TURKISH AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES IRAQI POLITICS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000244 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2020 TAGS: IZ KDEM MARR PGOV PREL PTER TU SUBJECT: TURKISH AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES IRAQI POLITICS, KIRKUK WITH AMBASSADOR HILL Classified By: Ambassador Christopher R. Hill for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with the Ambassador on January 13, Turkish Ambassador Murat Ozcelik shared his views on PM Maliki, government formation and Kirkuk. Ozcelik said Turkey does not want PM Maliki to win another term and will support other coalitions, including Iyad Allawi,s al-Iraqiya Alliance, ISCI and the Kurds, in the run-up to elections in March. He told the Ambassador that the Government of Turkey would support special status for Kirkuk and stressed that a deal needed to be reached as soon as possible. Ozcelik said Barzani had asked him to participate in a Turkoman-Kurd reconciliation effort in Kirkuk and a parallel Sunni Arab-Kurd effort in Ninewa. Ozcelik stressed that the GOT is looking forward to Commanding General Odierno's visit to Ankara in February to discuss efforts against the Kurdish Worker's Party (PKK). End summary. NO SUPPORT FOR MALIKI -------------- ¶2. (C) On elections and government formation, Ozcelik said the GOT does not support another term as Prime Minister for Maliki. He stated that the GOT had supported Maliki during the past several years, but believes that if he wins another term &the Maliki of the past won,t be the same Maliki in the future.8 If re-elected, Maliki would focus on increasing his own power and would not be cooperative in resolving outstanding issues such as hydrocarbon legislation and the disputed internal boundary (DIBs) areas. Ozcelik said that in the coming weeks he plans to work closely with Iyad Allawi (al-Iraqia Alliance),VP Adel Abd al-Mehdi (ISCI) and the Kurds to initiate discussions on government formation and candidate proposals for various offices. Having a plan prior to the elections would facilitate government formation afterwards, he said. KIRKUK AND TURKOMAN RECONCILIATION -------------- ¶3. (C) On Kirkuk, Ozcelik said Turkey supports determining special status for a period of time as outlined in UNAMI's report on DIBs areas. He said that that would be the most likely &sustainable solution8 and that a deal needed to be reached as soon as possible. Ozcelik told the Ambassador he had discussed the idea of a Turkoman-Kurd reconciliation committee with KRG President Barzani. The committee would be formed after the elections and through the auspices of the UN, he said. Ozcelik said he would chair the Turkoman side and Barzani's chief of staff, Fuad Hussein, would chair the KRG side. CG,S VISIT TO ANKARA -------------- ¶4. (C) Ozcelik briefly discussed the visit of CG Odierno to Ankara next month. He said that the GOT welcomed the visit and the opportunity to discuss further coordination in combating the PKK. Ozcelik lauded the GOT's National Unity Project, which is designed to promote reconciliation with Turkey's Kurdish population, but said progress had been slowed by internal politics and divided popular opinion among Turks on the wisdom of the initiative.. Ozcelik warned that the GOT was concerned about the potential for increased PKK violence in coming weeks, particularly during the Nowruz holiday in March. He suggested that if there was violence, the GOT would be compelled by popular opinion to react with military force. HILL