Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANKARA2024
2008-11-21 16:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
PM MALIKI SENDS ENVOY TO REASSURE NEIGHBORS ON SOFA
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002024
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR NEA/I AND EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR IZ TU
SUBJECT: PM MALIKI SENDS ENVOY TO REASSURE NEIGHBORS ON SOFA
Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel J. O'Grady for reasons 1.4(b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002024
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR NEA/I AND EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR IZ TU
SUBJECT: PM MALIKI SENDS ENVOY TO REASSURE NEIGHBORS ON SOFA
Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel J. O'Grady for reasons 1.4(b,d)
1. (C) PM Maliki sent an envoy, State Minister for National
Dialogue Akram al-Hakim, to deliver a personal message to PM
Erdogan, and other regional leaders, regarding the Iraq-U.S.
SOFA, according to MFA Department Head for Iraq Aydin Acikel.
Al-Hakim, who arrived in Ankara early November 20 from
Tehran, was received by Erdogan in a one-on-one meeting.
Although Acikel had neither received a read-out of that
one-on-one nor seen the message that al-Hakim had delivered,
he was able to convey the gist of the purpose of al-Hakim's
visit, which was to reassure neighboring states about the
nature of SOFA signed last week by AMB Crocker and PM Maliki.
2. (C) Acikel said al-Hakim told FM Babacan in a separate
meeting the Iraqis had three choices in determining how to
address its security situation beginning in 2009. Baghdad
could either do nothing and watch the situation inevitably
deteriorate, seek another extension of the current UNSCR
which provides the legal mandate for the presence of
coalition troops inside Iraq, or pursue agreements with
relevant countries to begin the long transition to eventual
assumption of responsibility for all security to Iraqi
forces. PM Maliki and the Iraqi Presidency Council had
determined the third choice was best for Iraq. Al-Hakim
reportedly said the Iraqis had gotten almost all that they
sought in negotiations with the United States. Iraq had
pushed back on U.S. requests to establish permanent bases in
Iraq, had insisted on Iraqi jurisdiction over U.S. troops who
commit crimes while off-duty and off-base, and wanted to
underscore to its neighbors that the use of Iraqi territory
to launch attacks against neighboring territory was expressly
forbidden.
3. (C) Acikel expressed the view that Iraqis recognize that
final withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq by the end of
2011 may be impossible and that circumstances on the ground
will dictate that timetable. He also noted al-Hakim seemed
optimistic about the prospects for passage of the SOFA by
Iraq's Council of Representatives next week. GOT Special
Envoy Murat Ozcelik remains in Baghdad following the November
19 trilateral meeting on countering the PKK and is planning
meetings with Iraqi VP Hashimi, among others, to press for
political support for the SOFA, both publicly and in the COR
vote.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
SILLIMAN
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR NEA/I AND EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR IZ TU
SUBJECT: PM MALIKI SENDS ENVOY TO REASSURE NEIGHBORS ON SOFA
Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel J. O'Grady for reasons 1.4(b,d)
1. (C) PM Maliki sent an envoy, State Minister for National
Dialogue Akram al-Hakim, to deliver a personal message to PM
Erdogan, and other regional leaders, regarding the Iraq-U.S.
SOFA, according to MFA Department Head for Iraq Aydin Acikel.
Al-Hakim, who arrived in Ankara early November 20 from
Tehran, was received by Erdogan in a one-on-one meeting.
Although Acikel had neither received a read-out of that
one-on-one nor seen the message that al-Hakim had delivered,
he was able to convey the gist of the purpose of al-Hakim's
visit, which was to reassure neighboring states about the
nature of SOFA signed last week by AMB Crocker and PM Maliki.
2. (C) Acikel said al-Hakim told FM Babacan in a separate
meeting the Iraqis had three choices in determining how to
address its security situation beginning in 2009. Baghdad
could either do nothing and watch the situation inevitably
deteriorate, seek another extension of the current UNSCR
which provides the legal mandate for the presence of
coalition troops inside Iraq, or pursue agreements with
relevant countries to begin the long transition to eventual
assumption of responsibility for all security to Iraqi
forces. PM Maliki and the Iraqi Presidency Council had
determined the third choice was best for Iraq. Al-Hakim
reportedly said the Iraqis had gotten almost all that they
sought in negotiations with the United States. Iraq had
pushed back on U.S. requests to establish permanent bases in
Iraq, had insisted on Iraqi jurisdiction over U.S. troops who
commit crimes while off-duty and off-base, and wanted to
underscore to its neighbors that the use of Iraqi territory
to launch attacks against neighboring territory was expressly
forbidden.
3. (C) Acikel expressed the view that Iraqis recognize that
final withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq by the end of
2011 may be impossible and that circumstances on the ground
will dictate that timetable. He also noted al-Hakim seemed
optimistic about the prospects for passage of the SOFA by
Iraq's Council of Representatives next week. GOT Special
Envoy Murat Ozcelik remains in Baghdad following the November
19 trilateral meeting on countering the PKK and is planning
meetings with Iraqi VP Hashimi, among others, to press for
political support for the SOFA, both publicly and in the COR
vote.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
SILLIMAN