IRAQ-IRAN RESUMING BORDER NEGOTIATIONS

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 003481 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2017 TAGS: MOPS PBTS PGOV PHUM PTER IR IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ-IRAN RESUMING BORDER NEGOTIATIONS REF: BAGHDAD 3159 Classified By: Ambassador Ryan Crocker for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (S) At the Deputy Ministerial Council for National Security (DMCNS) on October 8, Deputy FonMin Abbawi reported that Iraq would resume border negotiations with Iran in November. Abbawi said he hoped the outcome would be a clearly-defined demarcation of the border based on previously negotiated treaties (note: except for the Algiers Accord of 1975, which Iraq rejects per reftel, end note). Abbawi further explained that two border disputes are now driving the negotiations--the land border near Goteyba oil reserves and shifts in water flow through the Shatt al-Arab. -------------- Who Gets the Oil? -------------- ¶2. (S) According to Deputy Abbawi, the most significant border demarcation line under negotiation is near Goteyba Fort (also spelled Kotaibah, approx. 32 deg 58,26", 46 deg 05,46"). At issue are demarcation criteria in the Algiers Accord of 1975--which Iraq rejects--that would place four Iraqi border posts near Goteyba several hundred meters inside Iranian territory. But if pre-Algiers agreements are applied, said Abbawi, then these posts clearly lie inside Iraqi territory. The Deputy MOI added that oil reserves around Goteyba make this demarcation line significant since both countries have agreed to refrain from drilling within 500 meters of the border. This came to a head last April, when Iran began drilling operations within 300 meters of one of the disputed border posts, prompting an Iraqi show of force to discourage encroachment. -------------- Who Gets the Shore Front? -------------- ¶3. (S) The D/FonMin said the Shatt al-Arab border issues were not nearly as contentious. He noted that at least 1700 meters (about 1 mile) of surveyed shoreline on the Shatt al-Arab has shifted significantly due to changes in the water flow. Although most of the changes favor Iran, he noted that recently completed Iraqi surveys on other parts of the waterway favor Iraq. ¶4. (C) Deputy National Security Advisor Safa tasked the MFA and MOI to prepare a joint briefing on the negotiations issues for Prime Minister Maliki. He also agreed with their recommendations to bundle all the border issues into one single package for the November negotiations. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: If the Iranians are prepared to engage on these issues, it would represent a significant change in Tehran,s approach. Thus far, Iran has insisted on Iraqi affirmation of the Algiers Accord, which is political anathema here. CROCKER