MFA ON WORKING GROUPS: NEIGHBORS ONLY FOR ISTANBUL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002059 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM IZ SUBJECT: MFA ON WORKING GROUPS: NEIGHBORS ONLY FOR ISTANBUL MEETING; NO PROGRESS ON REFUGEE OR SECURITY MEETINGS REF: BAGHDAD 1894 Classified By: Political Counselor Margaret Scobey for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In a June 19 meeting with Political Counselor, the Deputy Foreign Minister, Labeed Abbawi, confirmed the Energy Working Group will meet in Istanbul June 28-29. The Arab League and Iran have confirmed their attendance at the meeting, he said. Syria has stated that it will not host the Security working group or attend other working groups until two Syrian border guards held by the Iraqi Security Forces (reftel) are released. The GOI completed its investigation into the two officials, Abbawi said, and decided to continue with a trial despite "suggestions" from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) that the investigation conclude without a recommendation the case continue to trial. ¶2. (C) In a June 23 phone call with PolCouns, Abbawi reiterated that the GOI prefers the first working group meetings to include only Neighbors. He stated that on June 21 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) sent a letter to Turkey emphasizing this point and further commented that the GOI declined a request from Russia to attend the meeting. Abbawi did, however, request USG assistance in pressing the Kuwaitis and the Egyptians to name who will attend the conference. As for a meeting between the US, Turkey and Iraq on the sidelines of the Istanbul conference, Abbawi expressed support during the June 19 meeting, although commented that it should occur separately from the official working group. ¶3. (C) When asked about Jordan's lack of a response concerning the refugee working group, Abbawi said that Iraq's Ambassador to Jordan received information that Jordanian security services believe a response will be forthcoming soon. Abbawi told PolCouns that if Jordan and Syria do not respond "in the next week or so" than the GOI will ask Egypt to host the two working groups. PolCouns asked Abbawi if the GOI has decided how they want to spend the 25 million USD Iraq pledged to help Iraqi refugees during the April 17 conference in Geneva. PolCouns noted that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) might be best positioned to distribute the money especially if it is used for educating Iraqi children living in Jordan and Syria. Abbawi responded that while the GOI has not decided exactly how to use the money, the Prime Minister has stated he "wants to spend the money, not give it to the UNHCR." CROCKER