US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3394

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003394 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PGOV, PREL, TU, IZ 
SUBJECT: TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR CEVIKOZ: WE SHARE YOUR GOALS 
FOR IRAQ 
 
REF: A. ANKARA 3388 
     B. BAGHDAD 3201 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C//REL AUS,GB) Turkish Ambassador Unal Cevikoz opened his 
August 11 courtesy call on the Ambassador with a 
reaffirmation of his government's commitment to the 
Coalition's political goals for Iraq.  "We support the 
political process," he said, "We're in the same boat as you." 
 He regretted Turkey's non-participation in the military 
campaign "because of past events that should be forgotten," 
but renewed his government's offer to the Coalition of access 
to Turkey's extensive Sunni contacts so as to advance 
sectarian reconciliation.  The ultimate motivation for 
Turkey's positive contribution in Iraq, he implied, is his 
government's desire to maintain the best possible 
relationship with the United States. 
 
2. (C//REL AUS,GB) Noting the Turkish people's frustration 
with the continued presence of the Kurdistan Workers Party 
(PKK) in northern Iraq, Cevikoz requested the Ambassador's 
support in eliminating the terrorist group's safe haven.  The 
Ambassador said American military forces are currently fully 
engaged in the counter-insurgency campaign; however, he will 
continue to press the Iraqi government and the Kurdish 
Regional Government (KRG) towards action against the PKK. 
 
3. (C//REL AUS,GB) Cevikoz questioned Iraqi interest in 
curbing the PKK.  He complained the Iraqi Transitional 
Government (ITG) had sent a "weak delegation" to early August 
tri-lateral talks in Washington (Note:  Cevikoz's criticism 
is unfair.  The Turks had agreed to a technical-level meeting 
limited to a discussion of extradition procedures.)  He 
alleged that a senior PKK member had recently met with KRG 
President Barzani and another had been present at the opening 
of the Kurdish parliament.  He disputed FM Zebari's recent 
assertion that the bilateral relationship is without serious 
disagreement.  Cevikoz even mistakenly complained of a lack 
of Iraqi responsiveness to Turkey's request to extradite two 
detained Turks suspected of involvement in the 2003 Islamist 
bombing of Britain's Istanbul consulate. (REF B) 
 
4. (C//REL AUS,GB) The Ambassador pledged to incorporate 
Turkey's security concerns into his regular dialogue with ITG 
and KRG officials and to report back to Cevikoz on his 
communications. 
Khalilzad