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