IRAQ-TURKEY-U.S. TRILATERAL SECURITY WORKING GROUP

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 001409 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2029 TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ TU SUBJECT: IRAQ-TURKEY-U.S. TRILATERAL SECURITY WORKING GROUP DISCUSSES BANNING PKK-CONNECTED PARTY FROM KRG ELECTIONS Classified By: POLMIL Minister Counselor Michael H. Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) At the May 28 Working Group (WG) meeting of the Iraq-Turkey-U.S. Trilateral Security Dialogue, the Iraqi High Electoral Commission briefed the topic of how groups and individuals can be banned from participating in Iraqi (including KRG) elections. The discussion focused on the Hiwa Party - reportedly a successor to the now-banned PCDK Party (a front organization for the PKK). The IHEC representative assured the Working Group that it had received a complaint against Hiwa from the Minister of State for National Security Affairs (MSNSA) and would be ready to rule in time for an expected appeal to be heard prior to the July 25 KRG elections. (NOTE: We learned on May 29 that the IHEC has issued a ruling banning Hiwa from the KRG elections. End note.) ¶2. (C) The GOI provided us with the names of their liaison officers who will staff the Trilateral Intelligence Sharing Office (TISO) and it was agreed that the six liaison officers (two from each country) will hold their first meeting at the TISO on June 1. On June 9, BG Mary Legere, Director of MNF-I CJ2 (Intelligence) will meet with a representative of the Turkish General Staff Intelligence Directorate and MG Foukeiki of the Iraqi MSNSA to meet the TISO intel officers. ¶3. (C) In response to a request for clarification from Turkish delegation lead COL Ozen, it was agreed that the intelligence officers will live and work full-time at the TISO as opposed to simply holding two or three meetings there each week. It was further agreed that officers would work eight-hour days with a duty rotation for off-hour emergencies. ¶4. (S) COMMENT: The GOI's swift response to a request for the IHEC to brief the WG on the Hiwa party was potentially beneficial in calming Turkish angst over the PKK-front party's participation in the election. An IHEC official sitting before the Trilat WG and answering a host of questions, likely sent a strong message that Hiwa's involvement in the KRG elections has the attention of a wide body of interested followers. While internal GOI - KRG struggles occasionally still affect the process of moving the TISO forward, it will be a noteworthy achievement for the Trilateral process if all three countries hold their first TISO meeting on June 1. HILL