IRAQI PM DISCUSSES EXPANDED MINISTERIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001009 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ SUBJECT: IRAQI PM DISCUSSES EXPANDED MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE, DE-BA'ATHIFICATION Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad per 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador on March 23, PM Nuri al-Maliki confirmed that he wanted the expanded neighbors ministerial conference, which would include Iraq's neighboring countries, the G5, and the P8, to happen in conjunction with the next International Compact for Iraq (ICI) meeting. The Ambassador suggested a two-day schedule, with the first day devoted to the ICI, and the second day devoted to the expanded neighbors conference. The Ambassador noted that the ICI is chaired by the United Nations and Iraq, and the PM agreed that the expanded neighbors conference should be chaired by Iraq alone. He said that Ali Dabbaugh called him earlier in the day to tell him about a conference occurring in Istanbul where Saudi Arabia and Turkey made unsupportive statements about Iraq. He emphasized that he remained deeply concerned with Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and especially France and Russia, as he did not trust their motives. ¶2. (C) Maliki said he had read the most recent compromise draft on de-Ba'athification prepared by Hajim al-Hassani. He said he had only a few relatively minor edits. The Ambassador suggested it might be helpful to Iraq's regional relations to announce the Presidency Council's initiative to reach a compromise draft on de-Ba'athification before the Arab Summit that is scheduled for March 27. Maliki thought this would be possible with the Presidency Council sending a bill to the Council of Representatives by that date. Later the Ambassador arranged for the PM to host a meeting with the key negotiators on Sunday to reach final agreement on a draft. KHALILZAD