TALABANI GOES TO ANKARA: A BREAKTHROUGH VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000461

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER TU IZ
SUBJECT: TALABANI GOES TO ANKARA: A BREAKTHROUGH VISIT

REF: ANKARA 436 AND PREVIOUS

ANKARA 00000461 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's March 7-8
visit to Ankara, hailed by President Gul as the first ever by
a democratically-elected Iraqi head of state to Turkey,
should help to repair bilateral relations. It is remarkable
for having occurred only one week after the return of Turkish
land forces from northern Iraq following a one-week incursion
against PKK targets there. Next steps include following up
on the talks here and initiating direct Turkey/Kurdistan
Regional Government (KRG) discussions that may be planned for
coming days. END SUMMARY


2. (C) Talabani held one-on-one meetings with both President
Gul and PM Erdogan, which MFA U/S Apakan described to us as
"frank and candid." Apakan predicted that this would result
in more and better communications between the two countries
on a range of issues. Ministers responsible for security,
energy, trade, and water participated and held side meetings.
According to Apakan, they discussed:

-- cooperation on counter-terrorism, including a follow-on
visit by Iraqi Interior Minister Bolani (who did not
accompany Talabani);

-- finalizing a Turkey-proposed bilateral economic
cooperation agreement;

-- the development of Iraq's petroleum/gas resources and
their transit to and through Turkey to European markets
(including via Nabucco); and

-- water issues, including the possible establishment of a
bilateral institute or mechanism to discuss water/irrigation
that would be organized alongside existing Turkey-Iraq-Syria
water cooperation arrangements.

Representatives of the Turkish military were notably absent
from the events.


3. (U) Public remarks by Talabani, Gul, and ERDOGAN stressed
a desire for closer relations. Gul said that he and Talabani
share a common vision. "We would like to see a prosperous
Iraq which has achieved national consensus and is at peace
with its neighbors. When the full potential between Iraq and
Turkey is achieved, you will see a relationship that is
exemplary for neighbors and that will contribute to stability
and cooperation throughout the region." ERDOGAN underscored
the significance of Talabani's visit for improving ties. He
called for raising bilateral trade from the current level of
$3 billion per year to $10-25 billion in the future.
Talabani highlighted his desire for a "strategic
relationship." While stressing that Iraq wants the PKK
either to lay down its arms or abandon its bases on Iraqi
territory, Talabani stated that the PKK threat to Turkey can
never be eliminated through military means alone. He called
for closer cooperation to determine the best way to establish
a comprehensive plan to end the terrorist threat.


4. (C) Talabani also told the press here that KRG President
Barzani wants to establish closer relations with Turkey, as
well. Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) official and Barzani
foreign policy adviser (and former KDP Ankara representative)
Safeen Dizayee accompanied Talabani. He told Ambassador that
discussions continue about a Turkey/KRG meeting. Venue and
timing are still uncertain, but it appears that one
possibility is for a Turkish delegation to meet in Erbil with
KRG PM Nechirvan Barzani on the margins of the March 11-13
Arab Parliamentary Summit. GOT officials can be expected to
press the KRG to take additional steps to limit the PKK's
ability to operate in northern Iraq, including through the
arrest and extradition of PKK leaders, issues Gul made clear
publicly are priorities for Turkey.

ANKARA 00000461 002 OF 002




5. (C) COMMENT: Talabani's visit to Ankara is notable for the
fact that it occurred at all - one week after Turkish forces
left northern Iraq and after years of refusal by former
President Sezer to permit Talabani to come. GOT Iraq
Coordinator Murat Ozcelik has long told us that getting
Talabani here would be the essential icebreaker before his
government could deal with the KRG. While there remains a
great deal of mistrust here over purported ties among Iraqi
Kurd leaders with the PKK, those who support engagement with
Iraq and with Erbil on the PKK and to develop relations more
broadly appear to have gained the upper hand. The fact of
Talabani's visit probably also strengthens the hand of the
AKP and moderates here over Kurdish nationalist hotheads
whose declining traction politically can only be a good thing.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey

WILSON