The Iraqi Ambassador separately confirmed to us all
the above information.) PM/FM foreign policy advisor
Davutoglu separately informed the Ambassador April 26 that
Turkey will send a minister to Sharm.
3. (C) Ozcelik reported that Gul and Zebari held cordial
talks. Gul once again expressed Turkey's annoyance at the
shift to Sharm from Istanbul for the Iraq meetings. Zebari
reportedly assured Turkey of Iraqi goodwill, candidly
explaining that the GOI chose Egypt primarily as a gesture
toward "the Arabs." Gul suggested that Turkey host
simultaneous meetings of the three working groups expected to
be approved at Sharm; Zebari did not reply substantively.
Ozcelik noted that the first drafting committee meeting for
the ministerial communique will be held in Cairo April 28,
with a subsequent session planned for April 30.
4. (C) The ministers agreed that 2007 was critical for Iraq,
with Gul pledging support even as Turkey goes through its
delicate political season. Gul told Zebari that the GOT will
be able to do much more for Iraq if the GOI can take steps
against the PKK, thus soothing Turkish public opinion.
According to Ozcelik, Zebari got the message, but offered no
specifics other than urging further dialogue, including the
trilateral process. Zebari reportedly did not raise Iraqi
debt held by Turkey.
5. (C) Comment: Turkey has seven state ministers, two of whom
also hold Deputy PM spots. We expect the most likely
representative would be Mehmet Aydin, who has substituted for
Gul in other foreign settings. Other possibilities are Trade
Minister Kursad Tuzmen, DPM Abdullatif Sener, and Ali
Babacan, all of whom also carry the state minister title.
End comment.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON