US embassy cable - 05ANKARA7027

S E C R E T ANKARA 007027 
 
SIPDIS 
 
S/I FOR AMBASSADOR JEFFREY 
MOSCOW PLEASE PASS TO S/I ROBERT DEUTSCH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, TU, IZ, US 
SUBJECT: (S) TURKS OFFER DEC 3 MEETING WITH IRAQI SUNNIS 
 
 
Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney, Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
1. (S)  Turkish MFA Middle East Director General Celikkol 
called in PolCouns November 30 to convey an invitation to 
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Khalilzad, Ambassador Jeffrey or 
another appropriate USG official to meet privately this 
Saturday afternoon, December 3, in Istanbul with a group of 
Iraqi Sunni figures.  FM Gul, Celikkol said, supports the 
initiative, will be in Istanbul Saturday as well, and would 
be pleased to meet with Ambassador Khalizad.  The Turks will 
meet with the Iraqi delegation Saturday morning (see 
preliminary list at para 3 below), and have been in regular 
contact with some Sunni groups in Iraq to urge them to 
participate in the political process.  The Sunnis, Celikkol 
said, had asked the Turks to arrange a meeting with U.S. 
authorities, and Minister Gul believes this would be a 
positive step. 
 
2. (S)  The Turkish Embassies in Washington and Baghdad had 
been instructed to deliver this message as well.  Ambassador 
Logoglu had already met with Ambassador Jeffrey in 
Washington, Celikkol said, but the Turkish Ambassador in 
Baghdad had not yet been able to deliver the message to 
Embassy Baghdad.  With respect to logistics, Celikkol said 
the Turks would arrange a venue and logistics in cooperation 
with our Consulate in Istanbul. 
 
3. (S)  Celikkol handed over the following list of Sunni 
participants, which he said Ambassador Jeffrey had requested, 
and which he stressed is not final (titles are translated 
informally from the Turkish).  He pointed to several names as 
significant figures (not all those listed are currently 
resident in Iraq): 
 
--Salah al-Mutlak, Former Spokesperson, National Dialogue 
Council 
 
--Adnan al-Duleimi, Ehli Sunni Group Chairman 
 
--Tarik Hasimi, General Chairman, Iraq Islamic Party 
 
--Dr. Ali Al Mashadani, General Secretary, Political Group 
(and petrol engineer) 
 
--Raad Nair, Businessman, resident in the United Arab Emirates 
 
--Dr. Beshhar El Feyzi, Islamic Spokesman, Heyetul Ulema 
 
--Dr. Hisham Al Drubi, Professor of Medicine, currently 
resident in Great Britain; originally from Baghdad 
 
--Ali Ubeyd, Leader of the Ubeyd Tribe 
 
--Dr. Mustafa Falah, Turkmen, British citizen, resident in 
the United Arab Emirates, Engineer, general manager of a 
major construction firm. 
 
4. (C)  Comment:  The notice is short, but the Turks appear 
genuinely to be trying to act constructively to promote Sunni 
participation in the run-up to the December 15 elections.  It 
is in Ankara's interest that Sunni participation in the 
election process be more robust than in the past, especially 
with an eye to achieving a balanced, representative outcome 
in places such as Kirkuk.  We note that Deputy Coordinator 
for Iraq Deutsch will be in Ankara on Friday; an extension of 
his stay through Saturday would allow for participation, if 
desired.  End comment. 
MCELDOWNEY