TALABANI ON HIS UPCOMING VISIT TO TURKEY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000679 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: TALABANI ON HIS UPCOMING VISIT TO TURKEY REF: BAHGDAD 613 Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) In a March 4 meeting with the Ambassador, President Talabani confirmed he will visit Turkey March 7-9, accompanied by a large number of ministers, emphasized his desire to re-establish trilateral (Iraq-Turkey-U.S.) discussions while acknowledging the need for bilateral channels, and said he would encourage direct meetings between the Turkish government and the KRG. He has asked for a private meeting with President Gul and PM Erdogan in order to discuss sensitive issues such as Kirkuk, Iran, and KRG-relations. End Summary ¶2. (C) President Talabani confirmed to the Ambassador in a March 4 meeting that he will visit Turkey March 7-9. He will take with him the Ministers of National Security (Waeli), Finance, Oil, Trade, Industry, and Water; and possibly the Minister of Defense. He commented somewhat jokingly that "I need a Sunni minister," adding that he was taking along Nassir al-Ani (Secretary General of the Presidency Council, and a Sunni),but had asked VP Hashimi for a recommendation. The Ambassador reiterated the importance of using the visit to establish a continuing bilateral communication channel. Talabani agreed, and asked if setting up a special telephone line between the leaders of the two countries would be a good idea, which the Ambassador encouraged. Talabani also emphasized his desire to re-establish the trilateral (Iraq-Turkey-U.S.) mechanism, saying he would provide a weekly meeting place and a secretariat. ¶3. (C) Talabani repeated his comment of a few days ago to the Ambassador (reftel) that he has asked for a special meeting with President Gul and PM Erdogan in order to discuss sensitive issues such as Kirkuk, Iran, and KRG-relations in a private setting, because "it is time to reach agreement on these issues." He also re-emphasized his position that the PKK must be told to lay down its arms, otherwise it will face the combined opposition of the KRG and GOI. He said he conveyed to the PKK that the U.S. is tough with them both because they started the fighting in Turkey, and because they have good relations with Iran, noting that conciliatory moves by the PKK would help him in his discussions with the Turks. ¶4. (C) Talabani said he spoke to KRG President Massoud Barzani about the Turkish invitation to KRG PM Nechirvan Barzani to visit Ankara (reftel),and reminded Massoud of the importance of dialogue between the two parties. Talabani confirmed what we have heard directly from Barzani: a meeting between Nechirvan and Davutoglu is fine in Irbil or a third country, but not in Turkey without a higher level engagement (i.e., Erdogan). Talabani said he would press the Turks to deal with the KRG as the legimate regional government it is. CROCKER