GOI SEEKS TO FORESTALL TURKISH INCURSION

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003478

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2017
TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV PREL PTER TU IZ
SUBJECT: GOI SEEKS TO FORESTALL TURKISH INCURSION


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


1. (S) SUMMARY: At a hastily called meeting October 16, the
Crisis Management Cell outlined steps to deal with the
Turkish threat to attack PKK bases in Iraq. Noting that he
would be speaking with PM Erdogan soon, PM Maliki emphasized
the need to calm the GOT and to make sure the Kurdistan
Regional Government (KRG) supported and abided by GOI
directives regarding the PKK. He reiterated that the PKK is
a terrorist organization and that Iraq cannot allow its
territory to be used as a safe haven for terrorists. The GOI
issued a statement following the meeting to underscore to the
public and the GOT that the PM had taken control of this
national security issue. END SUMMARY.


2. (S) Prime Minister Maliki convened an emergency session of
the Crisis Management Cell to determine a course of action to
the threat of a major Turkish military incursion into Iraq
against PKK elements. The PM opened the meeting with an
overview of the problem and the GOI,s interest in resolving
the issue with Turkey via diplomatic and political means. He
reiterated GOI opposition to the PKK and the need for the GOI
to establish control of the border region.


3. (S) He and other committee members noted several times
that the KRG must adhere to the national program and stop
behaving as if it were independent of the national
government. Any decision to reposition Iraqi Security Forces
is the purview of the central government, not the KRG. The
PM said he spoke to KRG President Massoud Barzani yesterday
and that Barzani agreed not to do anything to escalate the
situation. He later complained that reaching Barzani is
often difficult.


4. (S) The PM said he would be speaking with PM Erdogan
following the meeting. He responded positively to State
Minister for National Security Wa,ili,s suggestion of
re-activating the tri-lateral mechanism, and asked the U.S.
representatives present in the meeting to keep up the
pressure on Turkey. The group agreed that the GOI must take
actions to calm the GOT. The PM drafted a statement,
released soon after the meeting. Embassy translation in para

8.


5. (S) Maliki also emphasized other points in the meeting
that the MCNS later recommended not be issued in the public
statement:

-- the GOI should send a high-level delegation to the KRG and
discuss/instruct policy coordination;

-- the matter is under the purview of the federal/national
government;

-- Iraq should reach out to NATO leaders and ask it to
pressure the GOT;

-- the GOI needs to coordinate and issue public statements on
this issue more often.


6. (S) MOD Abdel Qadr and Chief of Staff Babakyr indicated
that they did not foresee a large-scale invasion, but some
type of military incursion, after which the Turkish forces
would return to Turkey. MNF-I DCS, Strategic Operations MG
Barbero noted that the PKK was attempting to spark a
Turkish-Iraqi confrontation; echoing the assessment that the
Turks were not preparing a large-scale invasion. He noted
that both military and civilian elements of the USG were
working hard to calm the Turks and avoid a confrontation.


7. (S) COMMENT: Over a week after the PKK ambush that cost
the lives of 13 Turkish soldiers, PM Maliki has finally
grasped the domestic (and international) political visuals of
a KRG President Barzani playing Russian Roulette with Iraqi
security. Calling for the re-activation of the Tripartite
Committee is a sensible, even statesman-like approach to
lowering the temperature on the border. If he plays his
cards right, Maliki could bolster his public standing through
the Committee and snatch &victory8 from the jaws of a
chastened Barzani. END COMMENT.


8. (U) (BEGIN TEXT)

Republic of Iraq
Prime Minister Office
Media Office

Statement


BAGHDAD 00003478 002 OF 002


Tuesday, 16 October 2007

The Prime Minister Nouri Kamal al-Maliki confirmed that the
Iraqi Government will send a high Diplomatic and Security
delegation to Turkey in order to deal with the latest
Security developments at the border between the two
countries. This statement came from the Prime Minster's
Office after he chaired a Crisis Management Cell meeting at
his official office today.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of activating the
work of the Tri-country Committee (Iraq - America - Turkey)
and on implementing the newly signed Security Agreement
through activation of the Joint Coordination Committee
between the two countries, and on continuing communication
between them to deal with urgent new developments.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the Governments of Iraq
and Turkey are cooperating in fighting terrorism and banned
terrorist organizations.

The Prime Minister added that the Iraqi Government - due to
its concern for the security and stability of the region and
especially of neighboring countries - reconfirms its
commitment to prevent terrorist actions that the PKK carries
out against neighboring Turkey.

The Prime Minister said that the Iraqi Government confirms
its keen interest in establishing the best of relations
between the two neighboring countries based on good
neighborly relations, common interests, and non-interference
in internal affairs.
(END TEXT)
CROCKER