STAUNCHING THE FLOW OF SAUDI SUICIDE BOMBERS TO

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 003618 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2015 TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL GCCC TC SUBJECT: STAUNCHING THE FLOW OF SAUDI SUICIDE BOMBERS TO IRAQ/INPUT SOUGHT ON CREATION OF IRAQI VICTIMS ASSISTANCE FUND REF: SECSTATE 149626 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Martin Quinn, REASONS 1.4 (B) AN D (D). 1.(S) On August 21, DCM delivered reftel demarche to MFA Acting Under Secretary Tariq Ahmed Al Haidan, and requested UAEG's input on the proposal to create an Iraqi victims assistance fund. Al Haidan said that it was a good idea, but that the timing was wrong. He noted that UAEG has been assisting in Iraq with training and the building of hospitals and a desalinization plant, and that they will continue to assist the Iraqis. Al Haidan said that this specific program is possible in the future, but not at this time. When pressed, he said that it is unlikely that any GCC leaders would travel to Iraq and participate in a public outreach effort with the current security situation in Iraq. ¶2. (S) According to Al Haidan, the political situation in Iraq is at a juncture and once the constitution is ratified and a new parliament is sitting the security situation will radically improve. At that time, he said, UAEG and GCC member state missions to Iraq will grow significantly, and UAEG leaders will be willing to be in Baghdad and to be photographed assisting the bombing victims. SISON