Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BAGHDAD4339
2005-10-21 03:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

MIXED LOCAL REACTIONS TO AMRE MUSA VISIT

Tags:  PREL EG IZ 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004339 

SIPDIS

CENTCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2015
TAGS: PREL EG IZ
SUBJECT: MIXED LOCAL REACTIONS TO AMRE MUSA VISIT

REF: A. CAIRO 8016

B. CAIRO 7963

C. BAGHDAD 4186

Classified By: POL COUNS ROBERT S. FORD REASON 1.4 (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004339

SIPDIS

CENTCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2015
TAGS: PREL EG IZ
SUBJECT: MIXED LOCAL REACTIONS TO AMRE MUSA VISIT

REF: A. CAIRO 8016

B. CAIRO 7963

C. BAGHDAD 4186

Classified By: POL COUNS ROBERT S. FORD REASON 1.4 (D)


1. (C) Summary. On October 20, Arab League Secretary General
Amre Musa discussed with GOI officials the possibility of
hosting a national dialogue conference in Baghdad, prior to
the national elections. Jafari staff reaction to the visit,
and that of other Shia contacts, has been measured. Sunni
Arab and Kurdish contacts' reaction to the visit has been
more upbeat so far. End Summary.

SHIA REACTION TO MUSA VISIT
--------------


3. (C) PM staffer Adnan Ali al-Kadhimi told PolOff October 20
that the visit with Prime Minister Jafari had been quite
friendly and seemed sincere. However, General Secretary to
the Cabinet Dr. Khudair Abbas asked PolOff "why is Amre Musa
really here?" When PolOff approached Ahmed Chalabi for a
comment, Chalabi smiled broadly and got into his limousine.
Zuhair Humadi, Senior Advisor to VP Abdel Abd' al-Madhi, told
PolOff on October 20 that Amre Musa was on his "best
behavior." Humadi reported that Musa proposed organizing a
national dialogue conference in Baghdad in mid-November.
Humadi said he urged Musa to open an Arab League office in
Baghdad, but did not get a response. He added that the Arab
League's presence would raise pressure on Arab countries to
be more forthcoming about the level of diplomatic relations
and that more would send Ambassadors to Baghdad.

SUNNI AND KURDISH REACTION
--------------


4. (C) Ahmed Najati Agha, Private Secretary to Vice
President Ghazi al-Yawr, told PolOff that his boss' meeting
with Amre Musa had gone well. Agha told PolOff that he was
impressed by the size and length of the visit. Agha said
that Musa suggested to VP Ghazi al-Yawr that hosting a
national dialogue with dignitaries from the Arab world would
add balance to the political discourse in Iraq. Agha said
that Musa offered to organize such a conference in November
and that al-Yawr was very pleased with the idea. National
Assembly staffer Saifaldin Abdul-Rahman told PolOff that
Musa,s visit with Speaker of the House Hachem al-Hassani had
been brief but positive.


5. (C) MFA Chief of Staff Hariri told PolOff that Foreign
Minister Hoshyar Zebari greeted Amre Musa upon arrival at the
airport. They exchanged a few words and promised to discuss
"projects and possibilities" at an October 21 iftar hosted by
the MFA. Hariri said MFA interaction with Arab League
delegates had been very friendly.

MFA SEVERE LACK OF ORGANIZATION
--------------


6. (C) Two days prior to the visit, MFA Chief of Protocol
Ambassador Abdel Amir Tabikh provided PolOffs with a
jam-packed 3-day itinerary. With the exception of perimeter
security (see ref b),Tabikh insisted that this visit be
completely Iraqi-organized. The first day of the visit was
plagued with logistical problems. Scheduled meetings were
canceled at the last minute because the MFA neglected to
check if politicians were in town. Meeting sites were
changed because MFA assumed that GOI officials would be
meeting in their offices rather than their homes. On two
occasions, the MFA handlers did not know the addresses of
Green Zone sites for meetings, so PolOff had to drive the
lead car in the convoy.


6. (C) The disorganized schedule required several entries in
and out of the IZ, causing delays. In general, the delegation
was 2 hours behind schedule. Special Assistant to UN
Representative Steven Siqueira told PolOff on October 20 that
the delegation failed to show for a meeting with UN Special
Representative Ashraf Qazi. Five hours after the scheduled
meeting, Siqueira said someone called to inform them the
delegation might drop by the next day but could not specify a
time.

--------------
PLANS FOR DAY 2 AND 3
--------------


7. (C) Amre Musa's schedule for October 21 includes
additional meetings in Baghdad with political leaders. On
October 22, he will travel to Erbil and Najaf via rotary wing
transportation arranged by Embassy Baghdad.
Satterfield