Cablegate: Turkey Prepares First Step for Cooperation With
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ANKARA 002787
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR NEA/REA:CLAWSON; OES/PCI:ASALZBERG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECIN IZ PREL SENV SY TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY PREPARES FIRST STEP FOR COOPERATION WITH
IRAQ ON THE TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES
REF: A. 2004 ANKARA 5780
B. 2005 ANKARA 248
C. 2005 ANKARA 1230
D. 2005 ANKARA 2389
E. STATE 55035
Sensitive But Unclassified.
1. (SBU) Summary: Turkey's MFA Water expert said water data
received from the Iraqi Water Ministry showed Iraq's
willingness to cooperate on the Tigris and Euphrates, and he
hoped to issue soon an invitation for an Iraqi delegation to
come to Ankara to start talks on cooperation. We recommend
that Washington consider some projects to support this
positive step. End Summary.
2. (SBU) MFA DDG Mithat Rende told us that he was pleased to
finally get a response to Turkey's long-standing request for
water data from Iraq. Although Rende said the response did
not address all the information asked for, he said the
response from the Iraqi Water Ministry showed a certain
willingness on the part of the new government to cooperate.
Rende said the Iraqi response opens the door for Turkey to
accept Iraq's offer, made by Minister Rashid during his
August 2004 Ankara visit (ref a) and again in a March 2005
letter (ref e) to initiate talks on Tigris-Euphrates
cooperation. Rende said he would consult with MFA's Middle
East department and would probably accept the offer and
invite an Iraqi delegation to come to Ankara. Rende noted
the May 19 visit to Ankara of Iraqi PM Jafari, but did not
indicate if an invitation would be ready in time for the
visit. Rende did not say whether Syria would be included in
the invitation, but he did note that Syria and Turkey have
been talking about transboundary water issues recently (ref
b) and have a slightly better record of cooperation.
3. (SBU) We explained our understanding that Minister Rashid
had only recently received the Turkish water data request,
which had been transmitted by diplomatic note to the Iraqi
Foreign Ministry but apparently not forwarded to the Water
Ministry, and therefore the delay should not be interpreted
as intentional. Rende accepted that as correct and pointed
out the Iraq's MFA needed a point person for water issues if
the cooperation sought by Rashid is going to be successful.
4. (SBU) Comment: A Turkish invitation to Rashid to begin
talks on Tigris-Euphrates cooperation may prove a turning
point on the Tigris-Euphrates issue. Rende and others in
Turkey have openly questioned Iraq's desire to cooperate, but
now seem prepared to accept at face value that Rashid is
sincere. Nevertheless, given the bitter history among the
riparians on this issue, we should encourage all sides to
keep their ambitions modest -- at least in the first
meetings. Rende recalled his conversation April in Istanbul
with NEA Science Advisor Lawson (ref d) and reiterated his
desire for the U.S. to propose ideas to build confidence
among the parties. Per refs a and c, now would be a good
time for Washington to discuss proposals that could be
presented to Iraqi and Turkish officials as an expression of
U.S. support for this cooperation and to help address some of
the needs.
Baghdad Minimize Considered.
EDELMAN