FM SUMMONS DIPLOMATIC CORPS TO DISCUSS PKK CRISIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003628

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: FM SUMMONS DIPLOMATIC CORPS TO DISCUSS PKK CRISIS


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Patricia A. Butenis for Reasons 1.4d/b


1. (C) SUMMARY. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told
Baghdad's Diplomatic Corps that if dialogue did not
de-escalate current tensions, there would be a "serious
crisis" between Iraq and Turkey. In a private sidebar with
the Charge d'Affaires before the meeting, Zebari said that
Prime Minister Maliki would not attend the Istanbul
ministerial, citing the poor treatment the GOI's delegation
received in Ankara as "a factor" in the decision. Zebari
added that one of the deputy FMs would attend the Oct. 31
Arab League meeting in Cairo to discuss the Turkey-Iraq
situation, adding that the GOI still plans to approach the
Europeans about the situation, but at the ambassadorial
level. END SUMMARY.

ZEBARI/BUTENIS SIDEBAR
--------------


2. (C) In a private meeting before an October 30 briefing
for the diplomatic corps, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar
Zebari told the Charge that PM Maliki would "definitely not"
attend the Istanbul ministerial and said the poor treatment
the GOI's delegation received in Ankara was "a factor" in the
decision. Charge reminded Zebari how much was riding on the
ministerial and explained that the Prime Minister's
absence--and by extension the PKK issue--would then become
the focus of discussion, with "disastrous" consequences to
the conference. She emphasized that in the face of the
Turkish slight, the Prime Minister had to demonstrate
superior statesmanship and assured Zebari that the USG was
weighing in with Ankara to ensure the Iraqi delegation
received all due courtesy and assistance in Istanbul. 3.
(C) Zebari then confirmed that one of his deputy Foreign
Ministers (he did not specify which one) would attend the
October 31 Arab League PermRep meeting in Cairo. Zebari also
told the Charge that although he had made all the
preparations, his Brussels trip was off but that the GOI
still planned to engage the EU in Brussels at the
ambassadorial level. While repeating that the GOI considers
the PKK a terrorist organization and wants to cooperate with
Turkey on the issue, Zebari cautioned that if there is no
"de-escalation" of the current tension through diplomatic
means, the GOI would approach the Europeans at the
ministerial level. Zebari also volunteered that
representatives from the MFA had been in contact with Turkish
diplomats at the Turkish National Day celebration on October

29. (NOTE: At that event, the Turkish Ambassador told the
Charge that there was no ongoing communication between his
embassy and the GOI on the crisis. END NOTE)

CHIEF OF MISSION MEETINGS
--------------


4. (C) During the briefing, which he conducted in English,
Zebari laid out the now-familiar GOI PKK line for the
approximately 20 Chiefs of Mission in attendance. The PKK,
he said, is a terrorist organization; its presence in Iraq is
illegal; and the GOT has "legitimate concerns" about PKK
activities. Sending the MOD-led Ankara delegation, he
continued, should have signaled to the Turks how seriously
the GOI was taking the matter. The delegation, he stressed,
had brought concrete proposals--establishing border
checkpoints, a Joint Security Commission to monitor PKK
activities, and an offer to close down PKK "front" offices in
Iraq--to discuss with the Turks. Zebari described the
Turkish reaction as "not positive," explaining that the Turks
thought the measures would "take some time to implement." He
added that the GOI delegation had also conveyed a clear
message that a cross border operation was "unacceptable."
Zebari maintained (not quite convincingly) that he was
"looking forward to Istanbul" and that the MFA was in touch
with Turkish counterparts to keep the conference focused on
Iraq. But he warned that if diplomatic efforts did not
produce results, a "serious crisis" appeared inevitable. He
closed by emphasizing that the GOI neither needed "another
point of conflict" nor wanted its relations with Turkey
"poisoned," but admitted the GOI's "confidence was shaken" by
these recent events.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
--------------


5. (C) The Charge underscored that both nations were U.S.
allies and that the USG appreciated the GOI's decision to
send a delegation to Ankara. She praised the restraint the
Turks have shown until this point and urged the GOI to take
"concrete steps" against the PKK to ratchet down the tension.
French Ambassador Girault asked Zebari if the Turkish
General Staff had snubbed the Ankara delegation. Zebari
replied that the delegation included representatives from the
Iraqi ministries of Interior and Defense and that they had
met with their Turkish ministry counterparts and did not have

BAGHDAD 00003628 002 OF 002


meetings scheduled with the Turkish General Staff. German
Ambassador Schumacher inquired about "known" PKK offices in
Iraq and Zebari said that although the PKK had bases in the
Qandil Mountains, the GOI was "not aware of PKK offices in
cities or populated areas." (NOTE: None of the Ambassadors
pressed Zebari on this apparent contradiction with the GOI's
offer to the Turks to close down PKK offices in Iraq. END
NOTE) Polish Charge d'Affaires Waldemar Figaj wanted to know
if Iraqi border checkpoints were manned by IA or Peshmerga
elements. Zebari responded that the Peshmerga on the border
were "Iraqi Army. Iraqis, definitely." The Polish Charge
also suggested the GOI explore joint IA/TA staffing for
border checkpoints. Zebari welcomed the idea saying the GOI
was "open to creative solutions." Zebari added that in
Ankara the Turks had not indicated what kind of action they
expected from the GOI. To a question about the use of United
States troops along the border, Zebari pointed out that MNF-I
had offered to provide the two sides aerial surveillance
intelligence, but not troops. Zebari closed by saying the
crisis required joint, not unilateral, action and described
the PKK situation as "essentially a Turkish problem" into
which the GOI did not wish to be drawn.
BUTENIS