PRIME MINISTER JUNCKER DISCUSSES THE IRAQ STUDY

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUXEMBOURG 000639 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL SY LU EUN SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER JUNCKER DISCUSSES THE IRAQ STUDY GROUP REPORT, TOUTS SYRIA'S IMPORTANCE IN STABILIZING IRAQ Classified By: DCM Steven Kraft for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C/NF) During a private meeting with Ambassador Wagner on December 11, Prime Minister Juncker expressed hope that the Iraq Study Group (ISG) report would prove productive in helping the USG to resolve problems in Iraq. He said he was surprised that the study (and especially its findings) had been exposed to public view, given that some of the analysis could "benefit the enemy." ¶2. (C/NF) Several times during the meeting, Juncker stressed that Syria was key to any long-term solution in Iraq, and encouraged the USG to aggressively engage Damascus in this regard. He noted that French President Chirac was dismissive of any Syrian role and claimed that Chirac had gone out of his way to downplay the possible benefits of engaging Syria. Juncker himself was skeptical of the possible advantages of engaging Iran, saying simply that in dealing with President Ahmadinejad, the West was "dealing with a madman." WAGNER