US embassy cable - 05ANKARA3405

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Identifier:	05ANKARA3405
Wikileaks:	View 05ANKARA3405 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Ankara
Created:	2005-06-15 13:18:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	PREL MOPS TU IZ Iraq
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003405 
 
SIPDIS 
 
BAGHDAD PLS PASS BASRAH AND HILLAH 
 
BAGHDAD PLEASE PASS TO MNF-I 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, TU, IZ, Iraq 
SUBJECT: TURKEY SEEKS MEDIATION ROLE FOR TALAFAR 
 
Classified By: DCM Nancy E. McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) This is an action request.  Please see para. five. 
 
2. (C) Late on June 10, MFA Head of Department for Iraq H. 
Avni Botsali informed PolMilOff that Turkey was planning to 
bring approximately 20 Sunni and Shia leaders--presumably 
Turkmen--from the troubled northwest Ninewa city of Talafar 
to Turkey.  The plan was that they would travel overland from 
Talafar to the Turkish border, then proceed to Ankara to meet 
FonMin Gul June 14.  Botsali explained that Gul was seeking 
to mediate the apparent Sunni-Shia conflict in the city. 
PolMilOff advised Botsali to provide us with as much advance 
notice of the group's movements as possible so that we could 
coordinate with Embassy Baghdad and MNF-I. 
 
3. (C) Botsali subsequently informed us June 12 that the 
group of leaders would not be coming to Turkey imminently due 
to "communications problems" within the group as well as 
FonMin Gul's busy schedule after June 14.  He added that 
Turkey would seek to carry out this plan in the near future, 
however. 
 
4. (C) COMMENT: Embassy believes that we should support the 
Turks' initiative.  Turkey has long claimed to have influence 
on Iraq's Turkmen population.  We believe this is a good 
opportunity for Turkey to try to demonstrate this influence. 
Gul's involvement also indicates that Turkey is attempting to 
be constructive at the highest levels of the GOT.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
5. (C) Action Request: We will encourage the Turks to 
approach the ITG, Embassy Baghdad, and MNF-I and Task Force 
Freedom (through liaison officers) to coordinate this 
initiative.  Embassy requests USG elements in Iraq support 
the Turks' plan and assist with security if possible and 
appropriate. 
 
6. (U) REOs Mosul and Kirkuk minimize considered. 
EDELMAN