ZEBARI BRIEFS AMBASSADOR ON MFA STEPS TO FORMALIZE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000257

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ IR
SUBJECT: ZEBARI BRIEFS AMBASSADOR ON MFA STEPS TO FORMALIZE
IRANIAN RELATIONS


Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons per 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshayr Zebari told
the Ambassador in a meeting on January 18 that he had
discussed with the Iranian Ambassador three steps for solving
the diplomatic status issue: eliminating liaison offices,
reducing and formalizing border entry points, and revamping
the visa process. Zebari discussed a potential regional
conference in Iraq at the end of February and said he would
travel on January 21 to Italy. END SUMMARY.

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No More Liaison Offices
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2. (C) Zebari said he recalled the Iraqi ambassador to Tehran
to work out changes to the Iran policy. He said he gave the
Iranian Ambassador a clear message on January 17 on the need
to formalize their relationship and review three main issues.
He said they agreed to the basics and Iran would send a
delegation to Iraq next month for discussions. First, all
Iranian liaison offices must be eliminated or transferred to
accredited consular status and all personnel must be
registered and accredited. He mentioned that the MFA and
Iran had agreed to open offices in Mashad and Hewaz in
exchange for Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. This request arrived at
the MFA on December 24 and was passed on January ninth or
tenth to the Council of Ministers and the Prime Minister.


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Border Entry Points
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3. (C) Second, the Iran and the GOI will formalize and reduce
the number of border entry points. He said he has the
approval of the PM and the Council of Ministers to designate
two border points in the north. They will check both sides
of the border in preparation, but will have to wait until the
snow melts. Zebari said the actual borderline is undefined
and Iran has pressed to define the border using the 1975
Algiers agreement. He thought there was room for them to
accept a de facto border.

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Visas
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4. (C) Third, Zebari told the Ambassador that they had worked
on visa issues. Iran receives 1,500 visas per day for
religious pilgrims, unlimited business visas as long as the
business people have papers proving their business in Iraq,
and diplomatic visas. He said the largest problem with
diplomatic visas is the Iraqi political parties' offices in
Tehran (including PUK, KDP, SCIRI, and Da'wa) that press the
Iraqi Embassy to issue diplomatic visas to specific
individuals. He said the Embassy in Tehran had received
letters from Iraqi President Talabani, Vice-President Mehdi,
and the Prime Minister, each contradicting each other on this
issue. The MFA has since issued strict instructions to its
embassies to follow the rules, and the Prime Minister has
agreed to stop pressuring them. Zebari thinks now they have
reached an understanding.


5. (C) The Ambassador urged the FM to ensure that visa
applications are complete and fully reviewed. The Deputy
Foreign Minister said they are establishing new conditions to
verify these things. Zebari said he has resisted giving his
embassies a free hand in visa-issuance - however, it is
important that visa applications go through proper channels.
He told Iran that when they send people here without
informing the MFA he cannot protect them. He said anyone who
carries a diplomatic passport should have a note from the
ambassador and accept a 5-day period for objections. He
offered to pass applicants' names to the U.S. and said all
official visits should be approved by the PM.

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Force Protection Over Vienna
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6. (C) The Ambassador relayed to Zebari the U.S. government,
regarding the role played by Quds Force officers who have
diplomatic status, cannot accept diplomatically credentialed
persons killing U.S. soldiers. He urged that the MFA take
tough decisions on the status of those Iranians in Iraq who
are members of Pastaran or the MOIS and are involved in

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nefarious activities, decisions that may include declaring
them persona non grata. Zebari said that his ministry is
putting together a list of Iranian diplomats, and he is
willing to share the list with the U.S.

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Regional Conference, Travel Plans
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7. (C) Zebari told the Ambassador the MFA has been working to
set up a regional conference in Iraq at the end of February,
the actual date of the conference was subject to change. He
admitted that some countries might not send their ministers
because the Baghdad security plan, and others might prefer to
wait until the Arab Ministers' Conference preparatory session
March 4 and 5 and the Arab summit on the 28th. Zebari said
the ministers should meet before the Arab Ministers'
Conference in order to prepare a common vision for
presentation, emphasizing that his conference would have the
advantage of Iranian and Turkish participation.


8. (C) Zebari told the Ambassador he will travel to Italy on
January 21 to sign an agreement on Italian support in the
civil sector and then go on to Davos.
KHALILZAD