IRAQ/SYRIA RESUMPTION OF RELATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 005362 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/ELA NSC FOR MARCHESE TREASURY FOR GLASER/LEBENSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2016 TAGS: IZ PGOV PREL SY SUBJECT: IRAQ/SYRIA RESUMPTION OF RELATIONS REF: DAMASCUS 5326 Classified By: CDA Michael H. Corbin for reasons 1.5 b/d ¶1. (C) Charge spoke to both the Iraqi Charge and the Algerian Ambassador (Iraq had been represented here as an interests section of the Algerian Embassy) on the status of resumption of Syrian-Iraqi diplomatic relations. Iraqi Charge Sabah al-Imam said that since the November 19-21 FM Muallim visit to Baghdad, there had been considerable technical movement on resumption of diplomatic relations. The Syrian Foreign Ministry had accorded full diplomatic status to the Iraqi interests section. It had issued a diplomatic note to that effect and had reissued diplomatic cards with the new diplomatic status to all Iraqi diplomats. Al-Imam proudly noted the new plaque beside the door of his chancery declaring the building to be an Embassy. He said a flag-changing ceremony would be held "in the first week of December" to lower the Algerian flag and raise the Iraqi flag on the Embassy. He commented it would be a low-key event. ¶2. (C) In response to Charge's question as to what other evidence there was of a change in relations between Syria and Iraq, al-Imam said the key issue would be security meetings which would involve an Iraqi delegation coming to Syria (but he was unclear who would lead it). Al-Imam was also vague about resolution of the USD 503 million in Iraqi funds that the Commercial Bank of Syria had paid out to various Syrians during the collapse of the Saddam regime (reftel). Separately, the Algerian Ambassador confirmed to Charge that the transition from interests section to full Embassy was proceeding rapidly. He said the flag raising ceremony would be held shortly but echoed the Iraqi Charge in predicting it would be a low-key affair. CORBIN