PRIME MINISTER JAFARI TO VISIT SAUDI ARABIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004777 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ SA SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER JAFARI TO VISIT SAUDI ARABIA Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Prime Minister Jafari told the Ambassador that he has been invited to visit Saudi Arabia. He departs November 29. He plans to meet the Saudi king during his visit. ¶2. (C) The PM may raise the following issues: -- Increasing the number of hajj slots for Iraqis; -- Sending a Saudi Ambassador to Baghdad in order for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to get a better understanding of Iraq and to allow regular interaction with the GOI; -- Persuading the Saudis to encourage Iraqi Sunni Arabs to participate in the political process; -- Encouraging Saudi Arabia to play a positive role in the next Iraqi National Accord Conference in February; -- Encouraging Saudi Arabia to assist with reconstruction in Iraq; and -- Reassuring the KSA about the Iraq-Iran relationship. ¶3. (C) President Jalal Talabani also is traveling to Saudi Arabia for the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Summit on December 6. He will seek bilateral meetings with KSA officials to discuss similar issues. KHALILZAD