US embassy cable - 05ANKARA6096

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006096 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2015 
TAGS: ETRD, PREL, PTER, IZ, TU, Iraq 
SUBJECT: IRAQ/KURDS: VISIT OF IRAQI PLANNING MINISTER 
BARHAM SALIH TO TURKEY 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR JANICE WEINER FOR REASONS 1.4 (b,d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1.  (C/Rel MCF-I) During a late September visit to Turkey, 
Iraqi Planning Minister Barham Salih proposed opening a 
second Turkey-Iraq border crossing about five kilometers west 
of the Habur Gate.  According to the MFA, he noted with 
concern increasing Iranian influence in Iraq and was critical 
of Syria for reportedly allowing some 2,500 extremists to 
cross into Iraq.  He labeled the PKK a danger to Iraqi Kurds 
that must be disbanded in northern Iraq.  The GOT will 
provide political training to 28 KDP members in October, but 
is growing increasingly annoyed at Barzani's behavior and 
recent remarks.  End Summary. 
 
Second Gate Proposed 
-------------------- 
 
2.  (C/Rel MCF-I) In the context of proposals to dramatically 
increase Turkey-Iraq trade, Salih proposed the opening of a 
second gate approximately five kilometers west of the current 
Habur Gate crossing into Iraq.  The new crossing would 
encompass existing road and rail facilities in the area.  In 
read-outs on October 6 and 7, MFA Director General for Middle 
East and South Asia Oguz Celikkol and MFA Iraq department 
head Avni Botsali told Emboffs the GOT promised to consider 
the new crossing but remained deeply skeptical.  Opening a 
second crossing only a short distance from Habur would do 
nothing to relieve congestion at Habur, they said.  Celikkol 
said the Turkish side offered to consider the proposed 
location if Iraq would also consider additional crossing 
points, including the one the Turks have been proposing for 
some time at Ovakoy, closer to the tri-border area. 
(Comment.  For the GOT, the proposed Ovakoy crossing has the 
advantage of leading into a far narrower stretch of 
KDP-controlled territory.  End comment).  Salih was 
reportedly non-committal, saying he would consult with 
Baghdad. 
 
Salih Sensitive to Iranian Influence, Critical of Syria 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
3.  (C/Rel MCF-I) According to Botsali, Salih expressed 
concerns about growing Iranian influence in Iraq.  He was 
"aggressively critical" of Syria and claimed that, according 
to Saudi intelligence provided to the ITG, up to 2,500 
extremists had entered Iraq from Syria.  In Salih's view, 
Damascus cannot be unaware of this.  Moreover, Syria still 
harbors wanted Iraqi Baathist officials, despite having 
turned over some to the ITG. 
 
PKK Dangerous 
------------- 
 
4.  (C/Rel MCF-I) Botsali reported Salih was critical of the 
PKK as well, describing the terrorist group as a threat to 
the Iraq Kurdish leadership.  Salih reportedly said a way 
must be found to disband the PKK in northern Iraq. 
 
GOT Training for Iraqi Kurds, and Irritation with Barzani 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
5.  (C/Rel MCF-I)  Celikkol and Botsali mentioned the GOT was 
preparing a political training course for 28 KDP-affiliated 
Iraqi Kurds for the second half of October.  Celikkol said 
the GOT continues to be in contact with the KDP but is 
growing increasingly annoyed with comments made by Barzani 
and his behavior over the past months. He promised to provide 
us a list of Barzani's latest negative statements. 
MCELDOWNEY