US embassy cable - 04ANKARA5142

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005142 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2009 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, ENRG, TU, IZ 
SUBJECT: IRAQI KURDISH LEADERS CHECK IN WITH TURKS, 
TALABANI OFFERS ALTERNATIVE ROUTE FOR TURKISH TRUCKERS 
 
Classified By: Acting PolMilCouns Margaret H. Nardi for reasons 1.4 (b) 
 and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: PUK leader Jalal Talabani and KDP official 
Nechirvan Barzani each met separately Sept. 9 with FonMin 
Abdullah Gul and other MFA officials during brief visits to 
Ankara.  MFA told us that both were pessimistic that national 
elections can be held in Iraq by next January given the 
security situation there, and Barzani predicted that the 
census planned for October would be pushed to November. 
Talabani offered security for Turkish truckers if they stay 
in Kurdish-controlled areas, offered to meet the leader of 
ITF, and told the Turks that the IIG would sign off on an oil 
drilling deal with Turkey soon.  End summary. 
 
2. (C) Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal 
Talabani made a brief visit to Ankara Sept. 7 on his way to a 
European tour.  Coincidentally, Kurdistan Democratic Party 
(KDP) official Nechirvan Barzani also stopped here on the 
same day on his way home from Europe.  Both met separately 
with FonMin Gul and other MFA officials.  MFA Chief of 
Section for the Middle East Hasan Sekizkok gave polmiloff a 
readout on Sept. 10.  Sekizkok reported that both Talabani 
and Barzani believe that the security situation in Iraq would 
not stabilize in time for January elections, and they 
predicted the elections would be pushed back. 
 
3. (C) KDP's Barzani added that he believes that the census 
planned for October will be pushed back until November. 
(Note: The census is particularly sensitive for the Turks, 
who accuse Iraqi Kurds of seeking to change the balance of 
population in Kirkuk so that they can control this key city. 
End note.)  Gul told both Talabani and Barzani that Turkey 
was not seeking a "Kirkuk problem," and urged Iraq's Kurds 
and Turkmen to work together.  For his part, Talabani told 
Gul that he would meet the leader of the Iraqi Turkmen Front. 
 (Note: We believe he has said this before, but to our 
knowledge such a meeting has not taken place.  End note.) 
 
4. (C) Talabani told Gul that the PUK was prepared to provide 
security for Turkish truckers from the border all the way to 
Baghdad, provided the drivers followed the road through 
Sulemaniye and Kirkuk instead of through Mosul.  Sekizkok 
said that Gul appreciated the offer, but it was not clear if 
Turkish drivers would want to take this route (which would 
take drivers well north and east of the most direct route 
into the Iraqi heartland).  Sekizkok added that this would be 
a commercial decision for Turkish drivers and trucking 
companies. 
 
5. (C) Sekizkok told us that Talabani and Gul also discussed 
the oil field near Tak-Tak.  Talabani reported that the 
Turkish oil company, TPAO, is near to reaching an agreement 
with the Iraqis on drilling rights, and that soon the IIG 
Minister for Oil would sign off on the deal.  We understand 
this deal had been held up due to uncertainty over whether a 
Kurdish regional official or IIG official would sign the 
deal.  (Comment: We think it is good news that both sides 
here took the high road and recognized IIG sovereignty over 
this oil.  End comment.) 
 
6. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
EDELMAN