LIBYA SENDS OFFICIAL DELEGATION TO BAGHDAD TO EXPAND TIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L TRIPOLI 000243 E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/27/2015 TAGS: PREL PTER IZ LY SUBJECT: LIBYA SENDS OFFICIAL DELEGATION TO BAGHDAD TO EXPAND TIES REF: State 163365 CLASSIFIED BY: ETHAN GOLDRICH, CHARGE, U.S. LIAISON OFFICE TRIPOLI, DOS. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) (C) USLO COM met previously with Qadhafi advisors in advance of the Cairo Foreign Minister's Conference to urge that Libya send senior officials to Iraq. During a meeting on September 27, Qadhafi Senior Advisor Abdulati Obeidi told Charge that a Libyan delegation had just completed a visit to Baghdad to explore upgrading diplomatic ties. The purpose of the trip was also to offer condolences after the death of Shia pilgrims in the bridge stampede. Obeidi said that the Libyan delegation agreed to establish a consular relationship at this time. There is no specific timeline for sending an Ambassador to Baghdad, but they anticipate the relationship will continue to expand in other areas. Obeidi mentioned that Talabani and other senior Iraqi officials had visited Libya in the past. He also said that Qadhafi met with the Iraqi "ex-president" in Algeria (Note: we think he meant Allawi at the Arab summit). Libya wants to engage with the Iraqis and encourage them to end Sunni/Shia discord that the Libyans view as detrimental to Iraqi stability and the broader regional situation. BERRY NNNN