FM RELAYS MALIKI'S APPREHENSION OF THE NEIGHBOR'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001163

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ
SUBJECT: FM RELAYS MALIKI'S APPREHENSION OF THE NEIGHBOR'S
CONFERENCE AND FUNDING FOR REFUGEES


Classified By: Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel Speckhard f
or reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Prime Minister Maliki's deep suspicions of
the Neighbor's Conference are preventing the selection of
venue, stated Foreign Minister Zebari in an April 1 meeting
with the DCM. Maliki favors Kuwait over or Istanbul.
Zebari noted, however, that the Prime Minister is comfortable
with the upcoming International Compact for Iraq conference
to take place in Istanbul. Zebari relayed Maliki's lack of
support for refugees altogether, although it was not clear if
that includes IDPs as well. End Summary.

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CAIRO, ISTANBUL, OR KUWAIT
--------------


2. (C) Foreign Minister Zebari confirmed competing offers to
host the neighbor's conference in Cairo, Istanbul, and
Kuwait. Zebari said President Mubarak personally relayed the
offer to host it in Cairo. DCM relayed the Turkish
government's offer to host in Istanbul and the GOT's
assurance to Embassy Ankara that "they are willing to do
whatever it takes for Iraq to feel comfortable with Istanbul
as a location."


3. (C) However, the Prime Minister has decided to defer
decision on the venue for the neighbor's conference and
instead consult with his policy council for national security
(PCNS),stated Foreign Minister Zebari. The Prime Minister
is nervous the conference will help fuel "an international
conspiracy to topple his government," continued Zebari. The
PM feels that Egypt and other Arab countries have agendas to
undermine the Maliki government.


4. (C) Zebari noted that President Talabani would prefer to
have the conference hosted in Iraq, perhaps in the North, but
was dissuaded after Zebari explained to him the logistical
and capacity constraints. Zebari added that the Iranians
also preferred Iraq as a location, a result of the Najaf
instructions.


5. (C) Zebari asserted that the Prime Minister's advisors,
including Tarik Abdullah and Saadiq Al-Rikabi, were
suspicious of other countries' agendas for the conference,
and were feeding the Prime Minister's concerns.

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INTERNATIONAL COMPACT FOR IRAQ
--------------


6. (C) The Prime Minister is much more comfortable with the
International Compact for Iraq, stated Zebari. It would be
better not to mix the ICI with the Neighbor's Conference,
opined Zebari, since the former focuses on economic
reconstruction and includes a broad audience, while the
latter is a narrowly tailored regional security meeting. DCM
pointed out that combining the two conferences might allay
some of the PM's apprehension, but Zebari felt this would not
sway the PM.

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DISMISSAL OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS
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7. (C) Zebari recounted that he met with the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) during his recent visit.
Zebari presented to the UNHCR a proposal to demonstrate the
Government of Iraq's concern for internally displaced persons
(IDPs),which would include food distribution, health care
access, and identity documentation. Later, when Zebari
presented the same proposal to the Prime Minister, Maliki
dismissed the program generally, saying he would not permit
Zebari to commit GOI funding to refugees. Zebari explained
that he believes Maliki is convinced all refugees are
Ba'athists (Note: It was not clear if the PM's sentiment
applied to IDPs as well. End Note).
CROCKER