Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ANKARA1522
2009-10-21 15:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY TO PRESS FOR IRAQI SUPPORT OF KURDISH
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001522
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER TU IZ SY
SUBJECT: TURKEY TO PRESS FOR IRAQI SUPPORT OF KURDISH
RETURNEE PROCESS
REF: A. ANKARA 1514
B. ANKARA 1508
Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady, for reasons 1.4(b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001522
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER TU IZ SY
SUBJECT: TURKEY TO PRESS FOR IRAQI SUPPORT OF KURDISH
RETURNEE PROCESS
REF: A. ANKARA 1514
B. ANKARA 1508
Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady, for reasons 1.4(b,d)
1. (C) Turkey's Ambassador to Iraq, Murat Ozcelik, told us
October 21 that upon his return to Baghdad later in the week
he would attempt to engage the Iraqi government and KRG in
the nascent Kurdish-Turk returnee process (REFTELS). Ozcelik
said the early focus of his engagement effort would be full
exploitation of the Trilateral Mechanism's potential as a
Turkish-Iraqi policy-coordination forum. "I'll attend the
the working group meetings, if I have to," he added. He
candidly lamented the Turkish military's aloofness towards
the Trilateral Information Sharing Office (TISO),but
reaffirmed Minister of Interior Atalay's commitment to the
Trilateral Mechanism. Earlier in the week, Atalay's
secretary general, Eyup Tepe, told us his minister wanted to
use the the Trilateral Mechanism to secure Iraqi support for
the returnee process because Turkey "lacks other tools with
which to engage the Iraqis on this issue." Eyup said Turkey
is considering November 17 or 19 for the next Tri-lateral
Ministerial in Erbil.
2. (C) In a separate discussion, Can Oguz, a First Secretary
in the MFA's Iraq Office, told us October 21 the GOT's first
request of the KRG and GOI will be to encourage
Kurdish-Turkish PKK supporters "down from the mountain" and
back to Turkey. Oguz implied the GOT hopes that continuing
returns would reduce the PKK's ability to conduct
cross-border terrorist operations by drying up its available
manpower. "Later," he said, "we would ask the Iraqis to help
us deal with the (PKK) leadership" by ensuring its isolation
and facilitating its ultimate disposal. Oguz portrayed KRG
support for the returnee process as an obligation Iraqi-Kurds
had incurred due to the GOT's launching of its "Democracy
Opening" Initiative. According to Oguz's analysis, now that
the GOT is addressing Kurdish-Turks' grievances, the KRG has
the political cover it needs to put an end to the terrorism
emanating from its territory.
3. (C) Comment: Ozcelik is an energetic diplomat, and is
likely to seek support from Embassy Baghdad and MNF-I for his
approaches to the GoI and KRG. Ankara believes it already
had a commitment from the KRG to "encourage" PKK members down
from the mountains, and will rachet up the pressure now that
it beieves it can demonstrate a credible process for
Turkish-Kurds' repatriation.
JEFFREY
"Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s
gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER TU IZ SY
SUBJECT: TURKEY TO PRESS FOR IRAQI SUPPORT OF KURDISH
RETURNEE PROCESS
REF: A. ANKARA 1514
B. ANKARA 1508
Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady, for reasons 1.4(b,d)
1. (C) Turkey's Ambassador to Iraq, Murat Ozcelik, told us
October 21 that upon his return to Baghdad later in the week
he would attempt to engage the Iraqi government and KRG in
the nascent Kurdish-Turk returnee process (REFTELS). Ozcelik
said the early focus of his engagement effort would be full
exploitation of the Trilateral Mechanism's potential as a
Turkish-Iraqi policy-coordination forum. "I'll attend the
the working group meetings, if I have to," he added. He
candidly lamented the Turkish military's aloofness towards
the Trilateral Information Sharing Office (TISO),but
reaffirmed Minister of Interior Atalay's commitment to the
Trilateral Mechanism. Earlier in the week, Atalay's
secretary general, Eyup Tepe, told us his minister wanted to
use the the Trilateral Mechanism to secure Iraqi support for
the returnee process because Turkey "lacks other tools with
which to engage the Iraqis on this issue." Eyup said Turkey
is considering November 17 or 19 for the next Tri-lateral
Ministerial in Erbil.
2. (C) In a separate discussion, Can Oguz, a First Secretary
in the MFA's Iraq Office, told us October 21 the GOT's first
request of the KRG and GOI will be to encourage
Kurdish-Turkish PKK supporters "down from the mountain" and
back to Turkey. Oguz implied the GOT hopes that continuing
returns would reduce the PKK's ability to conduct
cross-border terrorist operations by drying up its available
manpower. "Later," he said, "we would ask the Iraqis to help
us deal with the (PKK) leadership" by ensuring its isolation
and facilitating its ultimate disposal. Oguz portrayed KRG
support for the returnee process as an obligation Iraqi-Kurds
had incurred due to the GOT's launching of its "Democracy
Opening" Initiative. According to Oguz's analysis, now that
the GOT is addressing Kurdish-Turks' grievances, the KRG has
the political cover it needs to put an end to the terrorism
emanating from its territory.
3. (C) Comment: Ozcelik is an energetic diplomat, and is
likely to seek support from Embassy Baghdad and MNF-I for his
approaches to the GoI and KRG. Ankara believes it already
had a commitment from the KRG to "encourage" PKK members down
from the mountains, and will rachet up the pressure now that
it beieves it can demonstrate a credible process for
Turkish-Kurds' repatriation.
JEFFREY
"Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s
gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"