Cablegate: Incirlik Hub Agreement: Another Step Forward

VZCZCXRO6720
OO RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHAK #2114 3501730
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151730Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8230
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 1359
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA PRIORITY 3455
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 5118
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY

UNCLAS ANKARA 002114

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PARM MARR TU IZ
SUBJECT: INCIRLIK HUB AGREEMENT: ANOTHER STEP FORWARD
TOWARD EXTENSION

REF: A. STATE 126696
B. BAGHDAD 3891

1. (SBU) The Iraqi Ambassador in Turkey delivered ref a
request to the Turkish Foreign Ministry during the morning
hours of December 15. MFA officials told us that the GOI
note, together with the U.S. request to extend the validity
of agreements regarding support to OIF through Turkey, was
sent immediately to the Foreign Minister. The MFA explained
that the next step is for a formal letter from Foreign
Minister Babacan to be sent to the Prime Minister, requesting
a Council of Ministers Decree extending the validity of the
agreements. According to the MFA, the formal letter had been
drafted in anticipation of receiving the Iraqi request, and
should move forward very quickly. MFA officials would not
speculate as to when the Council of Ministers Decree would be
complete, but expressed confidence that the agreements
would/would be extended before the end of the year.

2. (SBU) During an evening meeting on December 15, the
Ambassador raised the Incirlik Cargo Hub Agreement with MFA
Undersecretary Ertegrul Apakan and asked that the request for
extension be given urgent attention. Apakan recognized the
importance of the support for Iraq's transformation provided
through Turkey and said that the MFA was very satisfied with
the text of the Iraqi note. This issue has the attention of
the highest levels of the Turkish government. We will
continue to ensure it remains a top priority.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey

Jeffrey

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