US embassy cable - 05ANKARA982

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000982 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2025 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, TU, IZ 
SUBJECT: ANKARA PUK REP SAYS TALABANI STRONGLY OPPOSES 
JA'AFARI FOR PM 
 
 
Classified By: Counselor for Political-Military Affairs Timothy A. Bett 
s for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Ankara PUK Representative Bahros Galali--who has 
proven to be well-connected to the PUK leadership--pulled 
PolMilOff aside after a Feb. 23 briefing Galali provided to 
local diplomats on the Iraqi elections (reported septel).  He 
expressed party leader Jalal Talabani's deep concern that the 
United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) has chosen Ibrahim Ja'afari as 
its candidate for Prime Minister.  Galali said that Talabani 
strongly opposes Ja'afari and believes that he is controlled 
by Iran. 
 
2. (C) Galali reported that Talabani is now working along two 
tracks: to persuade UIA to put up another candidate as well 
as to seek to override the UIA's choice and install Allawi as 
PM.  Galali asked for the U.S.'s support for these 
initiatives, and specifically asked for our views on Allawi 
continuing as PM.  PolMilOff responded that this is an issue 
for Iraqis to resolve. 
 
3. (C) Galali will accompany the GOT's Special Envoy for 
Iraq, Amb. Osman Koruturk, to Dokan on Feb. 24 for a meeting 
with Talabani.  We will get a readout from both Galali and 
the Turks upon their return. 
 
4. (U) Iraq posts minimize considered. 
EDELMAN