FM KHATIB ON IRAN-HOSTED IRAQ NEIGHBORS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003834 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2016 TAGS: PREL IZ IR JO SUBJECT: FM KHATIB ON IRAN-HOSTED IRAQ NEIGHBORS, CONFERENCE REF: A. STATE 86446 ¶B. BAGHDAD 1804 Classified By: Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdelelah al-Khatib told Ambassador May 30 that there is much behind-the-scenes collusion underway among some of Iraq's neighbors to prevent an Iranian-hosted neighbors' event. Differing slightly from the assessment provided by Iraqi FM Zebari (ref B),Khatib said there is no push to convene the Jordanian-sponsored Iraq Reconciliation event before the Arab League event scheduled for on/about June 22. The pretext of a conflict between the dates for the Tehran event and the Amman event would therefore not apply. ¶2. (C) Instead, Khatib believes he is gaining support among Arab colleagues to host the Neighbors, event on the margins of an OIC ministerial in Abidjan on June 16. Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ HALE