SHAHRISTANI AND ZEBARI ON ARAB LEAGUE ENGAGEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004465

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2015
TAGS: PREL EG IZ
SUBJECT: SHAHRISTANI AND ZEBARI ON ARAB LEAGUE ENGAGEMENT

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David M. Satterfield for reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d).


1. (C) In an October 30 meeting with the Charge, First Deputy
TNA Speaker Husayn al-Shahristani reflected on Amre Moussa's
recent visit to Iraq. Shahristani indicated that both ITG
officials in Baghdad and Ayatollah Sistani in Najaf pressed
the SYG to establish Arab League representation in Iraq as a
demonstration of support for the Iraqi people. Shahristani
added that, even though the SYG claimed to accept the new
Iraq, he continued to insist on the immediate withdrawal of
coalition forces, the abandonment of de-Ba'athification, and
the reinstatement of the previous Iraqi military. Such a
platform is contradictory to professed Arab League
recognition of "the new Iraq" and breeds mistrust,
Shahristani commented. He added that Iraq's emerging
democracy and Shia empowerment are a psychological shock to
the Sunni Arab world and the Arab League. However, as long as
the Arab League respects Iraq's sovereignty, Shahristani said
it could have a positive role.

National Accord Conference
--------------


2. (C) In a separate meeting, FM Zebari told the Charge he
did not have high hopes for the Cairo preparatory meeting for
the Moussa-proposed Iraqi National Accord Conference. Like
Shahristani, Zebari could not confirm whom Arab League
planned to invite to the Cairo event. Zebari hoped that the
Arab League would invite members of Iraq's parliamentary
blocs plus Sunnis from outside the Transitional National
Assembly, with an expectation for 40-60 persons in
attendance.


3. (C) Both Shahristani and Zebari expressed concern that
the presence of outside parties, including "neighbors" and
the Coalition, either at the Cairo preparatory or the Baghdad
National Accord conferences would be problematic. Zebari
commented that "outsiders" would only change the focus in a
debate between the outside parties or between certain
elements of the Iraqi participants (read Sunni hardliners)
and "some outsiders" (read the US, given the issue of
Coalition force presence). Both agreed that the National
Accord conference should be held in Baghdad, after the
upcoming elections, and after the formation of the new
government, so that the conference could be seen as Arab
League support of the new government, not intervention in
Iraq's political process.

Representation in Iraq
--------------


4. (C) Zebari told Charge that he pressed Amre Moussa to
send an Arab League Ambassador to reside in Baghdad. Charge
offered Zebari assistance with Arab League accommodation in
the IZ.
Satterfield