Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANKARA280
2008-02-14 12:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
MAKHMOUR REFUGEE CAMP: TURKS MULLING REACTION TO
how-toVZCZCXRO8144 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHAK #0280 0451255 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141255Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5232 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU PRIORITY RHMFISS/425ABG IZMIR TU//CC// PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// PRIORITY RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEUITH/TLO ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEPGAB/MNF-I C2X BAGHDAD IZ PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000280
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: PREF PREL IZ TU
SUBJECT: MAKHMOUR REFUGEE CAMP: TURKS MULLING REACTION TO
GOI INVITATION TO RESUME TALKS
REF: A. BAGHDAD 317
B. ANKARA 158
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000280
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: PREF PREL IZ TU
SUBJECT: MAKHMOUR REFUGEE CAMP: TURKS MULLING REACTION TO
GOI INVITATION TO RESUME TALKS
REF: A. BAGHDAD 317
B. ANKARA 158
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary and Comment: GOT officials have received an
invitation from the GOI to resume discussion of closing
Makhmour refugee camp (ref a) and are considering their
response. Any decision to move forward on Makhmour will be
made at the political level in Ankara. The GOT wants the
camp closed, but officials in Ankara remain concerned about
the camp's security situation, the influence radical PKK
elements retain over camp residents, and UNHCR's lack of
full-time presence. GOI expressions of renewed commitment to
make progress toward closure argues in favor of stepped up
direct engagement. Given the highly political nature of the
issue in Turkey and the level at which decisions surrounding
closure of the camp and future resettlement of its residents
will be made, Embassy Baghdad may wish to encourage FM Zebari
to contact FM Babacan directly on the issue, and thus
underscore Iraq's commitment to postive progress. End
summary and comment.
2. (C) MFA Director General Hayati Guven told us the GOT has
received the invitation conveyed by GOI MFA U/S Hamoud to
Ambassador Kanbay in Baghdad regarding a resumption of talks
among the GOI, GOT, and UNHCR on closing Makhmour refugee
camp. Guven said the GOT is considering the invitation and
its response.
3. (C) Guven reiterated GOT concerns expressed in the past,
including regarding the security situation in Makhmour (ref
b). In the GOT's view, circumstances at Makhmour have not
changed since talks ended in April 2007, when the lack of
security in and around the camp, undue influence by radical
PKK elements over camp residents, and UNHCR's inability
adequately to monitor activities inside the camp created a
situation that, for the GOT, made the process surrounding
possible closure of the camp untenable.
4. (C) Despite a cordon of Iraqi security forces around the
camp, GOT officials cited to us occasions in which PKK
members were able to depart the camp to rejoin PKK camps
nearer the Turkey-Iraq border. According to the Turks, on
one such occasion in December, PKK fighters anticipated
possible ground incursions by Turkish troops after airstrikes
commenced and sought to move closer to the border to
contribute to efforts to attack Turkish security forces.
Iraqi security forces around the camp initially refused
passage, but following demonstrations inside the camp,
eventually relented. The episode underscored for GOT
officials the inability of GOI forces to adequately control
access to and from the camp.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: PREF PREL IZ TU
SUBJECT: MAKHMOUR REFUGEE CAMP: TURKS MULLING REACTION TO
GOI INVITATION TO RESUME TALKS
REF: A. BAGHDAD 317
B. ANKARA 158
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary and Comment: GOT officials have received an
invitation from the GOI to resume discussion of closing
Makhmour refugee camp (ref a) and are considering their
response. Any decision to move forward on Makhmour will be
made at the political level in Ankara. The GOT wants the
camp closed, but officials in Ankara remain concerned about
the camp's security situation, the influence radical PKK
elements retain over camp residents, and UNHCR's lack of
full-time presence. GOI expressions of renewed commitment to
make progress toward closure argues in favor of stepped up
direct engagement. Given the highly political nature of the
issue in Turkey and the level at which decisions surrounding
closure of the camp and future resettlement of its residents
will be made, Embassy Baghdad may wish to encourage FM Zebari
to contact FM Babacan directly on the issue, and thus
underscore Iraq's commitment to postive progress. End
summary and comment.
2. (C) MFA Director General Hayati Guven told us the GOT has
received the invitation conveyed by GOI MFA U/S Hamoud to
Ambassador Kanbay in Baghdad regarding a resumption of talks
among the GOI, GOT, and UNHCR on closing Makhmour refugee
camp. Guven said the GOT is considering the invitation and
its response.
3. (C) Guven reiterated GOT concerns expressed in the past,
including regarding the security situation in Makhmour (ref
b). In the GOT's view, circumstances at Makhmour have not
changed since talks ended in April 2007, when the lack of
security in and around the camp, undue influence by radical
PKK elements over camp residents, and UNHCR's inability
adequately to monitor activities inside the camp created a
situation that, for the GOT, made the process surrounding
possible closure of the camp untenable.
4. (C) Despite a cordon of Iraqi security forces around the
camp, GOT officials cited to us occasions in which PKK
members were able to depart the camp to rejoin PKK camps
nearer the Turkey-Iraq border. According to the Turks, on
one such occasion in December, PKK fighters anticipated
possible ground incursions by Turkish troops after airstrikes
commenced and sought to move closer to the border to
contribute to efforts to attack Turkish security forces.
Iraqi security forces around the camp initially refused
passage, but following demonstrations inside the camp,
eventually relented. The episode underscored for GOT
officials the inability of GOI forces to adequately control
access to and from the camp.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
WILSON