BARZANI CONDEMNS TURKISH ATTACKS INSIDE KRG,

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002422

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2017
TAGS: PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: BARZANI CONDEMNS TURKISH ATTACKS INSIDE KRG,
AGREES TO REMAIN QUIET UNLESS ATTACKS CONTINUE


BAGHDAD 00002422 001.2 OF 002


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


1. (S) Summary: A highly agitated Masood Barzani told the
Ambassador on the evening of July 18 that Turkish strikes
earlier that day were provocative and if continued would
generate an armed Kurdish response. The Ambassador responded
that both the Turkish and Kurdish regional governments need
to avoid escalating at this sensitive moment. We recommend
that this message be reiterated to the Turkish government
again. Eventually, the Turkish government will have to talk
directly to the Kurdistan Regional Government and we should
encourage then to do that. End Summary.

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BARZANI SAYS TURKISH STRIKE PROVOCATIVE
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2. (S) Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masood
Barzani claimed to the Ambassador on the evening of July 18
in Salahadin that earlier that morning Turkey had launched
air strikes deep inside Kurdistan. The raids struck villages
along the Turkish-Iraqi border from near Zakho in Dahuk
province all the way to the Iranian border. The area around
Bewar, he said, was heaviest hit. Barzani, visibly agitated,
asserted that this attack was especially provocative because
Turkey used aircraft and bombed up to 30 kilometers inside
the border. He said if Turkey attacked again the KRG would
respond, perhaps by attacking Turkish units stationed within
the KRG.

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BARZANI WILLING TO TALK - BUT DISTRUSTFUL
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3. (S) The Ambassador responded that the PKK is a terrorist
organization and the GOI and the KRG were not confronting
them or controlling them. Barzani denied that the KRG
provided any assistance to the PKK or that the PKK was
crossing into Turkey to carry out terrorist acts. He claimed
small PKK elements are located in the mountains near the
Iranian border but they are inactive. He claimed that the
Turks were just looking for an excuse to put down the Kurds.
(Barzani spoke passionately about historical and recent
grievances against the Turks.) Barzani added that the Turks
refuse to talk to the KRG. According to Barzani, Turkish
Prime Minister Erdogan once claimed he would not talk to
Barzani because Barzani is a mere tribal chief. The Turks
need to change their attitude, Barzani concluded.


4. (S) The Ambassador admonished Barzani for having impeded
an effort to secure a GOI statement labeling the PKK as a
terrorist organization. He said the USG cannot defend the
KRG stance on this issue since the USG strongly views the PKK
as a terrorist organization. Barzani replied that he would
not condemn the PKK as a terrorist organization while under
threat of attack from Turkey, and threatened he would
withdraw from the Iraqi government if it made such a
statement under current circumstances. He repeatedly asked
if the Turkish operation had been given a green light from
the USG. The Ambassador said it had not, that he resented
such an allegation from such a close ally, and that the USG
was urging both the Turks and the Kurds to de-escalate the
tensions along the border. The Ambassador reminded Barzani
that sensitivities are especially great in the run-up to the
Turkish elections. The KRG, he noted, has a huge interest in
ensuring that the situation does not spiral downward.
Barzani agreed not to issue any statements on this incident
in order to avoid a provocation, but reiterated that, should
the attacks continue he would respond.


5. (S) Barzani gave the Ambassador a letter to President
Bush dated July 10 highlighting Turkish intervention in the
Kurdistan region and urging the President to personally
pressure Turkey to stop its "military adventure" and
violations of Iraq's sovereignty (full text septel). The
letter reviews Barzani's thinking much along the lines above.
Barzani was adamant then the PKK is not now launching
operations against Turkey from Iraqi soil. Iraqi President
Jalal Talabani's chief of staff Kamran Karadaghi told us late
July 19 that Barzani thinks he has a deal with the PKK
whereby the PKK will alert Barzani ahead of time to any
planned operation that might embarrass the KRG.

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THE WAY FORWARD WITH BARZANI
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6. (S) We are at the point where Turkish action and
possible Kurdish reactions risk a major explosion in Iraq at
a time when we can least afford it. The Ambassador drove
home the point to Barzani about not escalating tensions
further along the border, and the same message has to go to
the Turks now. Looking beyond the Turkish elections, the
reality on the ground is that the Iraqi Government in Baghdad
has little day-to-day control over security operations inside
the KRG. Turkey therefore must talk to the KRG directly
about alleged PKK operations inside KRG territory. Finally,
if we are to convince Barzani that he has to do more to stop
PKK activities inside the KRG, we need to present convincing,
specific evidence about PKK activities in the KRG. Our
repeated, non-specific exhortations to Barzani to do more are
becoming counterproductive. This evidence cannot be only
information developed by the Turks; it needs to be carefully
vetted before we present it or we will lose credibility with
Barzani.
CROCKER