KURDISTAN PRESIDENT BARZANI DISCUSSES PKK, KIRKUK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000089

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PREF IZ TU
SUBJECT: KURDISTAN PRESIDENT BARZANI DISCUSSES PKK, KIRKUK

REF: A. BAGHDAD 0053 B. BAGHDAD 0070

(U) Classified By: Regional Coordinator James Yellin for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. This is an Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Reconstruction Team
(RRT) cable.


2. (C) Summary: U.S. Regional Coordinator for the Iraqi
Kurdistan Region asked Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)
President Massoud Barzani to close all Kurdistan Workers
Party (PKK) offices and refuse safe haven to its members in a
meeting on December 29, 2006. Barzani did not answer
directly, but said that he would remain neutral in an armed
conflict between Turkey and the PKK and that he would
consider naming the PKK as a terrorist organization if it
resorted to violence. Barzani also reiterated his strong
opposition to any delay in the referendum on the status of
Kirkuk. But he said that he felt Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki and Iraqi Minister of Justice Hisham al-Shibli are
both committed to carrying out the referendum.


3. (C) Comment: In September Barzani pressured the PKK to
declare a unilateral ceasefire with Turkey and the KRG
continues to seek Turkish investment in the Kurdistan
Region,s oil sector. The willingness Barzani expressed in
the meeting to deny support to the PKK may further signal an
opportunity for progress in the relationship between the KRG
and Turkey. End Summary.

KRG TO "REMAIN NEUTRAL" IN CONFLICT BETWEEN TURKEY AND PKK
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Regional Coordinator and RRT Officers met with
Barzani on December 29, 2006, at his palace in Salah ad-Din
and discussed the PKK. (Note: the PKK operates in
southeastern Turkey and along the Iraqi border with the
stated aim of creating an independent Kurdish state in
southeastern Turkey. The PKK declared a unilateral ceasefire
in September 2006, but Turkey rejected the move, saying it
would not negotiate with a terrorist organization. End
Note.) Regional Coordinator told Barzani that the U.S.
considers the PKK a terrorist organization and called on
Barzani and the KRG to close all PKK offices and refuse a
safe haven to PKK members. Without answering directly
Barzani said he does not agree with the tactics of the PKK,
but he characterized the actions taken against the Kurds by
Turkey as "state terrorism" and as equally as bad as any
terrorism by the PKK. He said the KRG is prepared to
cooperate with Turkey if it will adopt a "peaceful and
democratic solution" to its conflict, but Turkey must
recognize "the facts on the ground" and recognize the rights
of the Kurdish people in the region. If Turkey only has a
military solution to the conflict, the KRG will "remain
neutral" between Turkey and the PKK. He said, "The ball is
in Turkey,s court."


5. (C) Regional Coordinator asked if the KRG would declare
the PKK a terrorist organization if it resorts to violence
against Turkey again. Barzani said yes, but the KRG and
Turkey disagree on the definition of terrorism. He said
Turkey did not respond positively to the ceasefire and still
regularly shells the area along the Iraqi Kurdistan border on
the pretext of routing out the PKK. The villages located
along the border are remote and the KRG is not able to
rebuild them or provide assistance. Shelling these villages
is "a provocative act." He added that "We morally support
the PKK in a peaceful approach."


6. (C) Regional Coordinator asked about the status of the
Makhmour refugee camp, a UNHCR administered camp in Ninewah
province just across the border from the Kurdistan Region.
The camp houses nearly 10,000 Kurdish refugees from
Turkey. Barzani said that the KRG would provide assistance
to UNHCR, but would not allow any refugees in the camp to be
integrated into the local community. After the UN-led
registration and repatriation process is completed, he said,
any remaining refugees must continue to be housed by UNHCR in
the camp.

KIRKUK REFERENDUM ON TRACK WITH IRAQI LEADERS
--------------


7. (C) Regional Coordinator asked if Barzani had reached
agreement on how to move forward on the implementation of
Iraqi Constitution Article 140, which specifies that there
should be a referendum in Kirkuk by the end of 2007 to
decide if the oil-rich city will become part of the Kurdistan
region. Barzani responded that he had met with Iraqi Prime
Minister Maliki and Iraqi Minister of Justice Hashim
al-Shibli and believes that both of them are committed to the
implementation of Article 140. All parties agreed to resolve
the issue peacefully and constitutionally. The Kurdish
people have been patient and are now waiting for the
implementation of Article 140, he said. "Any subjugation to
the pressures of Turkey will be catastrophic."


8. (C) Comment: Barzani,s statement that the KRG will
remain neutral in a conflict between the PKK and Turkey and
his willingness to consider naming them as a terrorist
organization under certain conditions suggests that he may be
placing an increased value he on a long-term economic
relationship with Turkey. In September Barzani pressured the
PKK to declare a unilateral ceasefire. In addition, KRG
officials have said they prefer Turkish firms for oil
development in the region.


9. (C) Comment (continued): The status of Kirkuk is a
fundamental political and economic issue for the KRG. The
area around the city contains among the richest oil fields in
Iraq, and many Kurds say that the city, once annexed, should
be the capitol of the KRG or of an eventual independent
Kurdish state. The Arabization campaign in the 1980s and
1990s has been countered by a KRG-sponsored resettlement of
Kurds in the city in preparation for the referendum. The KRG
believes it would win if a referendum were held by the end of

2007.


10. (C) Comment (continued): Barzani believes that Maliki
and Shibli are inclined to support implementation of the
referendum as called for in Article 140. However, Barzani
also fears that U.S. ties to Turkey could cause us to support
a delay of the referendum. For Barzani, the Iraq Study Group
recommendation to delay the referendum is emblematic of the
lack of U.S. commitment to the referendum.
KHALILZAD