IRAQI PRIME MINISTER VISITS KINGDOM ON FIRST TRIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 005322

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP (BSHUKAN)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER IZ SA
SUBJECT: IRAQI PRIME MINISTER VISITS KINGDOM ON FIRST TRIP
ABROAD

REF: JEDDAH 449 AND 450

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Traveling on his first trip abroad as Prime
Minister, Iraqi PM Nouri Al-Maliki visited Saudi Arabia July
1-2 seeking Saudi support for economic development,
reconciliation, and improving security to stabilize Iraq.
Saudi news sources reported that PM Maliki was received by
the Crown Prince, and met with King Abdullah and other top
officials. In a telephone interview with a Saudi
correspondent, PM Maliki stated that the talks were positive
and that Iraq shares many issues with the Kingdom, many of
which pertain to security and the fight against terrorism.
News sources quoted PM Maliki as stating that Iraq was
counting on the SAG for assistance to restore its
sovereignty. Other issues discussed included restoring
diplomatic relations and opening the Saudi embassy in
Baghdad.


2. (C) PM Maliki also asked the King to send
representatives to the upcoming International Compact for
Iraq meeting on reconstruction scheduled for mid-July.
According to news reports, King Abdullah promised to consider
the request, and also pledged his government's support of
Iraqi political plans at the Arab and international levels.


3. (C) PM Maliki and Saudi officials also discussed
security cooperation efforts to control the Saudi-Iraq border
and prevent infiltration by foreign fighters. PM Maliki
stated, "We want the ministers concerned to coordinate
security between the brothers in the Kingdom and us." PM
Maliki told the media that the handover of Saudi detainees
was not discussed, but would be in the future.


4. (C) When asked about Iraq's relation with Iran, PM
Maliki responded, "It is like any relationship with any state
that seeks to establish good relations with Iraq, based on
joint interests, mutual respect, and non-interference in
Iraqi affairs. We welcome any state that seeks to deal with
us on the basis of respecting Iraq and its borders and
interests."


5. (C) Saudi media also reported that PM Maliki,
accompanied by a delegation of Iraqi businessmen, met with
Saudi businessmen and Jeddah Chamber of Commerce Acting
Chairman Ziad Al-Bassam to encourage Saudi investment in
Iraqi infrastructure projects. He pointed out that there
were major investment opportunities in the oil, gas,
manufacturing, agriculture, construction and service
industries, and reassured the businessmen that security
problems are not in all of Iraq, but mainly confined to
Baghdad.


6. (C) Comment: News reports on Maliki's visit track with
many of the discussions during Ambassador Khalilzad's recent
visit to the Kingdom (reftels). One of Post's informed
sources on the Royal Family, Harb Al-Zuhayr (strictly
protect),a prominent, Sunni businessman whose family hails
from southern Iraq, confirmed the media reports. He told the
DCM, "King Abdullah is ready to be supportive of PM Maliki."
However, as FM Prince Saud al-Faisal has repeatedly told us,
the SAG is unlikely to open an Embassy in Baghdad until it
perceives that the security and political situation have
stabilized. Additionally, SAG leaders will expect their
Iraqi counterparts to be proactive and responsive on key
issues such as border security and designating targeted
sectors for financial and economic assistance. End Comment.
OBERWETTER