IRAQ: EGYPT AND ARAB LEAGUE SUPPORTIVE OF IRAQI

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 009315

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV EG IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ: EGYPT AND ARAB LEAGUE SUPPORTIVE OF IRAQI
POLITICAL PROCESS

REF: STATE 224553 (NOTAL/NODIS)

Classified by ECPO Minister Counselor Michael Corbin for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Post conveyed reftel demarche December 14 to MFA
Cabinet Staff Member responsible for the Iraq portfolio, Alaa
Hadidi. Stressing the importance of supporting the Iraqi
government and people regarding their December 15 elections,
post called for strong Egyptian statements of encouragement
for all Iraqis to participate in voting and the political
process. Hadidi noted that the GOE had not made any official
statements regarding Iraq,s elections, but promised that he
would share the USG message with the Minister. Egypt, he
said, would be watching Iraq,s election results very
carefully. Hadidi was pleased that military operations in
the run-up to the elections were limited in both scope and
number. Post also encouraged the GOE to make positive public
statements after the elections and to publicly welcome the
democratic process there. Describing his government,s
continued support for the Iraqi regime and the political
process there, in general, Hadidi shared that Egypt had
recently conveyed agrement to Baghdad for Iraqi Ambassadorial
nominee, Dr. Mohamad al Haj al Hamoud. Hamoud, a career
diplomat and legal expert, may arrive in Cairo toward the end
of the year, according to the Iraqi Charge in Cairo.


2. (U) Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa made
several public statements while in Doha, Qatar, encouraging
Iraqis to vote on December 15, and for parties there to avoid
"all military operations and acts of violence." Moussa
called for a cessation of all "assassinations, detentions,
and air raids immediately to provide a calm atmosphere in
which elections can be free, upright, and transparent."
Moussa also called on all political forces in Iraq to
participate in the elections and to support the
constitutional process.


JONES