Viewing cable 05ANKARA6400, TURKS REQUEST U.S. TAKE TOUGH LINE WITH BARZANI ON
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006400
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2010
TAGS: PREL PTER KPAO TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKS REQUEST U.S. TAKE TOUGH LINE WITH BARZANI ON
PKK, KIRKUK
Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b), (d).
¶1. (C/NF) Summary: MFA requests that U.S. principals take a
tough line with KRG President Masoud Barzani on the PKK and
Kurdish expansionism, especially in Kirkuk but also in
Ninewah. Additionally, the Turks hope we will publicize that
this occurred. End summary.
¶2. (C/NF) MFA Director General for the Middle East Oguz
Celikkol called in PolMilCouns Oct. 24 to request that senior
U.S. leaders forcefully address the PKK and Kurdish
expansionism -- particularly in Kirkuk but also in Ninewah --
with visiting KRG President Barzani. Celikkol emphasized
that he was making this request on instructions from the
Minister. Additionally, he requested that we not only take a
tough line with Barzani, but brief it to the press after the
fact.
¶3. (C/NF) Celikkol handed us a four-page document (in
Turkish) of "objectionable and inflammatory" statements
Barzani has reportedly made about Turkey over the past year.
He noted that the document had only been compiled for GOT
internal use, but in light of Barzani's impending meetings
with the President and other senior U.S. officials in
Washington he wanted us to have it. (NOTE: We are working on
a translation and will forward it to EUR/SE. END NOTE.)
¶4. (C/NF) On Kurdish expansionism, Celikkol averred that
Barzani's actions -- in particular in Kirkuk and Mosul -- are
being interpreted both inside Iraq and among its neighbors as
steps against the territorial integrity of Iraq and toward
Kurdish separatism. Celikkol said that Assyrian leaders in
Iraq have complained to the Turks about Kurdish pressure to
give up their homes on the plains of Ninewah in favor of
Kurds moving into the area. Turkey is concerned that Barzani
is seeking to include large chunks of Ninewah province -- as
well as Kirkuk -- under Kurdish control. He hoped the United
States would deliver a particularly strong message on these
issues.
¶5. (C/NF) Citing that the U.S. and Turkey share the goal of a
united Iraq -- and also citing improved U.S.-Turkey
cooperation on Iraq issues -- Celikkol emphasized not only
the urgency of delivering a tough message to Barzani but also
making this known publicly. He asserted that doing so would
send a strong message to the Turkish people that the U.S.
supports Turkey and the territorial integrity of Iraq.
¶6. (C/NF) PolMilCouns responded that we would report Turkey's
request to Washington, adding that preservation of Iraq's
territorial integrity and the need to take measures against
the PKK were USG policies and would likely be raised with
Barzani.
¶7. (C/NF) COMMENT: Given widespread suspicion in Turkey about
Kurdish ambitions for an independent state, GOT nervousness
about the Barzani visit is understandable. Many Turks will
see Barzani's reception at the White House as evidence of USG
support for these ambitions. Therefore, even before our
meeting with Celikkol, Embassy PAO requested Oct. 24 that the
R Bureau's Rapid Response Unit arrange a briefing for the
Washington-based Turkish press in Washington on the Barzani
visit as soon as possible after the event. END COMMENT.
MCELDOWNEY