IRAQ-TURKEY COUNTERTERRORISM AGREEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001600

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER TU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ-TURKEY COUNTERTERRORISM AGREEMENT

REF: ANKARA 1534

Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady, for reasons 1.4(b,d)


1. (C) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs November 5 gave us an
English-language copy of the Iraqi-Turkish counter-terrorism
agreement signed by the two countries' Interior Ministers
during Prime Minister Erdogan's October 15 visit to Baghdad
(REFTEL). MFA contacts contend this agreement provides a
legal basis for their expectation of increased Iraqi
government pressure on PKK/KONGRA-GEL terrorists harboring in
northern Iraq. Those contacts said they did not expect the
GoI to move militarily any time soon against PKK camps in the
Qandil mountains. However, they hope the Iraqis will begin
curbing the freedom of movement of PKK members, discouraging
the terrorists' commercial activities in northern Iraq and
impeding their access to local hospitals. Our contacts told
us the agreement's original Article IV, which sought to
secure GoI acquiescence to Turkey's cross-border military
operations against the PKK, was removed just prior to signing
at the insistence of Iraqi Minister of Interior Al Bulani.
The agreement must be ratified by the Turkish parliament
before it can go into effect.


2. (SBU) Begin text:

Agreement Between the Republic of Iraq and the Republic of
Turkey on Combating Terrorism

The Republic of Iraq and the Republic of Turkey, hereinafter
called "the Parties":

Reaffirming that terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to
regional and international peace and security and that all
acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless
of their motivation, whenever and whomsoever committed:

Stressing their determination to combat all forms of
terrorism;

Reaffirming, the existence of the belief and determination of
the Parties for deepening and reinforcing the cooperation
between the two countries, developing the existing good
neighborly relations and strengthening the friendly ties in
order to establish the security of the common borders binding
the two neighboring countries and to prevent the infiltration
of the terrorist elements through the borders aiming at
destruction of the security and stability of the two
countries;

Deeply concerned by the increasing number of victims,
including civilians, children, police and military personnel,
as well as by the destruction and damage caused by acts of
terrorism committed in particular by the terrorist
organization PKK/KONGRA-GEL, and all entities affiliated with
it and the terrorist organizations Ansar ul Sunna, Ansar ul
Islam and Al Qaeda along with other terrorist groups
affiliated with them, which constitute a threat to their
security, stability and an impediment to the enhancement of
bilateral relations;

Recognizing that, the Ankara Agreement signed by the two
Parties on 5 June 1926, Friendship and Good Neighborly
Relations Agreement between Turkey and Iraq, signed on 29
March 1946 and the Agreement Between the Republic of Turkey
and Republic of Iraq on Legal and Judicial Matters signed on
19 September 1989 and the Memorandum of Understanding signed
by the Prime Ministers of the Republic of Turkey and the
Republic of Iraq on 7 August 2007 are in force between the
two States;

Confirming once again that the right of the peoples of both
countries to a more secure and stable life is a fundamental
right as underlined in the meetings of the Ministers of

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Interior and Foreign Affairs of the Neighboring States of
Iraq;

Emphasizing their obligations to implement in full UN
Security Council Resolutions 1373 (2001),1546 and 1566
(2004) and 1624 (2005),as well as their common desire to
cooperate effectively in combating the terrorist activities
perpetrated by the terrorist groups:

Herewith agree:

ARTICLE I

The Parties shall take effective measures to prevent the
preparation and commission of terrorist acts aimed at the
security, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders
and safety of citizens of the other party.

ARTICLE II

To this end the Parties shall take, inter alia, the following
measures:

a) to put an end and to prevent terrorist groups from
using their respective territories as bases for presence,
recruitment, training, planning, inciting or launching of
terrorist acts against the other party;

b) to put an end and to outlaw all kind of financing
activities, of the terrorist groups and logistical support
given to these groups directly or indirectly

c) not to allow any mass media activities of the
terrorist organizations including their radio and TV
broadcasting, as well as their propaganda activities inciting
terrorist acts;

d) to prevent the members of the terrorist
organizations from affiliating with any political
institutions and/or activity in their respective countries
and from joining any state organization or official
institution.

ARTICLE III

Each of the Parties are responsible for denying safe haven
and bringing to justice, on the basis of the principle of
"extradite or prosecute", any person who supports,
facilitates, participates, or attempts to participate in
financing, planning, preparation or commission of acts of a
terrorist organization.

ARTICLE IV

Within a period of one (1) month after the entry into force
of this Agreement, the Parties,

a) shall exchange information on the terrorist
organizations operating in their countries and the
individuals involved in terrorist acts

b) shall exchange the international arrest warrants
relating to terrorists sought with Interpol Red Notices or by
Diffusion

c) shall appoint to their respective diplomatic
missions a liaison contact point and provide the exchange of
information for the implementation of the provision of this
Agreement.

ARTICLE V

The Parties shall set up a Coordination Committee,
responsible for the implementation of this Agreement which
shall be chaired by the Ministry of Interior of the Republic

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of Turkey and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of
Iraq with participation of experts of other ministries or
governmental institutions.

The Coordination Committee shall regularly meet every six
months alternately in Turkey and Iraq.

In case of an urgent need, the Committee shall meet upon the
request of one of the parties.

ARTICLE VI

This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the
receipt of the notification by which the Parties notify the
completion of their respective internal legal procedures for
notification.

This Agreement shall remain in force unless one of the
Parties denounce it through diplomatic channels. The
Agreement's validity will end after six (6) months following
the receipt by the other Party of the notification of
denunciation.

ARTICLE VII

This Agreement is done in duplicate in Baghdad on 15 October
2009, in the Turkish, Arabic, and English languages. All
texts are equally authentic. In case of divergence of
interpretation the English text shall prevail.

For the Government of For the Government of
The Republic of Iraq The Republic of Turkey
Cevad Al Bulani Besir Atalay
Minister of Interior Minister of Interior

End Text

JEFFREY

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