DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO SEEK PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000769 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2016 TAGS: KDEM KPAO PREL PGOV SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO SEEK PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR IRAQI GOVERNMENT FORMATION COMPLETION REF: SECSTATE 81632 Classified By: Ambassador Ronald L. Schlicher for reasons 1(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On May 22 Poloff delivered reftel message to Charalambos Hadjisavvas, who follows Middle Eastern issues in the MFA's Office of Bilateral Affairs. Hadjisavvas was unaware that Iraq's Council of Representatives had formed a new cabinet, admitting that he had been focused on the May 21 parliamentary elections in Cyprus over the weekend. Despite this, he told us that he viewed the move as a long awaited and positive step for Iraq. When asked if the ROC would issue a public statement of support for the newly formed Iraqi cabinet, Hadjisavvas demurred and said that "the EU President was likely to do so on behalf of the 25 members." He underscored that Cyprus, in following EU policy, would continue to support international efforts aimed at stabilizing and rebuilding Iraq. SCHLICHER