SOLIMAN ON ARAB LEAGUE IRAQ CONFERENCE VENUE

S E C R E T CAIRO 000557

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EG IZ
SUBJECT: SOLIMAN ON ARAB LEAGUE IRAQ CONFERENCE VENUE

REF: GODEC-RICCIARDONE EMAIL DATED 01/28/06

Classified By: Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (S) Ambassador told EGIS chief Omar Soliman that we had
heard that the AL was thinking of postponing its planned
follow-up conference involving all the Iraqi factions, and of
moving it outside Iraq. We could understand the need to
postpone such a conference, particularly pending the
formation of the permanent government of Iraq, but would urge
the AL to hold the conference, if at all, inside the country.
Soliman said he had heard that "the Iraqis themselves" had
requested postponement and moving of the conference to
outside the country, "so they could feel free and safe." He
admitted that "the Iraqis" from whom he had heard this were
from hardline Sunni factions, not the GoI itself. Soliman
recognized that the GoI would prefer holding the AL
conference inside Iraq. He indicated that he would support
this, provided the Iraqis themselves were willing to do so.


2. (C) Separately, Arab League Secretariat Chief of Staff
Hisham Youssef told poloff January 29 that the League would
most likely await formation of a new government before
proceeding with its reconciliation conference. There were no
plans, he said, to move the conference venue outside Iraq
despite press reports that "had originated in Iraq." Youssef
added that Secretary General Moussa's envoy on the issue,
former Sudanese foreign minister Ismail, would travel to
Baghdad soon to explore the subject with the Iraqi government
and other influential Iraqi political figures.
RICCIARDONE