US embassy cable - 05ANKARA1004

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001004 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, TU, IZ 
SUBJECT: ANKARA PUK AND KDP REPS DISCUSS IRAQ ELECTION 
RESULTS WITH LOCAL DIPLOMATS 
 
 
Classified By: Political Military Counselor Timothy A. Betts. Reasons 1 
.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (U)  On Feb. 23 PolMilOffs attended a briefing for local 
diplomats by Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Ankara 
representative Bahros Galali and Kurdistan Democratic Party 
(KDP) representative Omer Merani on the results of the Iraq 
elections and latest developments in Iraq.  European and 
Chinese diplomats also attended. 
 
2.  (C)  Galali provided statistical data on the national and 
northern governorate election results.  He emphasized that 
the Kurds think of themselves as Iraqis and that they seek a 
strong, democratic, secular government in Iraq.  Galali added 
that the Kurds have a good relationship with all Iraqi 
parties that participated in the election.  He said that 
Sunni Arabs did not participate adequately but they need to 
be involved in the Iraqi government and in drafting the 
constitution.  He said that both GOT and Turkmen officials 
have realized that the Turkmen would have done better in the 
elections had they joined with the main Kurdish coalition 
instead of running separately.  The Kurds stand ready to work 
with the Turkmen, Galali emphasized. 
 
3.  (C)  On Talabani and Barzani's vision of federalism, 
Galali stated that Iraq's natural resources should be shared 
among all the regions.  The Kurds will seek a greater share 
of the state budget, however (he said the current level was 
17%).  While it is correct to call Kirkuk an Iraqi city 
rather than a Kurdish city, Galali added, it rightly belongs 
in the KRG-administered region. 
 
4.  (C)  In a side conversation with PolMilOff, Galali 
explained that he had specifically called together European 
diplomats in order to seek EU support for the future of Iraq. 
 
5.  (U)  Iraq posts minimize considered. 
EDELMAN