MEETING OF IRAQ'S NEIGHBORS IN TEHRAN UNLIKELY;

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003334 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV EG IZ IR SUBJECT: MEETING OF IRAQ'S NEIGHBORS IN TEHRAN UNLIKELY; ARAB LEAGUE PLANS ITS OWN MEETING ON IRAQ REF: STATE 86446 (NOTAL) Classified by ECPO Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) MFA Spokeman and Cabinet staffer responsible for Iraq affairs, Alaa Hadidi, told poloff May 30 that Egypt opposed the holding of a meeting of Iraq's neighbors and Egypt in Tehran, as agreed at the last neighbors meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. Hadidi said the Iranians had recently proposed June 10-11 for the meeting, although the Foreign Ministry had not yet received an invitation. In any case, he stated, the GOE does not want the Iranians hosting any meeting on Iraq. Rather, Egypt would like to see the meeting held on the margins of another international venue, or at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. ¶2. (C) Arab League Cabinet Chief of Staff Hisham Youssef also told poloff June 1 that it was highly unlikely that a meeting of Iraq's neighbors would be held in Tehran, as proposed by the Iranians. Youssef stated that there was "not much enthusiasm" among invitees for a Tehran venue, although the Iranians continued to press. Responding to a question on press reports that Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa had been invited to the proposed gathering, Youssef said it would be difficult for Moussa to refuse should the meeting take place. "It won't take place" in Tehran, Youssef stated in conclusion. ¶3. (C) Asked about the Arab League's own scheduled "National Accord" meeting on Iraq, expected to take place in Baghdad June 20-22, Youssef said that plans were on track. Arab League Assistant Secretary General Ahmed Benhelli would travel to Iraq in the coming week to prepare for the event and to discuss the meeting's agenda (see below). Youssef asked for an update on USG attendance, and stated that the League envoy in Baghdad was in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Youssef predicted that the meeting would be well attended, and requested USG assistance to ensure Iraqi attendees would participate with "positive and constructive attitudes." ¶4. (C) Asked about an upcoming Organization of Islamic Conferences (OIC) ministerial meeting in Baku on the same dates as the League's planned Iraq meeting, Youssef acknowledged the overlap saying that few Arab foreign ministers were expected to attend the Baghdad meeting. The League, he said, was focused on bringing together Iraqis - not Arab dignitaries. (Note: The League's decision to overlap its Baghdad meeting with that of the OIC is likely not a coincidence. The decision provides Arab governments with a convenient and face-saving excuse for relatively low-level participation at the Baghdad gathering. End note.) ¶5. (U) Referring to a written summary of conclusions from a November preparatory meeting of Iraqi political forces held in Cairo at the Arab League, Youssef said the principle focus/goals of the June National Accord Conference ("al Wifaq al Watani") in Baghdad would focus on six items (Embassy translation from the Arabic): -- (1) Widening the political work to include all forces on the basis of democratic principles. -- (2) The unity of Iraq, its independence and sovereignty, and drawing up of a program to end the mission of the multinational forces. -- (3) The security situation -- (4) Equality in citizenship (rights and duties) -- (5) Support required to ensure success of the national accord -- (6) Debts and reconstruction of Iraq. JONES