US embassy cable - 05ANKARA6400

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006400 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2010 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, KPAO, TU, IZ, Iraq 
SUBJECT: TURKS REQUEST U.S. TAKE TOUGH LINE WITH BARZANI ON 
PKK, KIRKUK 
 
Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b), (d). 
 
1. (C/NF) Summary: MFA requests that U.S. principals take a 
tough line with KRG President Masoud Barzani on the PKK and 
Kurdish expansionism, especially in Kirkuk but also in 
Ninewah.  Additionally, the Turks hope we will publicize that 
this occurred.  End summary. 
 
2. (C/NF) MFA Director General for the Middle East Oguz 
Celikkol called in PolMilCouns Oct. 24 to request that senior 
U.S. leaders forcefully address the PKK and Kurdish 
expansionism -- particularly in Kirkuk but also in Ninewah -- 
with visiting KRG President Barzani.  Celikkol emphasized 
that he was making this request on instructions from the 
Minister.  Additionally, he requested that we not only take a 
tough line with Barzani, but brief it to the press after the 
fact. 
 
3. (C/NF) Celikkol handed us a four-page document (in 
Turkish) of "objectionable and inflammatory" statements 
Barzani has reportedly made about Turkey over the past year. 
He noted that the document had only been compiled for GOT 
internal use, but in light of Barzani's impending meetings 
with the President and other senior U.S. officials in 
Washington he wanted us to have it.  (NOTE: We are working on 
a translation and will forward it to EUR/SE.  END NOTE.) 
 
4. (C/NF) On Kurdish expansionism, Celikkol averred that 
Barzani's actions -- in particular in Kirkuk and Mosul -- are 
being interpreted both inside Iraq and among its neighbors as 
steps against the territorial integrity of Iraq and toward 
Kurdish separatism.  Celikkol said that Assyrian leaders in 
Iraq have complained to the Turks about Kurdish pressure to 
give up their homes on the plains of Ninewah in favor of 
Kurds moving into the area.  Turkey is concerned that Barzani 
is seeking to include large chunks of Ninewah province -- as 
well as Kirkuk -- under Kurdish control.  He hoped the United 
States would deliver a particularly strong message on these 
issues. 
 
5. (C/NF) Citing that the U.S. and Turkey share the goal of a 
united Iraq -- and also citing improved U.S.-Turkey 
cooperation on Iraq issues -- Celikkol emphasized not only 
the urgency of delivering a tough message to Barzani but also 
making this known publicly.  He asserted that doing so would 
send a strong message to the Turkish people that the U.S. 
supports Turkey and the territorial integrity of Iraq. 
 
6. (C/NF) PolMilCouns responded that we would report Turkey's 
request to Washington, adding that preservation of Iraq's 
territorial integrity and the need to take measures against 
the PKK were USG policies and would likely be raised with 
Barzani. 
 
7. (C/NF) COMMENT: Given widespread suspicion in Turkey about 
Kurdish ambitions for an independent state, GOT nervousness 
about the Barzani visit is understandable.  Many Turks will 
see Barzani's reception at the White House as evidence of USG 
support for these ambitions.  Therefore, even before our 
meeting with Celikkol, Embassy PAO requested Oct. 24 that the 
R Bureau's Rapid Response Unit arrange a briefing for the 
Washington-based Turkish press in Washington on the Barzani 
visit as soon as possible after the event.  END COMMENT. 
MCELDOWNEY