UNAMI SRSG QAZI REPORTS SYRIAN AND SAUDI VIEWS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000420 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2017 TAGS: PREL PREF PINR UN SY SA IZ SUBJECT: UNAMI SRSG QAZI REPORTS SYRIAN AND SAUDI VIEWS ON IRAQ TO P-5 REF: DAMASCUS 78 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel Speckhard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On February 5, UN Special Representative to the Secretary General (SRSG) Ashraf Qazi told DCM and the Ambassadors of France, UK, Russia and the Chinese Charge that, during his recent trip to Damascus, Syrian interlocutors had expressed support for the Baker report and characterized U.S. concerns about Iranian intervention in Iraq as "overblown." The Syrians also discussed problems they were having with Iraqi refugees, who were engaged in kidnappings and tribal feuds. In a separate trip to Riyadh, Qazi said Saudi officials noted few visits from their Iraqi counterparts, complaining that trips to Baghdad for them were too dangerous. In contrast to the Syrian view, the Saudis saw Iran as a growing threat. End Summary. -------------- REGIONAL MEETINGS -------------- ¶2. (C) In Damascus, Qazi met with Foreign Minister Walid Mualem, Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Faisal Mekdad, Interior Minister General Bassam Abdul Majeed, and Minister of State for the Red Crescent Dr. Bashar Al-Sha'r; in Riyadh with Foreign Minister HRH Saud al-Faisal, Deputy Interior Minister HRH Prince Ahmed, and Head of Intelligence HRH Prince Migren. ¶3. (C) Qazi reported that the Syrians said they were pleased with President Talabani's January 14 to 20 visit to Damascus (reftel); they claimed it was very useful and hoped for more high level visits. They asserted to Qazi that they thought well of the Baker report and "hoped some of its provisions would be adopted." Meanwhile, noted Qazi, the Saudis expressed frustration that the level of visitors received from Iraq was lower than the level sent by Riyadh to Baghdad. ¶4. (C) FM Mualem told Qazi that Syria would support a March 11 meeting of Foreign Ministers in Baghdad. The value of the meeting, Mualem claimed, would be for all the regional countries to "read the riot act" to the GOI and encourage Iraqi leaders to govern responsibly. Interlocutors in Riyadh expressed bewilderment that the GOI was moving so slowly on key legislative initiatives, and were looking forward to the opportunity to express their frustration. However, the Saudis complained that that the security situation was too dangerous for a March 11 meeting date in Baghdad. -------------- IRANIAN INFLUENCE - CONTRASTING VIEWS -------------- ¶5. (C) Qazi noted a stark difference in views between Syria and the Kingdom with regard to Iran. His Syrian interlocutors downplayed the influence of Iran in Iraq, asserting that U.S. emphasis on Iranian intervention was "overdone." At the same time, they claimed that Damascus did "not take dictation" from Teheran, as they said was alleged by the U.S., although Syria and Iran had a "congruence on certain policy goals." The Syrians emphasized to Qazi that "all of Iraq's neighbors" must be involved in the stabilization process. ¶6. (C) The Saudis, on the other hand, saw Iran as a major problem, reported Qazi. While the Saudis asserted that Iran has legitimate interests in Iraq, they felt that Teheran's current behavior was preventing fruitful regional engagement. The Saudis expressed grave concern over the security situation in Iraq and hoped that, once Iraq was stabilized, the region would be better able to contain Iran. -------------- IRAQI REFUGEES IN SYRIA -------------- ¶7. (C) The Syrians reported to Qazi that they now had over one million Iraqi refugees, who were causing significant problems. Well-to-do refugees go to Jordan, said the Syrians, while the poor ones went to Syria. There were now entire neighborhoods in Damascus referred to as "little Iraqs". The Syrians told Qazi that these Iraqis brought with them all the problems they were trying to escape - not just the traditional refugee issues of crime and prostitution, but also family feuds and inter-tribal kidnappings. The joke in BAGHDAD 00000420 002 OF 002 Syria had become that the Iraqis ask themselves "what are all these Syrians doing here?" ¶8. (C) "Iraqi refugee children are malnourished, women pregnant, and families in need medicine," the Syrians complained to Qazi, "and we are paying for it." Qazi urged them to continue the open door policy for refugees, and agreed that the financial burden should not be born by Syria alone. Qazi said the UN would look into what support it could provide. ¶9. (C) Deputy SRSG Schulenburg suggested that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) make a stop in Baghdad during his up-coming regional trip to Damascus and Riyadh, "especially if he will have his own plane." The P-5 Ambassadors agreed that Baghdad would be a worthwhile visit for the UNHCR, since Iraq was at the root of the region's refugee problem. -------------- BIO NOTES -------------- ¶10. (C) UK Ambassador Asquith congratulated French Ambassador Jean-Francois Girault for being awarded the Legion d'Honneur. Zhang Tao, political officer and note taker for the Chinese Charge, was in Khartoum prior to his assignment to Baghdad. He will return to Beijing in one month. KHALILZAD