NINEWA: TURKISH CONSULATE STANDS UP IN MOSUL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000558

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2017
TAGS: PREL PREF EPET EAID MARR TU IZ
SUBJECT: NINEWA: TURKISH CONSULATE STANDS UP IN MOSUL

Classified By: Ninewa PRT Leader James Knight: 1.4 (B) and (D).

This is a Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) message.

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Summary
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1. (C) Turkish Consul General for Mosul Huseyn
Botsali arrived in Mosul 10 February to assume
permanent residence at the new GOT Consulate in
Mosul. He met PRT Team Leader Knight at PRT offices
11 Feb to review administrative and support matters
arising from his new status as our permanent
interlocutor and neighbor -- the new Turkish
Consulate is located immediately northeast of FOB
Marez. We also reviewed several pending political
issues, including the status of Makhmur refugee camp
and the glacial pace of fuel deliveries from Turkey
to Ninewa through Habur Gate. We defer to Embassy
Ankara's views on these matters, but Botsali's
listing of GOT concerns suggest Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK) issues enduringly cloud both problems.
End summary.

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Hello, neighbor!
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2. (C) Botsali's primary agenda was to establish
ground rules for his Consulate's dealings with our
PRT and Coalition forces in Ninewa. He clearly
hoped for a high level of support from Coalition
forces and assets as his Consulate begins operations
-- specifically Coalition quick-reaction force
availability in case of insurgent attack on his
Consulate; U.S. military emergency medical support
for Consular staff; and use of FOB Marez as a
safehaven for Consulate staff. Team Leader Knight
emphasized that in such cases Coalition forces and
the PRT will of course provide emergency assistance
to the extent possible, but cannot promise more than
that; Botsali eventually concurred.


3. (C) Team Leader Knight then addressed other
administrative issues, including FOB Marez security
requirements, general security issues, Consular
privileges and immunities, and transportation
matters related to more regular GOT flights into
Mosul Airfield (MAF). Regarding Consulate FOB
access, Team Leader Knight pointed out that while
Consular immunities do mean FOB authorities cannot
require physical inspection of Consular staff,
vehicles, and cargo, access to the FOB can be denied
if such inspections are declined.


4. (C) Botsali agreed to these considerations, and
eventually emphasized that he is the GOT CG
accredited to the GOI, not the Coalition, and
understands the difference. On more general
security matters, Team Leader Knight noted that
Ninewa Provincial Director of Police MG Wathiq is
the Consulate's primary contact for such issues.


5. (C) Team Leader Knight observed the confusion
which arose from Turkish authorities' failure to
coordinate the arrival of the GOT aircraft bringing
Botsali to MAF 10 Feb, and the obvious need to
regularize FOB access procedures for Consulate staff
and vehicles and other aspects of managing more
regular GOT flights which are anticipated into MAF.
Botsali apologized for failing to notify us of the
aircraft's arrival time. He indicated that he
expects a stop at MAF will be added to the itinerary
of the regular GOT support flight to Baghdad, which
is now scheduled every six weeks or so; additional
flights for humanitarian aid may also be planned.


6. (C) Team Leader Knight pointed out that
Coalition forces and FOB authorities cannot continue
to provide the kind of logistical support GOT
flights into MAF have so far required. Botsali
agreed that these matters will be discussed between
Consulate administrative staff and FOB management on
an urgent basis to assure their resolution before
further GOT flights into MAF.

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Makhmur Camp is still a problem . . .
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7. (C) Team Leader Knight discussed some
unfortunate recent Turkish press coverage of events
at the Makhmur UNHCR refugee camp housing families
of Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) members.
Botsali observed at length that the PKK is a strong

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and rising threat in Turkey, and that he does not
believe that the PKK does not have weapons at
Makhmur -- residents are just very good at hiding
them when the camp is searched.


8. (C) However, Botsali agreed that Makhmur
residents who are genuinely refugees are welcome to
return to Turkey, although screening for
'terrorists' and those facing criminal charges will
be necessary. One new issue he noted is that
military-age males holding Turkish citizenship are
subject to prosecution for evading mandatory
military service (which would probably apply to all
military-age males currently resident in Makhmur
camp). Botsali promised to ask Ankara for
clarification of the current GOT position on the
camp ASAP.

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. . . which is tied to Turkish fuel deliveries
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9. (C) Team Leader Knight then asked Botsali about
the lack of adequate fuel deliveries from Turkey,
especially kerosene and LPG. Botsali pointed out
that the issue is not simply a question of contracts
and payments, but that fuel deliveries to northern
Iraq have become embroiled in Turkish domestic
politics. Per Botsali, the current GOT is loathe to
be portrayed as supporting the KRG and northern Iraq
while the PKK remains a critical threat. Botsali
indicated that once Makhmur camp is closed and the
PKK in Iraq neutralized in a fashion acceptable to
the GOT, fuel will again begin to flow to Iraq in
reasonable volume.

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Comment
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10. (C) This meeting was very cordial, and
apparently contained Botsali's expectations
regarding special Coalition support for his
Consulate operations. However, Consulate access to
MAF and a regularized non-Coalition logistical
system for more frequent GOT flights into MAF remain
to be resolved.


11. (C) Comment continued: It is unfortunate if
Botsali is correct that the Makhmur issue has become
part of Ninewa's fuel problem, and equally
unfortunate if his portrayal of the issues
surrounding repatriation of Makhmur camp residents
means that progress towards closing the camp will
remain blocked. We look forward to Embassy Ankara's
clarification of these matters. End comment.
KHALILZAD