FM KOUCHNER'S VISIT TO IRAQ

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002848

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL FR IZ
SUBJECT: FM KOUCHNER'S VISIT TO IRAQ

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) Summary: On August 21, during his visit to Baghdad, FM
Kouchner asked the Ambassador how France could be helpful on
Iraq. The Ambassador suggested that an active French role on
economic development -- including bilateral and EU assistance
-- would be helpful, as would French support for the
neighbors' process. Kouchner was enthusiastic and promised
to press the UNSYG for a more active UN role, but noted that
he had recently spoken with Stefan di Mistura and found him
more inclined to accept the number two position in WRP than
come to Baghdad. The French Embassy in Baghdad separately
shared its assessment of the atmospherics during Kouchner's
visit. End summary.

Kouchner: How Can We Help?
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2. (S) During his Aug. 19-21 visit to Baghdad, French FM
Bernard Kouchner met briefly with the Ambassador on the
margins of a lunch hosted by Vice President Abdel Mehdi.
(Note: The French Embassy had arranged this lunch primarily
to provide Kouchner with political cover so that he could see
the Ambassador; the French were extremely anxious to avoid
the appearance of a bilateral Franco-American meeting.)
Kouchner asked what France could do to be helpful on Iraq.
The Ambassador briefed Kouchner on UNSYG Ban Ki Moon's plans
to co-host with Iraqi PM Maliki a ministerial meeting of the
International Compact for Iraq on the margins of the UNGA in
September. The Ambassador said that an active role by France
in supporting economic development/reform in Iraq --
including through bilateral assistance commitments and by
lobbying for similar EU commitments -- would be helpful.
Kouchner was enthusiastic, and at the Ambassador's
suggestion, discussed the subject with Iraqi DPM Barham Salih
later the same day.


3. (S) The Ambassador also urged Kouchner to be actively
engaged in the Neighbors' Conference process, and reviewed
the challenges to Iraq posed by Iran, Turkey, Syria and the
other Arab states. Kouchner noted France's problems with
Syria over Lebanon but said he would engage anywhere it could
be helpful.


4. (S) Kouchner said the new UNAMI resolution was a good step
and said he would press the SYG for a larger and more active
UN role. He noted, however, that he had spoken to Stefan di
Mistura several days ago and found him more inclined to
accept the number two position in WRP than to come to
Baghdad. Kouchner said that if he were not presently
occupied, he would like the job -- and joked that if we could
wait six months, he would probably get himself fired and be
available! He said he hoped to make a second visit to Iraq
before the end of the year.

French Embassy Readout
--------------


5. (C) Alexandre Garcia, Charg at the French Embassy,
provided a readout on Kouchner's other meetings, which
included discussions with FM Zebari, PM Maliki, President
Talabani, Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi, Vice President
Tariq al-Hashimi, KRG President Massoud Barzani, ISCI Vice
President Ammar al-Hakim, Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel Delly
III, Fadhila parliamentary bloc leader Ali Shimmari, Deputy
PM Salam Zuba'i, Deputy PM Barham Salih, and Iraqi
journalists. Garcia said the French were pleased with the
visit and its media coverage. "We got our message across,"
said Garcia, who added that Kouchner's talking points focused
on: France's solidarity with and sympathy for the Iraqi
people; a willingness to listen to all ends of the political
spectrum; the need to ensure Iraq's unity, sovereignty and
territorial integrity; and France's willingness to work with
Iraqis, especially in a UN context.


6. (C) Garcia was especially pleased by the atmospherics. As
he expected, Kouchner enjoyed a warm reunion with his old
friend Talabani (in fact, Garcia confessed that the French
Embassy was afraid that the bond between Kouchner and
Talabani would be so evident that it might be difficult to
project the image of a balanced visit). To Garcia's relief,
Kouchner had a surprisingly warm meeting with Tariq
al-Hashimi and a Tawafuq delegation (Garcia had feared that
the Sunnis might be "confused" by Kouchner's anti-Saddam
stance in 2003). He also got on well with Ammar al-Hakim, in
part because Kouchner fondly recalled his dealings with
Ammar's late uncle. Among Ammar's guests was a Sadrist (NFI)
who seized the occasion to call for the withdrawal of
Coalition Forces. According to Garcia, this was the only
interlocutor who delivered that message to Kouchner, and the
French FM pushed back by noting that "the Americans are here,

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and they obviously need to be part of the solution." As for
the Iraqi PM, Garcia said that Kouchner's informal style
seemed to confuse Maliki at first, but he eventually warmed
up to his French guest. Garcia denied (contrary to a report
in the International Herald Tribune) that Kouchner had
floated the idea of hosting "quiet talks" for the Iraqis in
France as per his recent conference of Lebanese leaders.
According to Garcia, the subject did not come up in any of
Kouchner's meetings.

Zebari Delighted
--------------


7. (C) FM Zebari told Pol/C that Koucher's visit could not
have gone better. He noted that Kouchner remained mostly in
listening mode, telling his hosts that he intended to digest
everything that he heard in his numerous high-level meetings.
He spoke in general terms about a larger role for the UN and
mentioned thoughts about the solution being found in a
"triangle" of intense, coordinated work between U.S., UN and
Iraqi officials.
CROCKER