POLCOUNS, TURKISH DCM AUGUST 2 MEETING WITH IRAQI

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002580

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER IZ TU
SUBJECT: POLCOUNS, TURKISH DCM AUGUST 2 MEETING WITH IRAQI
ENVOY WA'ILI

REF: A. BAGHDAD 22544


B. BAGHDAD 2419

C. 30 JULY 2007 HUNT/BLAHA E-MAIL

Classified By: Political Counselor Matthew Tueller, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) Following up on a July 16 meeting (ref B),Iraqi
State Minister Shirwan Wa'ili, Iraq's envoy to the trilateral
process for combating the PKK, convoked PolCouns and Turkish
DCM Yazal for an August 2 meeting. Per ref C, PolCouns
informed Wa'ili that U.S. envoy Ralston thought that
conditions were not right for an August meeting of the three
envoys. A successful envoys meeting required more
preparation in the form of concrete GOI steps against the
PKK. PolCouns told Wa'ili that PM Maliki's upcoming visit to
Turkey would be an opportunity to take such steps.


2. (C) Turkish DCM Yazal agreed with PolCouns. Yazal
reiterated that Turkey hopes for a GOI declaration of the PKK
as a terrorist organization approved by the Council of
Representatives; conclusion of a bilateral agreement on
countering terrorism; closure of PKK camps in northern Iraq,
starting with a camp on the Zap River; and arrest of PKK
leaders in northern Iraq. Yazal said the GOT is inclined to
continue embassy-level meetings in Baghdad, but wants to
avoid raising public expectations with a trilateral envoys
meeting until the GOI took some steps.


3. (C) Wa'ili asked who would arrest PKK leaders. He said he
would raise the matter in the GOI's August 5 Ministerial
Council on National Security (MCNS) meeting. Wa'ili told
Yazal he wants to meet with Turkish envoy Akgunay soon,
possibly before PM Maliki arrives on August 7. (Note: PM
Maliki told Ambassador on August 3 the trip would be
postponed. End Note).


4. (C) Yazal gave Wa'ili a list of open PKK offices in Iraq
and requested they be closed. Embassy e-mailed the list to
the Department and Embassy Ankara.
CROCKER