GENERAL AMMASH AND TURKISH MINISTER SEATED; TWO MEN DRINKING TOAST; GENERAL AMMASH ARRIVING AND LEAVING PREMIER'S OFFICE.




Initials KM/VS/BOB/MH



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Background: A DELEGATION LED BY IRAQI INTERIOR MINISTER GENERAL SALEH MADI AMMASH ARRIVED IN ANKARA ON TUESDAY (3 FEBRUARY) FOR TALKS WITH TURKISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. GENERAL AMMASH WAS CARRYING A VERBAL MESSAGE FROM IRAQ PRESIDENT AHMED HASSAN BAKR TO TURKISH PRESIDENT CEVDET SUNAY.

ONE OF THE TOPICS COVERED IN THE DISCUSSIONS WAS THE FRONTIER RIVER DISPUTE BETWEEN IRAQ AND IRAN -- BOTH OF WHICH BORDER ON TURKEY.

THE DISPUTE, OVER THE SHATT-AL-ARAB RIVER WHICH FORMS THE SOUTHERN BORDER BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, BLEW UP LAST APRIL WHEN IRAN SCRAPPED A 1937 AGREEMENT FIXING THE FRONTIER ON THE IRANIAN SIDE OF THE RIVER. THE IRANIANS NOW CLAIM THE BORDER SHOULD RUN DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE WATERWAY.

CONFUSION AROSE OVER TURKISH MEDIATION IN THE DISPUTE FOLLOWING GENERAL AMMASH'S VISIT. TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER CAGLAYANGIL TOLD NEWSMEN QUESTIONING HIM ABOUT THE AMMASH VISIT THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE WRONG IF THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IRAQ HAD ASKED TURKEY TO MEDIATE IN THE DISAGREEMENT.

BUT ON FRIDAY (6 FEBRUARY) THE TURKISH MINISTRY SECRETARY GENERAL ORHAN ERALP SAID THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION AT THE MOMENT OF TURKISH MEDIATION.