Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANKARA2157
2008-12-22 17:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY: IRAQI VP HASHIMI SEEKS GOT SUPPORT FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO2637 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHAK #2157 3571714 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 221714Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8288 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA// PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFISS/425ABG IZMIR TU//CC// PRIORITY RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU PRIORITY RUEPGAB/MNF-I C2X BAGHDAD IZ PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002157
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR NEA/I AND EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY: IRAQI VP HASHIMI SEEKS GOT SUPPORT FOR
POLITICAL REFORMS; MALIKI TO MAKE HIS CASE 12/24
REF: BAGHDAD 3977
Classified By: Acting Pol Counselor Christopher Krafft for reasons 1.4(
b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002157
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR NEA/I AND EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY: IRAQI VP HASHIMI SEEKS GOT SUPPORT FOR
POLITICAL REFORMS; MALIKI TO MAKE HIS CASE 12/24
REF: BAGHDAD 3977
Classified By: Acting Pol Counselor Christopher Krafft for reasons 1.4(
b,d)
1. (C) Iraqi VP Tariq Al-Hashimi visited Turkey December
20-21 for meetings with President Gul and PM Erdogan.
According to MFA Iraq Department Head Aydin Acikel, Hashimi
complained about PM Maliki's administration to GOT officials
and reported on discussions Iraqi Sunni, Kurdish, and some
Shia political party officials have had about bringing down
Maliki's government in a vote of no confidence in the Council
of Representatives (COR). Reaffirming the state of play
reported in reftel, Hashimi told the Turks those unhappy with
Maliki's administration had agreed to give him more time to
address demands for reform outlined in a resolution passed by
the COR November 27. Hashimi also pressed Turkish leaders to
fulfill their promises to press Maliki on those same reforms,
promises made when GOT officials were pressing Hashimi to
agree to the SOFA.
2. (C) Hashimi told the Turks that Iraqi Sunnis plan to
participate in provincial/local elections but he wants to
ensure they are free and fair. As such, he hopes the ability
of armed groups to wield undue influence over voters will be
curtailed.
3. (C) Acikel noted PM Maliki is scheduled to visit Ankara
December 24 with a 36-member delegation for about six hours
before traveling on to Tehran. Maliki had initially
requested to visit late in the week of December 15 but the
Turks decided to ask that Maliki delay his visit so that the
Hashimi visit would be completed first. Maliki is reportedly
bringing with him Ministers of Electricity, Housing, Trade,
and Transport, as well as a State Minister for Foreign
Affairs. This will not be, however, a meeting of the two
countries' bilateral senior cooperation mechanism established
by the two Prime Ministers during PM Erdogan's visit to
Baghdad in July 2007. Acikel said he is not certain what
prompted Maliki's decision to bring an entire delegation and
the GOT is still trying to figure out how to proceed with the
short visit. They may end up doing five separate counterpart
meetings and a joint delegation lunch. MFA expects Maliki
will raise many of the same domestic political issues raised
by Hashimi, defend his administration's performance to date,
and deny his government is under Iran's influence.
4. (C) MFA plans to ask Gul and Erdogan to raise GOT concerns
regarding Iranian influence, as well as press for deeper
bilateral economic cooperation -- especially on hydrocarbons
-- and additional opportunities for Turkish companies hoping
to do business in Iraq.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
Jeffrey
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR NEA/I AND EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY: IRAQI VP HASHIMI SEEKS GOT SUPPORT FOR
POLITICAL REFORMS; MALIKI TO MAKE HIS CASE 12/24
REF: BAGHDAD 3977
Classified By: Acting Pol Counselor Christopher Krafft for reasons 1.4(
b,d)
1. (C) Iraqi VP Tariq Al-Hashimi visited Turkey December
20-21 for meetings with President Gul and PM Erdogan.
According to MFA Iraq Department Head Aydin Acikel, Hashimi
complained about PM Maliki's administration to GOT officials
and reported on discussions Iraqi Sunni, Kurdish, and some
Shia political party officials have had about bringing down
Maliki's government in a vote of no confidence in the Council
of Representatives (COR). Reaffirming the state of play
reported in reftel, Hashimi told the Turks those unhappy with
Maliki's administration had agreed to give him more time to
address demands for reform outlined in a resolution passed by
the COR November 27. Hashimi also pressed Turkish leaders to
fulfill their promises to press Maliki on those same reforms,
promises made when GOT officials were pressing Hashimi to
agree to the SOFA.
2. (C) Hashimi told the Turks that Iraqi Sunnis plan to
participate in provincial/local elections but he wants to
ensure they are free and fair. As such, he hopes the ability
of armed groups to wield undue influence over voters will be
curtailed.
3. (C) Acikel noted PM Maliki is scheduled to visit Ankara
December 24 with a 36-member delegation for about six hours
before traveling on to Tehran. Maliki had initially
requested to visit late in the week of December 15 but the
Turks decided to ask that Maliki delay his visit so that the
Hashimi visit would be completed first. Maliki is reportedly
bringing with him Ministers of Electricity, Housing, Trade,
and Transport, as well as a State Minister for Foreign
Affairs. This will not be, however, a meeting of the two
countries' bilateral senior cooperation mechanism established
by the two Prime Ministers during PM Erdogan's visit to
Baghdad in July 2007. Acikel said he is not certain what
prompted Maliki's decision to bring an entire delegation and
the GOT is still trying to figure out how to proceed with the
short visit. They may end up doing five separate counterpart
meetings and a joint delegation lunch. MFA expects Maliki
will raise many of the same domestic political issues raised
by Hashimi, defend his administration's performance to date,
and deny his government is under Iran's influence.
4. (C) MFA plans to ask Gul and Erdogan to raise GOT concerns
regarding Iranian influence, as well as press for deeper
bilateral economic cooperation -- especially on hydrocarbons
-- and additional opportunities for Turkish companies hoping
to do business in Iraq.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
Jeffrey