EU-IRAQ: DUTCH SUGGEST ZEBARI LETTER TO EU TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003010 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/I AND EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2009 TAGS: PREL EAID IZ EUN USEU BRUSSELS SUBJECT: EU-IRAQ: DUTCH SUGGEST ZEBARI LETTER TO EU TO SPUR ENGAGEMENT REF: USNATO 0672 Classified By: USEU POLOFF LEE LITZENBERGER; REASONS 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (U) Action Request: See para three. ¶2. (C) Reftel tracks well with what Dutch MFA Political Director Hugo Siblesz told EUR A/S Jones during the July 13 US-EU Political Directors meeting in Brussels (septel). In an aside to US delegation on the margins of that meeting, Siblesz said he thinks the Interim Iraqi Government (IIG) would be very smart to have Zebari follow up quickly the strong impression he made on EU Foreign Ministers with a letter to the EU that offers specifics of what the IIG wants from the EU within the EU's parameters. Siblesz also recommended ncluding in the letter, perhaps, an invitation for an exploratory EU visit to Baghdad, and/or a high level meeting. The letter should be sent soon, before the European summer holidays diffuse momentum. If a letter came soon, Siblesz said, the Dutch EU presidency could galvanize member states to get into practical and specific actions on the ground in Iraq. ¶3. (C) Comment/Action Request: This is an offer we should encourage the IIG to accept. Request Washington consider passing this request to the IIG with a strong endorsement. The letter could be addressed to Dutch FM Ben Bot or EU High Rep Solana. ¶4. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. McKinley