US embassy cable - 04ANKARA2876

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002876 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NOFORN 
 
 
DEPT. FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/NGA; 
BAGHDAD ALSO FOR CJTF-7 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2024 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, MARR, PINR, TU, IZ 
SUBJECT: NORTHERN IRAQ: TURKS PROPOSE ENDING PMF PROVIDED 
ITS MEMBERS GET POSITIONS IN IRAQI SECURITY FORCES 
 
 
REF: A. STATE 73836 
     B. ANKARA 2142 
     C. ANKARA 519 
     D. 03 ANKARA 7526 
     E. 03 ANKARA 6804 
 
 
(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch.  Reasons 1.4 b and d. 
Action Request at para 4. 
 
 
1. (S/NF) On May 21, Turkish MFA Deputy Director General for 
Middle East Affairs Safak Gokturk passed PolMilCouns a 
non-paper (text at para 2) announcing Turkey's decision to 
end the Turkish-led Peace Monitoring Force (PMF) in northern 
Iraq, provided arrangements are made for the PMF's Iraqi 
members to join the new Iraqi defense and security 
structures.  Gokturk said the paper had been coordinated 
interagency and represented a considered GOT response to Ref 
A demarche. Embassy believes every effort should be made to 
bring the PMF to closure before June 30. 
 
 
2. (S/REL TU)  Begin text of Turkish non-paper: 
 
 
Peace Monitoring Force 
 
 
-- We intend to announce our decision to end the PMF 
arrangement before June 30, 2004. 
 
 
-- The actual phasing out of this force, however, may take a 
longer period. 
 
 
-- The PMF was set up as part of the Ankara Process, jointly 
led by Turkey, the United States and the United Kingdom. 
 
 
-- Therefore, the ending of this mission may well be 
announced through a joint statement of these three countries. 
 
 
-- A sizable number of Iraqi citizens (i.e., Turkomans and 
Assyrians) will be relinquished of their peace monitoring 
duties as a result of this decision. 
 
 
-- Arrangements for them to join the new Iraqi defense and 
security structures should now be initiated. 
 
 
-- They should remain only under Iraqi national command, and 
should not be utilized in any Coalition-led operations in 
Iraq. 
 
 
-- Assigning them to the protection of Iraqi installations of 
public or economic significance, such as refineries and 
pipelines, would be a useful option. 
 
 
-- The eventual announcement on the ending of the PMF will 
also depend on the progress made in this respect. 
 
 
-- We request the United States to take steps necessary to 
this end. 
End text of non-paper. 
 
 
3. (S/NF) PolMilCouns explained the thinking behind the 
future role of coalition forces in Iraq and that it might not 
be practical to insist that former PMF soldiers not be used 
in coalition-led operations or serve under coalition command. 
 He stressed that the US would expect the GOT to respect the 
decisions of the Iraqi government in this regard.  Gokturk 
took note of the point and asked that the US and Turkey have 
discussion in the coming weeks on the details of relevant 
arrangements.  Gokturk reiterated that Turkey's willingness 
to announce an end to the PMF will be linked to progress on 
identifying suitable employment for the approximately 350 
Iraqis now serving in the PMF.  He said that as the PMF was 
the creation of Turkey, the US and the UK, the three 
governments should jointly announce the decision to disband 
the PMF.  The Turks would like to have USG views on the way 
forward before approaching HMG. 
 
 
4. ACTION REQUEST:  We request instructions responding to the 
Turkish non-paper, including views on future use of current 
Iraqi PMF members. 
 
 
5. (U) Baghdad Minimize Considered. 
EDELMAN