Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANKARA1279
2008-07-16 11:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY/IRAQ ENERGY COOPERATION: GOT OPTIMISTIC,
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #1279 1981155 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 161155Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6864 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001279
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EPET ENRG IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ ENERGY COOPERATION: GOT OPTIMISTIC,
BUT NO AKKAS COMMITMENTS, MFA TELLS DAS BRYZA
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
GOT PLEASED WITH BAGHDAD VISIT
------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001279
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EPET ENRG IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ ENERGY COOPERATION: GOT OPTIMISTIC,
BUT NO AKKAS COMMITMENTS, MFA TELLS DAS BRYZA
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
GOT PLEASED WITH BAGHDAD VISIT
--------------
1. (C) MFA Deputy U/S for Middle East, Iran and South Asia
Sinirlioglu expressed to visiting EUR DAS Bryza July 11 the
GOT's satisfaction with PM Erdogan's July 10 visit to
Baghdad. The visit was the first full-fledged ceremonial
reception of a visiting leader held at Baghdad airport.
Sinirlioglu, who was on the trip, noted that the delegation
left the Green Zone for its meeting with Iraqi President
Talabani and the city appeared more calm to him now than in
the past; he had noticed young children playing soccer
outdoors. He asked Bryza to convey his appreciation to
Ambassador Crocker and Embassy Baghdad for their excellent
cooperation and help with security arrangements.
OPTIMISTIC ON TURKEY-IRAQ ENERGY COOPERATION,
BUT NO COMMITMENT ON AKKAS GAS FOR NABUCCO
--------------
2. (C) Turning to the Turkey-Iraq Joint Declaration (emailed
to the Department and Embassy Baghdad),Sinirlioglu said it
was not hard to get Iraqi agreement on energy cooperation.
Sinirlioglu said a number of ideas for exporting Iraqi oil
and gas resources are being explored, including a proposal to
deliver one million barrels of oil per day from Kirkuk
directly to the Syrian Mediterranean, via a pipeline closed
down in 1979. Turkey wishes to make Syria part of solutions
in Iraq and cannot make an argument to the Iraqis not to
export oil and gas through Syria; it's up to the U.S. to talk
to the Iraqis about that.
3. (C) Bryza underscored the priority the U.S. places on
Nabucco, noting Special Envoy Gray's meeting earlier in the
day with PM Erdogan (septel). If Turkey intends to ensure
its own energy supply, and if all or most of Akkas' estimated
5 bcm of gas goes to Syria, there will not be enough to
supply the Nabucco or Turkey-Greece-Italy (TGI) pipelines.
4. (C) Sinirlioglu replied that Turkey is the biggest and
closest gas market in the region. There is a commercial
incentive for countries to sell their gas to or transit it
through Turkey. He agreed that progress since the last
U.S.-Iraq-Turkey energy trilateral has been slow and that we
should expedite the process; the Turkey-Iraq Joint
Declaration could kickstart our efforts. Sinirlioglu
surmised the Iraqi Energy Minister is waiting for the passage
of a hydrocarbons law; Turkish energy deals will benefit the
Kurdish Regional Government (KRG),and he does not wish to
allow that yet. Sinirlioglu and Bryza agreed the Turkish and
U.S. Embassies in Baghdad should work together to convince
the GOI to accelerate investment in gas production, with an
eye on eventual exports to Turkey and onward to Europe.
Asked if he had a sense the KRG wants to work with Baghdad,
Sinirlioglu replied, "what else can they do?" Turkey is
encouraging its companies to make contacts in Iraq -- not to
go invest -- in preparation for the opening of the Iraqi
energy market. Already, he noted, one Dubai-based company,
Danagaz, has made a $600 million investment and is supplying
gas directly to two power plants in northern Iraq.
5. (U) DAS Bryza cleared this cable.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
WILSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EPET ENRG IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ ENERGY COOPERATION: GOT OPTIMISTIC,
BUT NO AKKAS COMMITMENTS, MFA TELLS DAS BRYZA
Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
GOT PLEASED WITH BAGHDAD VISIT
--------------
1. (C) MFA Deputy U/S for Middle East, Iran and South Asia
Sinirlioglu expressed to visiting EUR DAS Bryza July 11 the
GOT's satisfaction with PM Erdogan's July 10 visit to
Baghdad. The visit was the first full-fledged ceremonial
reception of a visiting leader held at Baghdad airport.
Sinirlioglu, who was on the trip, noted that the delegation
left the Green Zone for its meeting with Iraqi President
Talabani and the city appeared more calm to him now than in
the past; he had noticed young children playing soccer
outdoors. He asked Bryza to convey his appreciation to
Ambassador Crocker and Embassy Baghdad for their excellent
cooperation and help with security arrangements.
OPTIMISTIC ON TURKEY-IRAQ ENERGY COOPERATION,
BUT NO COMMITMENT ON AKKAS GAS FOR NABUCCO
--------------
2. (C) Turning to the Turkey-Iraq Joint Declaration (emailed
to the Department and Embassy Baghdad),Sinirlioglu said it
was not hard to get Iraqi agreement on energy cooperation.
Sinirlioglu said a number of ideas for exporting Iraqi oil
and gas resources are being explored, including a proposal to
deliver one million barrels of oil per day from Kirkuk
directly to the Syrian Mediterranean, via a pipeline closed
down in 1979. Turkey wishes to make Syria part of solutions
in Iraq and cannot make an argument to the Iraqis not to
export oil and gas through Syria; it's up to the U.S. to talk
to the Iraqis about that.
3. (C) Bryza underscored the priority the U.S. places on
Nabucco, noting Special Envoy Gray's meeting earlier in the
day with PM Erdogan (septel). If Turkey intends to ensure
its own energy supply, and if all or most of Akkas' estimated
5 bcm of gas goes to Syria, there will not be enough to
supply the Nabucco or Turkey-Greece-Italy (TGI) pipelines.
4. (C) Sinirlioglu replied that Turkey is the biggest and
closest gas market in the region. There is a commercial
incentive for countries to sell their gas to or transit it
through Turkey. He agreed that progress since the last
U.S.-Iraq-Turkey energy trilateral has been slow and that we
should expedite the process; the Turkey-Iraq Joint
Declaration could kickstart our efforts. Sinirlioglu
surmised the Iraqi Energy Minister is waiting for the passage
of a hydrocarbons law; Turkish energy deals will benefit the
Kurdish Regional Government (KRG),and he does not wish to
allow that yet. Sinirlioglu and Bryza agreed the Turkish and
U.S. Embassies in Baghdad should work together to convince
the GOI to accelerate investment in gas production, with an
eye on eventual exports to Turkey and onward to Europe.
Asked if he had a sense the KRG wants to work with Baghdad,
Sinirlioglu replied, "what else can they do?" Turkey is
encouraging its companies to make contacts in Iraq -- not to
go invest -- in preparation for the opening of the Iraqi
energy market. Already, he noted, one Dubai-based company,
Danagaz, has made a $600 million investment and is supplying
gas directly to two power plants in northern Iraq.
5. (U) DAS Bryza cleared this cable.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
WILSON