US embassy cable - 02ANKARA7980

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007980 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR NEA CROCKER, NEA/NGA AND EUR/SE; 
OSD FOR HRHODE; 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; 
DAMASCUS FOR WALKER 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2012 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, TU, IZ, UNSC 
SUBJECT: IRAQI OPPOSITION: ENSURING TURKMEN FRONT INCLUSION 
IN OPPOSITION ACTIVITIES AND USG STATEMENTS TO GET TURKISH 
SUPPORT FOR REGIME CHANGE 
 
 (U) Classified by Ambassador W. Robert Pearson.  Reasons: 
1.5 (B and D). 
 
 
1. (U) The November 6 Washington File reported the Department 
spokesman referring to the planned November 22 Iraqi 
opposition conference, listing only the six organizations on 
the conference steering committee as those the USG had been 
working with on the future of Iraq.  He said, "We've been 
working with six different opposition groups on the issue of 
the future of Iraq.  And they've been working, in particular, 
with each other attempting to organize conferences and make 
progress towards examining the future of Iraq from a 
constitutional and democratic basis." 
 
 
2. (C) This statement did not mention, perhaps for very 
understandable reasons, that the Department has been working 
with well over a dozen opposition goups on the future of 
Iraq.  Critically for Ankara, however, failure to publicly 
mention the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) as one of the groups we 
are working with on the future of Iraq will hurt our efforts 
to garner Turkish support for opposition activities and 
regime change in Iraq.  In addition, after the August 9th 
meeting of the six groups on the steering committee, the 
Department made a commitment to Turkey that from that time 
forward, all USG-supported Iraqi opposition activities would 
include the ITF.  The Turks are certain to raise this issue 
with us. 
 
 
3. (C) As we think is well understood, we would like to 
ensure the participation of the Iraqi Turkmen Front in all 
opposition activities and note the ITF's invovement in all 
public statements.  As appropriate, we request a public 
disclosure of the invitation for the Turkmen to participate 
November 22, and the fact that we would be glad to have them 
participate. 
PEARSON