Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAGHDAD193
2009-01-26 10:41:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
TURKEY-IRAQ-U.S. TRILATERAL SECURITY TALKS WORKING
how-toVZCZCXRO4899 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #0193/01 0261041 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 261041Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1393 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0565 RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA PRIORITY 0048 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 0097
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000193
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY-IRAQ-U.S. TRILATERAL SECURITY TALKS WORKING
GROUP HOLDS SECOND MEETING
REF: A. BAGHDAD 150
B. ANKARA 92
Classified By: Minister Counselor for Political Military Affairs Michae
l H. Corbin
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000193
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY-IRAQ-U.S. TRILATERAL SECURITY TALKS WORKING
GROUP HOLDS SECOND MEETING
REF: A. BAGHDAD 150
B. ANKARA 92
Classified By: Minister Counselor for Political Military Affairs Michae
l H. Corbin
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) Summary: The Turkish government urged Iraq to isolate
the PKK before the end of winter by cutting off supplies of
food and weapons at a meeting of the Iraq-Turkey-U.S.
Trilateral Working Group (WG) on January 22 in Baghdad. The
GoT also sought to establish liaison offices in Erbil and
Sulaymaniyah. The GOI promised to report back at the next WG
meeting what would be needed to do so. GoI representatives
did not provide intelligence reports to the GoT at the
meeting, explaining that the GOI needs time to develop
sources and accurate information; but they did commit the GOI
to issue media statements declaring the PKK a terrorist
organization, destroy PKK support mechanisms, and obtain
arrest warrants for known PKK members. End Summary.
2. (SBU) At the working group-level meeting of the
Iraq-Turkey-U.S. Security Dialogue on January 22, MG Abdullah
Foukeiki (from MSNSA) led the Iraqi delegation. BG Delshad
Najib was again the representative of the KRG. COL Cengiz
Ozen led the Turkish delegation accompanied by Political
Officer Emre Uygun. The U.S delegation was led by COL Rick
Stockhausen of MNF-I CJ3 (Security Strategy) and PolMilOff.
--------------
ISOLATING THE PKK NOW
--------------
3. (C) The GoT,s COL Ozen urged the GOI to take concrete
action to isolate the PKK before the end of winter, March 31.
Turkey, he said, did not want to see &only an exchange of
information but also some measures taken on the ground,8
including cutting food supplies and preventing the PKK from
acquiring weapons. He said that now was the time to cut off
the PKK from its material support. These efforts &won't
mean anything come summer,8 he concluded.
4. (S) GoI representatives did not provide intelligence
reports to the GoT at the meeting, explaining that the GOI
needs time to develop sources and accurate information. MG
Foukeiki said the GOI would issue media statements declaring
the PKK a terrorist organization; coordinate with Border
Enforcement authorities and related security agencies
instructing them to destroy PKK 8support mechanisms8 and
interdict routes, and coordinate with the Ministry of
Interior to obtain arrest warrants for known PKK members.
--------------
ESTABLISHING LIAISON OFFICES IN THE KRG
--------------
5. (S) At the request of the GoT, the working group agreed to
the establishment of a liaison office in Erbil. The Iraqi
delegation offered the use of an established MSNSA office in
Erbil to serve as the liaison office, suggesting that Turkey
could send two to four officers to staff the facility. The
Turkish delegation pressed for a separate facility. The GOI
promised to report back at the next WG meeting what would be
needed to do so. Discussion targeted mid-February for
opening the office. The Turkish delegation reiterated its
interest in also opening a liaison office in Sulaymaniyah.
The Iraqis indicated, without elaborating on their reasons,
that it would take longer than establishing an office in
Erbil. (Comment: While we are not sure why the GOI indicated
it would be more difficult to open an office in Sulaymaniyah
vice Erbil, it is possible that the difference is due to the
split between Erbil-based KDP Kurds and the
Qsplit between Erbil-based KDP Kurds and the
Sulaymaniyah-based PUK Kurds. End Comment.)
6. (C) The next Working Group meeting is scheduled for
February 5. Delegates tentatively agreed to consider
convening the next Subcommittee meeting (at the one-star
level) in late February.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
7. (C) There was a sense by all that progress had been
achieved on several issues ) most notably that of opening
office(s) in northern Iraq. While still not producing any
actionable intelligence for use by the Turks, the Iraqis have
committed to a definitive set of measures to be taken in the
next fourteen days. Having seen the Iraqis show up at trilat
BAGHDAD 00000193 002 OF 002
meetings previously with excuses as to why they did not
complete their &homework8 from the previous session, we
intend to work closely with them, in the interim, to
encourage them to move forward. End comment.
CROCKER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY-IRAQ-U.S. TRILATERAL SECURITY TALKS WORKING
GROUP HOLDS SECOND MEETING
REF: A. BAGHDAD 150
B. ANKARA 92
Classified By: Minister Counselor for Political Military Affairs Michae
l H. Corbin
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) Summary: The Turkish government urged Iraq to isolate
the PKK before the end of winter by cutting off supplies of
food and weapons at a meeting of the Iraq-Turkey-U.S.
Trilateral Working Group (WG) on January 22 in Baghdad. The
GoT also sought to establish liaison offices in Erbil and
Sulaymaniyah. The GOI promised to report back at the next WG
meeting what would be needed to do so. GoI representatives
did not provide intelligence reports to the GoT at the
meeting, explaining that the GOI needs time to develop
sources and accurate information; but they did commit the GOI
to issue media statements declaring the PKK a terrorist
organization, destroy PKK support mechanisms, and obtain
arrest warrants for known PKK members. End Summary.
2. (SBU) At the working group-level meeting of the
Iraq-Turkey-U.S. Security Dialogue on January 22, MG Abdullah
Foukeiki (from MSNSA) led the Iraqi delegation. BG Delshad
Najib was again the representative of the KRG. COL Cengiz
Ozen led the Turkish delegation accompanied by Political
Officer Emre Uygun. The U.S delegation was led by COL Rick
Stockhausen of MNF-I CJ3 (Security Strategy) and PolMilOff.
--------------
ISOLATING THE PKK NOW
--------------
3. (C) The GoT,s COL Ozen urged the GOI to take concrete
action to isolate the PKK before the end of winter, March 31.
Turkey, he said, did not want to see &only an exchange of
information but also some measures taken on the ground,8
including cutting food supplies and preventing the PKK from
acquiring weapons. He said that now was the time to cut off
the PKK from its material support. These efforts &won't
mean anything come summer,8 he concluded.
4. (S) GoI representatives did not provide intelligence
reports to the GoT at the meeting, explaining that the GOI
needs time to develop sources and accurate information. MG
Foukeiki said the GOI would issue media statements declaring
the PKK a terrorist organization; coordinate with Border
Enforcement authorities and related security agencies
instructing them to destroy PKK 8support mechanisms8 and
interdict routes, and coordinate with the Ministry of
Interior to obtain arrest warrants for known PKK members.
--------------
ESTABLISHING LIAISON OFFICES IN THE KRG
--------------
5. (S) At the request of the GoT, the working group agreed to
the establishment of a liaison office in Erbil. The Iraqi
delegation offered the use of an established MSNSA office in
Erbil to serve as the liaison office, suggesting that Turkey
could send two to four officers to staff the facility. The
Turkish delegation pressed for a separate facility. The GOI
promised to report back at the next WG meeting what would be
needed to do so. Discussion targeted mid-February for
opening the office. The Turkish delegation reiterated its
interest in also opening a liaison office in Sulaymaniyah.
The Iraqis indicated, without elaborating on their reasons,
that it would take longer than establishing an office in
Erbil. (Comment: While we are not sure why the GOI indicated
it would be more difficult to open an office in Sulaymaniyah
vice Erbil, it is possible that the difference is due to the
split between Erbil-based KDP Kurds and the
Qsplit between Erbil-based KDP Kurds and the
Sulaymaniyah-based PUK Kurds. End Comment.)
6. (C) The next Working Group meeting is scheduled for
February 5. Delegates tentatively agreed to consider
convening the next Subcommittee meeting (at the one-star
level) in late February.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
7. (C) There was a sense by all that progress had been
achieved on several issues ) most notably that of opening
office(s) in northern Iraq. While still not producing any
actionable intelligence for use by the Turks, the Iraqis have
committed to a definitive set of measures to be taken in the
next fourteen days. Having seen the Iraqis show up at trilat
BAGHDAD 00000193 002 OF 002
meetings previously with excuses as to why they did not
complete their &homework8 from the previous session, we
intend to work closely with them, in the interim, to
encourage them to move forward. End comment.
CROCKER