MFA ZEBARI DISCUSSES SYRIA, IRAQ CONFERENCE, AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002452

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2025
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID PINS SY LE EU IZ UN
SUBJECT: MFA ZEBARI DISCUSSES SYRIA, IRAQ CONFERENCE, AND
THE U.S. ROLE IN THE CONSTITUTION PROCESS

REF: A. SECSTATE 105225

B. BAGHDAD 2427

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David M. Satterfield for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION CABLE. SEE PARAGRAPH 10.

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SYRIAN DEMARCHE POINTS DELIVERED
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2. (C) On June 8, DCM conveyed REFTEL A demarche points
regarding Syrian participation at EU - U.S. Brussels
Conference to Minister of Foreign Affairs Zebari. Zebari
said the ITG was in agreement with the U.S. proposed strategy
on how to manage Syria and had already laid the necessary
groundwork in a recent meeting with the EU. Zebari also
offered that he was not worried about Syrian misbehavior at
the upcoming Brussels Conference and predicted Syria would
not cause any problems.

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SYRIA WILL CONTINUE TO PRESENT CHALLENGES
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3. (C) Discussing recent events in Syria, Zebari opined that
even the governmental changes announced at the recently held
Ba'ath Party Congress would have little or no impact on
Syria's approach to international affairs. They are set in
their ways and will not open their system to change said
Zebari. Zebari said the Syrians approached the ITG a number
of times already, but the Iraqis have rejected these
overtures because the Syrians will give "very, very little"
in return for our cooperation.


4. (C) DCM emphasized that Iraq has a great deal of leverage
with Syria at the moment because of its internal problems and
that this leverage should be used to help force the release
of Iraqi assets held in Syria and to demand that Syria close
its border with Iraq to insurgents. Zebari concurred with
DCM's sense that it would be impossible to close the borders
without Syrian cooperation.

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ZEBARI SEES NEED FOR A MORE ACTIVE U.S. ROLE
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5. (C) Asked to clarify his recent statements in Washington
regarding the need for more U.S. engagement in Iraqi
governmental affairs, Zebari stated that the U.S. had swung
between two extremes during the last two years and the next
few months called for a more involved posture by he U.S. The
U.S. must engage the political leadership in a pro-active
manner during the run up to the August 15 constitution
drafting deadline said Zebari or risk having the process
delayed and the insurgency take control. "UNSCR 1546
authorizes the U.S. to take this role," said Zebari, "and we
ask for your help during this critical period."


6. (C) DCM emphasized that the U.S. is already highly engaged
with Iraq's political leadership on this vital issue and that
the U.S. will continue to do all it can to help the ITG meet
the August 15 drafting deadline.

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INTERNAL GOVERNMENT RIFT
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7. (C) Discussing the governance issues detailed in REF B,
Zebari stated that Prime Minister Jafari was not abiding by
the formal agreement reached between the Kurds and List 169
during the ITG's formation and that he hoped that the matter
could be resolved constructively. Zebari suggested that
Talabani's memorandum addressing the issue should not be
presented to Jafari but only used to guide the discussion
because it would only cause increased resistance to a
settlement by Jafari. There are many important issues this
government must address stated Zebari and this issue is
standing in the way of helping the Iraqi people with their
problems.

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JUNE 21 - 22 BRUSSELS CONFERENCE PREPARATIONS
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8. (C) DCM stressed the need to speak with a unified voice at
the Brussels Conference and to have a persuasive and
well-structured set of presentations that would portray Iraq
in the most favorable light possible. The DCM also
encouraged Zebari to ensure all matters were well coordinated
throughout the government, especially with the PM's office.
Zebari agreed with the DCM and offered that he had just
hosted a planning meeting with all high-level Iraqi
participants going to the Conference including the MOD, MOI,
MOF, MOJ, MOPDC, MOT, and the Central Bank's President.
Zebari stressed that he was very comfortable with how their
preparations were coming and that the same group would meet
June 13 to again review the status of their progress.


9. (C) The MFA will serve as the lead agency for planning and
coordination for the Conference indicated Zebari and revealed
that he had also formed a working-level group at the Deputy
Minister level to handle the day-to-day planning and
preparations for the Conference. Zebari emphasized that
Iraq's delegation would be representative of all Iraqis and
would include people from both inside and outside the
government including representatives from the IIP, KRG and
politicians such as Adnan Pacachi.

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IRAQI UN ARREARAGES
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10. (C) Zebari indicated that Iraq owes the United Nations
approximately $20 million in unpaid dues and requested our
assistance in determining whether this debt could be paid
from Iraq's escrow account. BEGIN ACTION REQUET: We would
appreciate Department and USUN guidance on response to Zebari
regarding legality of Iraqi use of escrow funds to pay its
U.N. arrearages. END ACTION REQUEST.


11. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO KIRKUK,
minimize considered.
Jeffrey