IRAQ-TURKEY-U.S. TRILATERAL SECURITY DIALOGUE:

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 001497 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2029 TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ TU SUBJECT: IRAQ-TURKEY-U.S. TRILATERAL SECURITY DIALOGUE: INTELLIGENCE OFFICE OPENED REF: BAGHDAD 1409 Classified By: Pol-Mil Minister Counselor Michael H. Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) The Trilateral Intelligence Sharing Office (TISO) in Erbil held its initial meeting on June 1 with representation by Iraqi, Turkish and U.S. intelligence officers. American and Turkish officers, however, are not yet able to reside the in the containerized housing units provided as living quarters until minor electrical and plumbing issues are resolved. The Working Group (WG) of the Iraq-Turkey-U.S. Security Dialogue agreed June 4 that a planned visit to the TISO (reftel) by BG Legere, MG Foukeiki and a Turkish General Officer would be delayed until June 15; full operational capability is expected by June 24. The U.S. delegation to the working group agreed to an Iraqi request to transport I2N secure communication equipment to Erbil by June 12. ¶2. (S) Separately, Committee Secretary Rashid Hamid told the group that the Iraqi High Electoral Commission banned the Hiwa Party from participating in KRG elections, but that Hiwa will have the right to seek an appeal to be decided at least ten days prior to the July 25 elections. Also, the GOI somewhat unexpectedly raised the issue of the Makhmour Refugee Camp - asking for a UNHCR representative to brief the WG on the number of expected refugees who would want to return to Turkey. GOT delegation lead COL Cengiz Ozen initially objected to the subject even being discussed. He later responded that he would not comment in the absence of clear instructions from his superiors. The working group agreed that Makhmour will be on the agenda at the Ministerial meeting in Turkey in July. The next WG meeting will take place on June 15. ¶3. (S) COMMENT: We are pleased that all representatives to the TISO are now on-site and working. The inclusion of a non-Kurdish GOI representative (from Ministry of State for National Security Affairs) is also a positive indicator of KRG cooperation with the central government and may help build confidence between the two. In another positive development, the normally recalcitrant COL Ozen opened his remarks by expressing GOT appreciation to the GOI delegation for its work to open the TISO and for its efforts to see the Hiwa party banned from KRG elections in July. FORD