Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAGHDAD1793
2007-05-29 15:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR'S MAY 27 MEETING WITH TURKISH IRAQ

Tags:  PREL PTER PGOV ENRG TU SY IZ 
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VZCZCXRO8917
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #1793/01 1491509
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 291509Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1452
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001793 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV ENRG TU SY IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MAY 27 MEETING WITH TURKISH IRAQ
ENVOY CELIKKOL

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001793

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV ENRG TU SY IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MAY 27 MEETING WITH TURKISH IRAQ
ENVOY CELIKKOL

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In a May 27 meeting with the Ambassador,
Turkish MFA Iraq Envoy Oguz Celikkol said Turkey will propose
that the Neighbors Conference energy working group meet June
14-15 in Istanbul. Celikkol and the Ambassador discussed
ways to keep participation in the working group from becoming
unwieldy. Celikkol strongly and repeatedly stressed that the
GOI and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had to take steps
to counter the PKK in northern Iraq. However, Celikkol
demurred when the Ambassador suggested he consider speaking
to KRG PM Nechirvan Barzani, currently in Baghdad for talks
on hydrocarbons legislation. The Ambassador and Celikkol
agreed that UNAMI could play a useful role in resolving the
question of the Kirkuk referendum. MNF-I Operations Chief MG
Fastabend previewed a May 28 MNF-I briefing to the GOT about
Syrian involvement in allowing foreign fighters into Iraq
intended to prepare the GOT to again urge Syria to take steps
to stop them. The Ambassador updated Celikkol on the
progress of hydrocarbons legislation and upcoming US-Iran
talks. Celikkol said the GOT is considering opening a
consulate in Basra. End Summary.

Neighbors Conference Working Groups
--------------


2. (C) Celikkol said he would talk to the Iraqi MFA about
next steps on the working groups formalized after the May
Sharm el-Sheikh Iraq Neighbors Conference. Turkey would
propose that the energy working group meet June 14-15 in
Istanbul. Celikkol worried that participation could get so
large as to be unwieldy; restricted participation would be
better.


3. (C) The Ambassador said U.S. participation in the energy
group would make sense but would open the door to requests
from many other countries. He suggested Celikkol ask the GOI
its views. One idea could be to limit the working groups to
politically essential representation and then have working
sessions with even more restricted participation.



4. (C) Celikkol said Turkey is open to U.S. suggestions. On
energy, Celikkol said the GOT is interested in a separate
trilateral US/Turkey/Iraq energy working group, perhaps to
meet in parallel with Neighbors energy working group, to
discuss trilateral energy cooperation. The Ambassador
welcomed the idea. Celikkol said the GOT would work the idea
with the US and Iraqi embassies in Ankara.

PKK
---


5. (C) Celikkol gave the Ambassador a copy of a letter from
PM Erdogan to PM Maliki expressing support for the GOI and
willingness to cooperate on energy and training Iraqi
Security Forces (ISF). Celikkol said he wanted to draw
Maliki's attention to the PKK issue. The most recent GOI
diplomatic note on the PKK was "positive" but did not label
the PKK a terrorist organization. Explosives used in the May
22 bombing in Ankara had come from Iraq. The GOI and
"authorities in the north" need to take steps to stop this.


6. (C) The Ambassador reiterated deep USG concern about PKK
activity emanating from northern Iraq. He reviewed his
recent discussions with President Talabani and KRG President
Masoud Barzani on the issues of PKK threats to break its
ceasefire and Barzani's public statements. The Ambassador
told Celikkol he had even more recently discussed the PKK
with KRG PM Nechirvan Barzani, who was currently in Baghdad
for discussions on hydrocarbons legislation, and found him to
be relatively forthcoming on the PKK.


7. (C) The Ambassador suggested Nechirvan's presence in
Baghdad might be an opportunity for Celikkol to meet with
him. Celikkol demurred, saying he would have to consult with
Ankara on the matter. Masoud Barzani's February media
statements had made such meetings "impossible." Celikkol
conceded that Nechirvan may be more flexible that Masoud
Barzani, but "people" in Turkey now believe the "authorities
in the north" are actively supporting the PKK. Celikkol's
deputy Murat Ozcelik said that at this point, anyone who
talks to Nechirvan would be considered a "traitor" in Turkey.
Celikkol said he plans to meet with Kurdish DPM Barham Saleh.


8. (C) Celikkol told the Ambassador several times that "any
action" by KRG authorities, such as an arrest of a PKK figure
or restrictions on PKK movement, would have a positive
impact in Turkey. Ozcelik said the MFA would work hard to
use any step by KRG authorities to "put things on the right
track."

Kirkuk

BAGHDAD 00001793 002 OF 002


--------------


9. (C) Celikkol told the Ambassador that members of the Iraqi
Council of Representatives (CoR) Sunni Tawafuq bloc, and even
Kurdish CoR members and President Talabani, are telling
Turkish officials that postponement of the Kirkuk referendum
is "necessary." However, KRG President Masoud Barzani
refuses to accept this.


10. (C) Celikkol said the GOT believes that the UN could play
a useful role in resolving Kirkuk by coming up with what
Celikkol characterized as a face saving way for Barzani to
agree to postponement. However, the GOT would oppose any UN
attempt to "give legitimacy to the referendum." The
Ambassador told Celikkol that UNAMI SRSG Qazi and his deputy
Schulenberg appear to understand the complexities surrounding
the Kirkuk issue. The USG has urged UNAMI to take a more
active role on Kirkuk. The UN could find a way "not forward"
on a referendum in 2007, but needs to be pushed to get
adequate staffing and resources into Iraq in order to deal
with the issue successfully.

Turkish Engagement with Syria on Foreign Fighters
-------------- --------------


11. (C) The Ambassador introduced MNF-I Operations Chief MG
Fastabend, who told Celikkol that Commanding General Petraeus
is sending a team to Turkey on May 28 to brief the GOT on
intelligence about Syrian involvement in allowing foreign
fighters into Iraq. MNF-I hopes the GOT would use the
briefing to approach Syria and urge it to suppress the flow
of fighters into Iraq.


12. (C) Celikkol noted that the GOT has spoken to Syria about
foreign fighters in the past, including a trip by FM Gul to
Damascus. Syria had thereafter tightened security at the
Damascus Airport.


13. (C) Celikkol asked whether the GOI and Syria had followed
up on their joint security working group. The Ambassador
said that Syria has been vague on what it expects from the
working group, and FM Zebari's frequent travels abroad made
progress difficult.

Hydrocarbons Legislation and Iran Talks
--------------


14. (C) Celikkol asked the Ambassador for an update on
progress on hydrocarbons legislation and the upcoming
U.S.-Iraq talks. The Ambassador explained that discussion is
currently centered on the hydrocarbons financial management
legislation. There is broad agreement that revenues will go
into a central account; Kurds are focused on assuring the
central government would not be able to block distribution of
revenues to the regions.


15. (C) The Ambassador noted that there was some confusion on
the Iranian side about who would head their delegation. PM
Maliki is hosting the talks; this would be a positive signal
that Iraq is included.

Turkey Considering Basra Consulate
--------------


16. (C) Celikkol said that the GOT is considering opening a
consulate in Basra by the end of 2007. VP Mehdi had told the
GOT that Iraqi Shia want increased engagement with Turkey.
The Ambassador noted that the U.S. Regional Embassy Office
(REO) in Basra is experiencing almost daily rocket and mortar
attacks, and that militias in Basra are not under control.


17. (C) Turkish Ambassador to Iraq Kanbay asked about media
reports of a new U.S. Iraq campaign plan, benchmarks for the
GOI, and U.S. support for PM Maliki. The Ambassador replied
that the Joint Campaign Plan is a standard document that he
and General Petraeus agreed needed to be reviewed, and is
still in the drafting process. Leaks to the press about the
report had not been helpful.


18. (C) The Ambassador stressed that PM Maliki has full U.S.
support; any change of government at this point would lead to
prolonged wrangling over a new government. On benchmarks,
President Bush had been clear about what needed to be done in
Iraq for the good of the country and to help manage the
debate inside the US.
CROCKER