NEXT STEPS ON COUNTERING PKK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003316

SIPDIS

SECSTATE FOR USAID

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: NEXT STEPS ON COUNTERING PKK

REF: A. ANKARA 2440

B. ANKARA 2240

C. SEPTEMBER 10 BAGHDAD OI

D. BAGHDAD 3128

E. BAGHDAD 2748

F. BAGHDAD 2419

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


1. (C) Summary: The signed September 28 bilateral agreement
on combating terrorism provides an opening for increased
GOI-GOT cooperation and action against the PKK. Given the
moribund trilateral U.S.-Turkey-Iraq process, we should
encourage the Iraqi and Turkish governments to continue
taking positive public bilateral steps with our full support.
End Summary.


2. (C) The interior ministers signed the "Agreement between
the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Iraq on Combating
Terrorism" after marathon four-day negotiations (ref a). The
GOI is interested in further developing constructive ties
with Turkey, and recognizes that a lack of action against the
PKK is a significant impediment to that aim. As PM Maliki's
advisor al-Rikabi noted recently, Turkey is the neighboring
country with which Iraq is most likely to be able to have
"normal" relations (ref d). However, given the delicate
balance of national Iraqi politics, Iraqi Kurds must be on
board. Turkey and Iraq signed the September 28 agreement,
for example, without a controversial provision the GOT sought
that would have allowed for "hot pursuit" of terrorists
across international borders in case of incursion, without
prior notification. The negotiators moved this provision to
an annex to the accord and agreed to continue discussion.
Both the agreement and PM Maliki name the PKK a terrorist
organization, a step specifically requested by the GOT. The
agreement also provides a mechanism for intelligence and law
enforcement cooperation. (Note: A copy of the agreement was
e-mailed to EUR/SE and NEA/I on October 1. End Note)


3. (C) Turkish President Gul and other Turkish officials have
quietly signaled an increased willingness to open direct
higher-level dialogue with Kurdistan Regional Government
(KRG) officials (ref b). KRG Minister of Interior Karim
Sinjari and KRG Presidential Advisor Safeen Diyazee told us
in early September that they, too, saw an opportunity for
progress on GOT-KRG relations after the Turkish elections
(ref c). The trilateral process stalled earlier this year in
large part on the GOT's reluctance to meet officially with
the KRG.


4. (C) Given the opportunity provided by the signed
agreement, increased signals Turkey might consider direct
talks with the KRG and the lack of action on the trilateral
side, we might consider encouraging:

-- the GOT to initiate talks with President Talabani,
preferably separately from the Neighbors Ministerial in
Istanbul so as not to distract from the wider neighbors'
agenda or from PM Maliki. We should explore whether the
Turks have enough political cover now to invite President
Talabani for a state visit;

-- both the GOI and GOT to ratify the agreement, with or
without the annex on "hot pursuit," within three months as
called for under the agreement (i.e., by the end of
December). We should help ensure buy-in by the KRG on any
ratified agreement;

-- lower-level talks on the margins of the Istanbul Neighbors
Ministerial between KRG and Turkish officials, perhaps with
our involvement via the trilateral process;

-- the GOT to invite KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani to
Ankara for talks;

-- the GOT to observe with GOI, KRG and/or U.S. officials the
closure of PKK-affiliated offices. The GOT has yet to
respond to the invitation to do so;

-- joint action by GOI and GOT against the PKK under the
auspices of the agreement once it is ratified, including such
actions as extradition of PKK-related suspects,
intelligence-sharing and even possible joint military
operations.


5. (C) We welcome Embassy Ankara and the Department's views
on these suggestions and other steps that might be taken to

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move forward on countering the PKK.
CROCKER