IRAQI PRIME MINISTER VISITS JORDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005711 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2016 TAGS: PREL, PGOV, IZ, JO SUBJECT: IRAQI PRIME MINISTER VISITS JORDAN REF: AMMAN 2907 Classified By: AMBASSADOR DAVID HALE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Iraqi PM Nouri Al-Maliki visited Jordan July 27, meeting with Jordanian PM Ma'ruf al-Bakhit and King Abdullah. Talks focused on economic and security cooperation, a proposal for a Jordanian-hosted Iraqi religious leaders' conference, and the possible resumption of preferential oil sales to Jordan. PM Maliki also raised the extradition of Raghad Saddam Hussein. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Prime Minister Bakhit greeted Iraqi PM Maliki at Jordan's Queen Alia International Airport and joined him on the short flight from Amman to Aqaba July 27. King Abdullah received Maliki in his Aqaba residence. According to media, King Abdullah reiterated his support for Maliki's government and its efforts to bring unity and stability to Iraq. The leaders agreed on closer relations between border security forces and discussed the increasing number of Iraqis living in Jordan. The King also renewed a proposal to host a conference of Iraqi religious leaders aimed at reducing sectarian violence (reftel.) PM Maliki told reporters that he and the King briefly discussed renewing Iraqi crude oil sales to Jordan and commented that the issue would require further study. PM Maliki also raised the possible extradition of Raghad Hussein. Responding to Maliki's comments on extradition, the King told media "Jordan would take action against anybody who is proved to use the Kingdom as a launchpad against the security of Iraq." ¶3. (C) Comment: The visit was overall a positive one, and the GOJ has expressed its intention to reciprocate by sending PM Bakhit on an official visit to Baghdad soon. Hale