GOI AGREES UPON MODALITIES FOR IRAQ-TURKEY-U.S.

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 003509 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/18 TAGS: IZ TU PREL MARR SUBJECT: GOI AGREES UPON MODALITIES FOR IRAQ-TURKEY-U.S. TRILATERAL ON SECURITY ISSUES Classified By: PolMil Minister-Counselor Michael Corbin. Reasons 1.4 (b ) & (d). ¶1. (S) Summary: Iraq has agreed to participate in proposed trilateral security talks with Turkey and the U.S. to begin as early as November 14 or 15 in Ankara, according to the GOI spokesman, reporting privately on his talks in Istanbul. The meetings should be at the ministerial level, and GOI wants to be sure the Turkish side represents all views including those of the Turkish General Staff. End summary. ¶2. (S) GOI spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh reported to Ambassador the results of his November 1-2 trip to Istanbul to meet PM Erdogan as PM Maliki,s representative on the possibility of trilateral (Iraq, Turkey, U.S.) talks on security issues, foremost on the PKK issue. The meeting followed a phone call between Erdogan and Maliki. Al-Dabbagh told the Ambassador that following his meetings in Istanbul the two sides had agreed on trilateral talks to be held as early as November 14 or 15 in Ankara. He said Maliki had agreed, reluctantly, to include a Kurdish Regional Government representative on the GOI delegation to the talks. ¶3. (S) Al-Dabbagh said that both sides were concerned that the level of discussions be at the Ministerial level. The GOI was also concerned that the designated Turkish delegation head clearly represent all parts of the Government of Turkey including the Turkish General Staff. Maliki had designated Minister of State for National Security Affairs Shirwan Al-Waeli to head the Iraqi delegation. Al-Waeli had been involved in security discussions with the Turks in the past that had not led to results. ¶4. (S) Comment: This development represents further potential for progress on the security track, particularly with Maliki,s agreement to a KRG delegate on the GOI delegation. CROCKER