AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES CHECKPOINT INCIDENTS,

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 000615

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER TU IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES CHECKPOINT INCIDENTS,
REGIONAL CONFERENCE, PKK WITH TURKISH AMBASSADOR


Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) Summary: At a February 18 luncheon at Ambassador
Khalilzad's residence, he and Turkish Ambassador Derya Kanbay
discussed recent checkpoint incidents involving Kanbay and
other Turkish Embassy personnel. Kanbay expressed
understanding for the difficult circumstances under which
U.S. soldiers work, but astonishment at the checkpoint
incident involving his vehicle. Ambassador Khalilzad told
Kanbay that U.S. soldiers had the right to search diplomatic
cars. He told Kanbay he would look into possible
modifications of the rules permitting searches of
ambassadors' vehicles. The two ambassadors discussed
possible scenarios for regional conferences of Iraq and its
neighbors and agreed to stay in touch as plans developed.
Kanbay rejected an amnesty for PKK members in northern Iraq.
End Summary.

Checkpoint Incidents
--------------


2. (S) Turkish Ambassador Kanbay expressed understanding for
the difficulties U.S. soldiers face in Iraq but expressed
concern that he would be deemed to have agreed to a waiver of
diplomatic privileges and immunities by submitting to
searches at International Zone (IZ) checkpoints. Ambassador
Khalilzad noted there was some disagreement on the facts
regarding the February 6 IZ checkpoint incident involving
Kanbay's vehicle.


3. (S) Kanbay called the attitude of the soldiers at the
checkpoint "astonishing." He said that the soldiers demanded
that both doors of his car be opened and failed to explain
what they were doing. When a guard referred him to another
checkpoint for what he believed would be a continued search,
Kanbay ordered his convoy back to the Turkish Embassy.
Kanbay relayed other two prior checkpoint incidents involving
other Turkish Embassy personnel the week prior to the
February 6 incident.


4. (S) Ambassador Khalilzad stated that U.S. soldiers had the
right to search diplomatic cars and expressed doubt that U.S.
soldiers at checkpoints are singling out Turkish Embassy
personnel; he noted that even Iraqi Government Ministers had
complained about treatment at checkpoints. Ambassador
Khalilzad thanked Kanbay for his expression of understanding
of the difficult circumstances under which U.S. troops
operate; sometimes they make mistakes and are not properly
deferential. Coalition diplomats are important to Iraq's
success, he said.


5. (S) Ambassador Khalilzad told Kanbay that we will provide
the Turkish Embassy a copy of the rules governing checkpoint
procedures and said he would review checkpoint rules to see
whether modification is possible. (Note: MNF-I is preparing
a scrubbed version of the classified SOPs. End note.)

Turkish Engagement with Iraqi Kurds
--------------


6. (S) Ambassador Khalilzad told Ambassador Kanbay that he is
urging Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) leaders to engage
with Turkey. Kanbay speculated that KRG PM Nechirvan
Barzani's proposed February 17 meeting with FM Gul was
postponed for political reasons; PolCounselor reported that
our understanding is the postponement was due to Gul's sudden
trip to Saudi Arabia.


7. (S) Kanbay said Turkey wants to open a second border gate
with northern Iraq but still could not agree on the location.
Kanbay said that a "misunderstanding" earlier in the month
about fuel trade had been resolved.

Makhmour
--------------


8. (S) Ambassador Khalilzad told Kanbay he had received
positive reports about developments at Makhmour refugee camp;
he hoped some camp residents could return to Turkey. Kanbay
said that some may not be willing to return. Turkey wants
the camp closed, he added. Kanbay predicted that the future
of the 11,600 camp residents could be solved "easily":
Turkish citizens can automatically return to Turkey,
criminals would be referred to the court system, those
needing medical care would receive it. He expressed surprise
at the number of women and children in the camp.

Regional Conferences
--------------


9. (S) Ambassador Khalilzad told Kanbay he had spoken with FM

Zebari, who wants the next Iraqi neighbors conference held in
Baghdad on March 11-12; Zebari had agreed to the
DFM/ambassador level. After that, there is an initiative to
hold the next meeting outside Baghdad at the FM level, in
either Cairo or Istanbul, and include the G-8 and P-5 in
addition to neighbors, Egypt and Bahrain. Ambassador
Khalilzad told Ambassador Kanbay he would discuss this
proposal with GOI leaders. The GOI is concerned that the
meetings not give the image of Iraq being "summoned" by other
countries who will then decide Iraq's fate, and about not
losing control of the agenda.


10. (S) Kanbay said the GOT wants to make sure that details
about the meeting venue and representation level not prevent
the process from moving forward. The GOT is also seeking
broad participation. The GOT was contemplating a February
date for the Baghdad meeting and is willing to provide
participants air transportation from Istanbul to Baghdad.
There were also discussing the possibility of a third meeting.


11. (S) Kanbay said the GOI is willing to include the P-5 and
G-8 in the meetings to expand their possibilities for support
and to counterbalance the influence of regional actors. The
two ambassadors agreed to stay in touch with each other and
with the Iraqi MFA about the conference proposals.

PKK
---


12. (S) Kanbay said the KRG is using the PKK as a "bargaining
chip." He complained that PKK militants are moving about
freely in the KRG, receiving medical care, and holding
"official meetings." Ambassador Khalilzad said he had
discussed the PKK with KRG President Barzani and Iraqi
President Talabani, who both consider the PKK a problem but
doubted that a purely military solution would solve it. They
suggested that an amnesty might isolate more hard core
militants and then make the problem militarily soluble.
Ambassador Khalilzad told Kanbay he had told Barzani and
Talabani that the status quo with regard to the PKK cannot
continue.


13. (S) Kanbay said that past amnesties during the Ecevit era
had loosed criminals on the streets and Turkey is now
extremely sensitive about the amnesty idea, particularly
coming from Iraqi Kurdish leaders. He asked rhetorically how
the US would feel about amnesty for al-Qaeda members. The
fight against the PKK has cost Turkey lives, money and
prestige. Turkey has taken steps to reach out to its
ethnically-Kurdish citizens, and the PKK is losing its
identity.
KHALILZAD