TURKISH MFA ON IRAQ MEETINGS IN KUWAIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000772 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2018 TAGS: PREL PTER IZ US TU SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA ON IRAQ MEETINGS IN KUWAIT Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROSS WILSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Turkish MFA Deputy U/S Sinirlioglu briefed Ambassador April 24 on Turkish FM Babacan's talks with PM Maliki in Kuwait earlier this week. He said the Turks found Maliki more confident after the Basra confrontation. Both sides were pleased with progress on the mil-mil front, economic cooperation and political dialogue. MFA U/S Apakan, Sinirlioglu and Iraq coordinator Ozcelik will travel to Baghdad o/a May 5 for talks with the government. Foreign Trade Minister Tuzmen will visit later. ¶2. (C) Maliki reportedly said he is ready to launch the new high-level cooperation/oversight mechanism suggested during President Talabani's visit here in March. It would happen soon -- during visits by either Maliki to Turkey or PM Erdogan to Baghdad. Sinirlioglu said that Turkey will try to make the Erdogan visit happen, which he agreed would be a big tonic for Iraq and for Turkish-Iraqi relations. The Turks apparently took on board a query from Maliki about having a representative of his take part in Turkey's meeting with KRG PM Nechirvan Barzani whenever that happens, especially if it is in Baghdad. Sinirlioglu indicated that Ankara is cautious on this. ¶3. (C) Babacan reportedly complained about the absence of Turkish oil firms on pre-qualified list to participate in Iraqi hydrocarbons development that was put out by the Iraqi Oil Ministry recently. Maliki claimed to know nothing about it and said he would check. The Turks came away thinking that this problem may get addressed, perhaps on a second list the ministry may put out. Maliki also highlighted the government's interest in export routes north through Turkey for Iraqi oil and gas. ¶4. (C) Turkish plans to go ahead with a Basra consulate and an industrial development zone in southern Iraq were welcomed by Maliki, according to the Turks. The Iraqi PM said that he would help identify a suitable building for the consulate. Once this is made ready, Turkey will proceed to open it. Sinirlioglu said that the British have also offered a building at their airport to supplement this. He also briefly described a trilateral Turkey-UK-Kuwait meeting about Basra and the industrial zone. They agreed to form a working group that will include Iraq to figure out how to go forward. Sinirlioglu asked whether legislation to extend trade privileges to a zone along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border might apply to this southern Iraq zone or other regions of Iraq. Ambassador described the legislation and said he was unaware of serious proposals to extend its provisions to Iraq at this time. ¶5. (C) Regarding relations with Iraq and the PKK, Ambassador reiterated points made last week by Acting U/S Fried to Turkish MFA U/S Apakan on the continuation of our intelligence cooperation against the PKK and the concomitant need for Turkey to bear in mind political sensitivities in Iraq as it plans and carries out specific activities. He urged more transparency with Iraq on these cross-border actions. Direct notification prior to, after the initiation of or at least immediately following Turkish cross-border actions would go a long way toward clearing the fog of war as confusing and contentious news reports reach Iraqi authorities. Sinirlioglu said he believes there is some mechanism established though military channels, but would check. He agreed on the wisdom of some kind of notification system. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON