US embassy cable - 05ANKARA2892

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002892 
 
SIPDIS 
 
BAGHDAD PLEASE ALSO PASS TO MNF-I 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, ETRD, MOPS, EAID, TU, IZ, US 
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: TIME TO RESTART TRILATERAL 
U.S.-IRAQ-TURKEY TALKS 
 
REF: A. ANKARA 242 
 
     B. ANKARA 2314 
     C. 04 ANKARA 6675 
     D. STATE 85792 
     E. ANKARA 2786 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Eric S. Edelman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) This is an action request--please see para. 8. 
 
2. (C) The United States engaged in trilateral talks with the 
Turkish and Iraqi governments on trucker security on Nov. 30, 
2004 and on the PKK on Jan. 11 of this year.  At both sets of 
talks--which were USG initiatives--all three sides agreed to 
meet after the formation of the ITG.  Indeed, the Department 
recently instructed us (ref d) to pursue both trucker 
security and PKK trilateral talks with the GOT. 
 
3. (C) The Iraqi DCM in Ankara told emboffs May 16 that Iraq 
stands ready to hold trucker security and PKK talks 
"anytime."  And both we and the ITG face a credibility issue 
if we do not follow through on what we told the GOT we would 
do.  We would not want such a gap to be a theme when PM 
Erdogan meets President Bush next month, especially given the 
President's previous assurances to Erdogan that Turkey will 
not face a terrorist threat from Iraq in the future. 
 
From Trucker Security to Transportation Policy 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
4. (C) Our informal soundings with the Turks and the Iraqi 
Embassy suggest that we should expand the trucker security 
talks to cover Turkey-Iraq transportation issues writ large. 
This could include an open discussion of additional border 
gates, maximizing bridge flow, aviation, etc.  This would 
serve USG interests by encouraging the Turks and Iraqis to 
cover these sometimes contentious issues with an eye toward 
resolution; we could play a support/mediation role if 
necessary.  (NOTE: While the rate of Turkish drivers killed 
by insurgents has been significantly reduced from 2004, 
trucker security would still remain an important agenda item. 
 END NOTE.) 
 
PKK Talks--Technical Only 
------------------------- 
 
5. (C) Per ref a, at the Jan. 11 PKK talks the three sides 
agreed to hold a technical experts meeting to discuss the 
current state of legal assistance agreements between Iraq and 
Turkey and outline extradition procedures to be used in the 
event PKK terrorists are detained by Iraqi authorities.  Such 
a meeting would not necessarily require senior U.S. 
participation (though we would need a delegation which 
includes relevant legal expertise from Washington), and it 
would also serve to increase contacts and confidence between 
relevant Turkish and Iraqi officials. 
 
6. (C) GOT officials have not pushed us hard to resume these 
talks, though likely for different reasons.  Turkish trucker 
casualties in Iraq are down, and the Turks likely believe we 
have done all we can/will do to protect their citizens in 
Iraq.  As for the PKK talks, the Turks are likely cynical 
given that we have not taken action against this terrorist 
organization, even as the Turks face an apparent PKK spring 
offensive (see ref b). 
 
7. (C) Yet we should not allow these issues to drift.  If we 
do, we hand the Turks additional opportunities to accuse 
us--and the Iraqis--of being indifferent to Turkish interests 
in Iraq (trucker security/transportation) and at home (PKK), 
putting our bilateral cooperation on Iraq (ground line of 
communication, tanker aircraft at Incirlik, and now the new 
logistics hub) at risk.  We and the Iraqis must demonstrate 
our seriousness.  At the same time, both these talks give the 
Iraqis an opportunity to engage this difficult--yet 
important--neighbor, the only democracy on Iraq's borders. 
 
Action Request: Instructions, Please 
------------------------------------ 
 
8. (C) Embassy requests that Washington instruct Embassies 
Baghdad and Ankara to approach our respective governments to 
discuss near dates, venues (presumably Ankara or Washington), 
and notional agenda items for trucker security/transportation 
talks and PKK talks.  Please bear in mind that these are 
separate talks and would require different participants from 
all three sides.  The PKK talks should only focus on issues 
for legal experts: all three sides have already agreed on the 
political necessity to combat the PKK.  MNF-I participation 
in the trucker security talks and broader PKK talks beyond 
the legal experts meeting will be essential. 
 
9. (U) Iraq posts minimize considered. 
EDELMAN