IRAQ: ARAB LEAGUE AND EGYPT PRESSING AHEAD WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003672 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM ARABL EG IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ: ARAB LEAGUE AND EGYPT PRESSING AHEAD WITH NATIONAL ACCORD CONFERENCE REF: STATE 94495 (NOTAL) Classified by ECPO Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Drawing from reftel talking points, emboff reviewed planning for the Arab League's Iraqi National Accord conference with Arab League Secretariat Chief of Staff Hisham Youssef on June 12. Citing political and security considerations on the part of unnamed Iraqi political figures, as well as scheduling conflicts for many Arab foreign ministers, Youssef confirmed reports that the League was looking to postpone its conference until later this summer. The League Secretariat in Cairo, he said, would likely host a planning meeting in July of Iraqi government and political representatives to address concerns of potential participants to the full conference. Youssef said a final decision to reschedule the conference to some time in August would be made following the return of Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Benhelli to Cairo SIPDIS on June 14. ¶2. (C) Drawing from reftel talking points and background, Poloff met June 13 with Egyptian MFA Deputy Assistant Minister for East Arab Affairs, Amal Morad, to discuss Egyptian views on Iraq and the planned Arab League national accord conference. Morad welcomed USG views on the process, but said she was awaiting a readout on the visit to Iraq by Benhelli before determining next steps. However, Morad did confirm reftel understanding that a planning meeting would be held in Cairo in July, with the conference to be rescheduled to August in Baghdad. After reviewing familiar GOE views on Iraq, Morad welcomed additional discussion of the conference. Asked about Egypt-Iraq relations, specifically if any senior Iraqis were expected to visit Cairo for bilateral talks, or if an Iraqi Ambassador would be posted to Cairo, Morad said she had no information to share. RICCIARDONE