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