US embassy cable - 05ANKARA2651

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002651 
 
SIPDIS 
 
BAGHDAD PLEASE PASS TO MNF-I 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2015 
TAGS: MOPS, MASS, PREL, TU, IZ 
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: AIRLIFT FOR WOUNDED IRAQI KURDS 
 
REF: ANKARA 2578 
 
Classified By: A/DCM James R. Moore for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) This is an action request.  Please see para 5. 
 
2. (C) Late May 6, MFA Iraq Department Head Avni Botsali 
informed polmiloff that KDP leader Massoud Barzani had 
requested that Turkey medivac 27 of the injured from the 
Erbil bombing and 10 of their family members for advanced 
medical care in Turkey.  (The GOT had offered such care in 
its message of condolences for the bombings, reftel.) 
Botsali said that MFA was trying to charter an aircraft or, 
failing that, would request the Turkish military provide an 
aircraft.  If there were no other alternatives, Turkey might 
turn to the US for airlift support.  They hoped to be able to 
fly the patients out of Erbil on May 7. Subsequently, Botsali 
informed polmiloff that MFA U/S Tuygan thought it would be 
better if the US provided the airlift. 
 
3. (C) Polmilcouns contacted MFA MidEast DDG Safak Gokturk 
and advised that, as we had learned in previous cases, it was 
unlikely that the US could make a decision on airlift for 
these patients and the necessary logistical arrangements in 
time to move them May 7.  If Turkey had the means, then the 
Embassy would do all it could to facilitate the necessary 
clearances.  Moreover, a 100 pct Turkish operation would 
likely have a more positive impact on Turkey-KDP relations. 
 
4. (C) After consulting within MFA, Gokturk informed 
polmilcouns that KDP foreign relations head Safeen Dizayee 
had insisted that the patients be moved May 7, if not by air, 
then over land.  Gokturk said Turkey would provide the 
airlift.  They had not yet made final arrangements, so MFA 
did not have the information necessary to file a formal 
diplomatic clearance request.  Polmilcouns advised that a 
formal request should be filed with Iraqi MFA as soon as the 
information was known, and suggested that the Turkish LNO to 
CENTCOM should work the details with the staff there. 
Gokturk said MFA would also contact us.  Polmiloff followed 
up with Botsali to reiterate that the Turkish request should 
be submitted as soon as possible. 
 
5. (C) Action request: We request Embassy Baghdad's and 
CENTCOM's assistance in facilitating the clearance request 
for this humanitarian mission once it is delivered to the ITG 
and CENTCOM staff in Tampa. 
 
6. (U) Iraq posts minimize considered. 
EDELMAN