ADDITIONAL EGYPTIAN VIEWS ON A PROPOSED

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003065

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2015
TAGS: PREL EG IZ
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL EGYPTIAN VIEWS ON A PROPOSED
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRAQ AND PREPARATORY MEETING IN
CAIRO

REF: STATE 71272

Classified by Charge Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Responding to reftel demarche on the U.S.-EU
sponsored conference on Iraq and a possible
Egyptian-sponsored preparatory conference (PrepComm),poloff
met April 19 with MFA senior Cabinet member Alaa Hadidi.
Drawing from reftel talking points, poloff shared our
preliminary responses to GOE questions and concerns regarding
the
PrepComm proposal, including on topics such as participation,
the agenda, dates, and location for the various meetings.
Hadidi welcomed the clarifications and information, and
looked forward to hearing the results of Ambassador Jones's
consultations after meetings in European capitals. Hadidi
said that Egypt was certainly interested in hosting the
PrepComm, as Ambassador Jones had heard during his April 11
meetings in Cairo, but noted that his Minister was curious
why neither the Europeans nor the Iraqis had approached the
GOE yet about hosting this PrepComm. Hadidi said that the
GOE was in favor of moving ahead on the PrepComm proposal but
would key its formal response to the formation of a new
government in Baghdad, similar PrepComm interest from the
Europeans and Iraqis, and additional consultations with the
USG following Ambassador Jones's latest talks in Europe.


2. (C) Turning to specific details of the U.S. proposal,
Hadidi understood our interest in keeping the prepcomm
relatively small and manageable and made no effort to press
for broader attendance, with the exception of questioning
whether the Arab League and China might be included. Hadidi
appreciated clarifications that all members of the G-8 were
to be invited to the PrepComm, but noted his understanding
that Bahrain - not the United Arab Emirates - was currently
the Chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council. If the UAE is to
be invited, it should be made clear on what basis the
invitation will be issued in order to avoid diplomatic
complications with other neighbors.


3. (C) On the draft communique, Hadidi sought clarification
on whether Egypt should present an initial draft or if Iraq
and/or others would craft this document. Poloff shared that
the "small group" consisting of Iraqis, the U.S., the EU,
Egypt, and possibly the United Nations would likely consult
ahead of the prepcomm on a draft communique that could be
discussed in detail at the PrepComm and shared later with all
attendees to the full conference. Hadidi had no reaction to
our description of what the full ministerial conference
agenda might entail.


4. (C) Hadidi, who was supposed to have been in Istanbul for
the Iraq Neighbors meeting, confirmed that the Turkish MFA
had moved the meeting to April 27-28, pending word on the
formation of a new Iraqi government. Hadidi said that he was
trying to get the Turks to delay the meetings by one day (to
April 28-29) so that both his Minister and the Saudi Foreign
Minister could attend. Responding to poloff's question as to
whether Egypt was ready to resume full diplomatic relations
with Iraq once a new government was in place, Hadidi said
that he "presumed that was the case." (Note: Our British
Embassy colleagues reported to us that FM Aboul Gheit told UK
Ambassador Plumbly last week that Egypt was ready to restore
normal bilateral relations with Iraq once a government was in
place in Baghdad and that the Arab League was similarly
interested in opening a new page in its relations with
Baghdad. End note.)


5. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.


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