IRAQI EMBASSY IN COLOMBO

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001252 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2013 TAGS: PREL CE EUN SUBJECT: IRAQI EMBASSY IN COLOMBO REF: A. (A) COLOMBO 1238 ¶B. (B) COLOMBO 1214 ¶C. (C) 7/15 SA/INS E-MAIL Classified By: CHARGE DON CAMP; REASONS 1.5 B, D. ¶1. (C) Charge and newly-arrived DCM met Foreign Secretary Nihal Rodrigo july 17. Rodrigo quickly focused on SIPDIS issue MFA had raised before (reftels) of status of Iraqi Embassy in Colombo. He had heard from Sri Lankan Ambassador in Baghdad that Iraqi Ambassador in Colombo was part of the problem, and that Iraqi Embassy operations here would be suspended. He said he hoped that, pending reopening, there could either be a protective power here to represent Iraqi interests, or that the Iraqi Ambassador in Delhi would be accredited to Colombo as well. He again cited the significant economic interest the GSL has in its tea trade with Iraq (at the pre-war high point, Iraq took 61 percent of Sri Lanka,s tea exports). ¶2. (C) Charge said we were inquiring of Washington about the longer-term status of the Iraqi mission in Colombo and would get back to him on that. He assured Rodrigo that we had no objection to issuance of visas to the two Iraqi diplomats in New Delhi seeking entry to Colombo ¶3. (C) Request Department clarify status of Iraqi Embassy closure/suspension here, and comment, if possible, on FonSec,s alternative options. CAMP