TURKISH AND U.S. AMBASSADORS URGE IRAQ'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003472 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER TU IZ SUBJECT: TURKISH AND U.S. AMBASSADORS URGE IRAQ'S TRILATERAL ENVOY TO DO MORE AGAINST PKK REF: A. ANKARA 2549 ¶B. BAGHDAD 3395 ¶C. BAGHDAD 3316 ¶D. BAGHDAD 2580 ¶E. ANKARA 2028 Classified By: Ambassador Ryan Crocker for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: One day after PM Maliki's October 16 emergency national security meeting on Turkey (septel),Iraqi envoy for countering the PKK Wa'ili hosted the Ambassador and Turkish Ambassador Kanbay to discuss re-activating the trilateral U.S.-Turkey-Iraq process to counter the PKK. Wa'ili outlined trilateral progress-to-date and suggested starting regular meetings among the special envoys. Ambassador urged the GOI to take concrete steps now against the PKK. The Turkish Ambassador explained that Turkish patience has run out but emphasized that any Turkish parliament motion authorizing a cross-border operation is aimed at the PKK specifically and not Iraq as a good neighbor. End Summary. Wai'li: Iraq Trying to Do More -------------- ¶2. (C) Iraq's envoy to the trilateral process for countering the PKK, Minister of State for National Security Shirwan Wa'ili highlighted the Prime Minister's emergency Ministerial Council on National Security (MCNS) meeting on October 16 (septel) as a sign of commitment by the GOI to address the PKK problem. In addition to an upcoming high-level "political and security" delegation to Ankara and activation of the mechanisms outlined in the September 28 GOI-GOT counter-terrorism (CT) agreement, Wa'ili said, PM Maliki would like the trilateral process between the U.S., Turkey and Iraq to become active again. Wa'ili noted the trilateral process had resulted in some accomplishments, including Maliki's August 7 statement, the CT agreement and closure of PKK front offices. He admitted some offices had since re-opened and pledged that the GOI stands ready to act again to close them. GOT Ambassador: Turkish People Cannot Wait Any Longer for Action -------------- ¶3. (C) Turkish Ambassador Derya Kanbay outlined the history of the PKK, emphasizing its nature as a terrorist group that has killed 30,000 and cost Turkey billions. The PKK gained safehaven in northern Iraq, he said; we expect solidarity and good neighborliness from Iraq, but we may not have any option but to act against the PKK. ¶4. (C) Kanbay said the first time he saw terrorist and PKK in the same sentence by the GOI was in the Maliki's 10/16 press release (septel); before, these two words were said but in a different and not effective way. (Note: Maliki's August public statement, which was also written in the August 7 Memorandum of Understanding, called on both countries to combat PKK terrorism. (See ref e) End note) The dangers of al-Qaeda and the PKK are not viewed (by others) as equal, he opined, but the GOT expects the same activity against the PKK by the GOI and its allies. Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) President Barzani's statements are not helpful, Kanbay noted. If the GOI cannot or will not act, he said, it is not fair to ask the Turkish people to wait another 10 years for action. U.S. Ambassador: GOI Must Take Concrete Steps -------------- ¶5. (C) Ambassador emphasized the U.S., Turkey and Iraq are all allies in the war on terror. The U.S. has long designated the PKK a terrorist organization and is pleased about Maliki's August 7 statement labeling the PKK terrorists and the subsequent CT agreement, he noted. Principles and commitments are not in question, he said, the challenges are: -- Contain the Current Crisis: the U.S. supports and sympathizes with Turkey but remains very concerned that a cross-border operation (CBO) will not solve the problem and will create additional issues to the detriment to all of us; -- Concrete Steps on the Iraq Side are Essential: we need to see not just a GOI commitment, but a plan of action that will diminish and eliminate the PKK's ability to operate on Iraqi BAGHDAD 00003472 002 OF 002 soil. For example, the GOI should stop PKK re-supply and movement, cut them off and press them hard in their sanctuaries, stop financial support and close PKK offices. What Next? -------------- ¶6. (C) Wa'ili proposed the trilateral process could be used to discuss strategic matters; regular meetings would be useful. Wa'ili asked to schedule the next trilateral meeting, but agreed to wait until the participants could be decided. ¶7. (C) The GOI will form an executive committee pursuant to the CT agreement that can meet bilaterally with the GOT to take practical steps, Wa'ili said. The Prime Minister will name the delegation going to Ankara soon. Kanbay said it will be difficult to convince the GOT that real steps are being taken. The KRG did not support the CT agreement and Kurdish politicians are making provocative statements. What about our requests to close PKK camps, stop logistical supplies and keep PKK offices closed, Kanbay wondered. Kanbay explained that Syria did not expel now-jailed PKK leader Ocalan in 1998 until Turkey massed troops on its border. Wa'ili responded the GOI does not want a relationship based on threats. Maliki called Barzani and instructed him that the situation is a central government issue and Barzani agreed, Wa'ili said. ¶8. (C) Asked about the CT agreement ratification, Wa'ili said the GOI is committed to implementing it now even though it still must be ratified by the Council of Representatives. Kanbay pointed out the motion in front of the Turkish parliament authorizing a CBO only targets the PKK (ref a); it has nothing to do with the Iraqi government. We are good neighbors, Kanbay said, the motion is not an authorization to move against the Iraqi state, values or the region -- only the PKK. CROCKER