ARAB LEAGUE STILL HOPING TO OFFER CONSTITUTIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 005305

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID IZ
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE STILL HOPING TO OFFER CONSTITUTIONAL
ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ

REF: STATE 124857

Classified by Economic-Political Counselor John Desrocher for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) In response to reftel demarche, Arab League
spokesman Hossam Zaki told PolOff July 12 that the League had
been trying to facilitate the participation of legal experts
in Iraq's constitution drafting process. With the
assassination of the Egyptian ambassador in Baghdad,
according to Zaki, Secretary General Moussa was having a
difficult time lining up volunteers. PolOff noted reftel
emphasis on assistance inside Iraq as opposed to overseas;
Zaki acknowledged that the League sought to support an
internal Iraqi process and agreed that the work should be
done inside Iraq. He said the Secretary General wanted "one
or two" experts to assist the Iraqis as needed.


2. (C) Zaki did not think that a DVC between experts
outside Iraq and the drafters in Baghdad was a meaningful
alternative to working together in the same facility. He
lamented that the security situation worked to inhibit travel
to Iraq, yet noted the League's interest in a timely drafting
process.


3. (C) The concept of establishing an Arab League office in
Iraq was still being discussed, according to Zaki (and had
been discussed by the Secretary General in Brussels on June
22),but was facing some political opposition from inside
Iraq. Without offering many specifics, Zaki made it clear
that Iranian interests were working against a League
presence. He said establishment of a League office was not
linked to assistance in the constitution drafting process,
although an ongoing presence might facilitate other areas of
assistance to Iraq.


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