IRAQI CHARGE ON PROPSECTS OF AMBASSADORIAL EXCHANGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003330 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EG IZ SUBJECT: IRAQI CHARGE ON PROPSECTS OF AMBASSADORIAL EXCHANGE REF: CAIRO 3260 Classified By: MINISTER-COUNSELOR FOR ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS WILLIAM R. STEWART. REASONS: 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) We met November 25 with Iraqi Charge d'Affaires Saad Ali. He gave a positive readout of Iraqi President Talabani's recent visit to Cairo (reftel). Ali assessed that the Egyptians were slowly moving out of a "wait and see" strategy with respect to Iraq, and that the Talabani visit, as well as those of senior USG officials such as Ambassador Crocker and Admiral Fallon, had nudged the GOE forward. Nevertheless, he expressed frustration with a lack of tangible Egyptian support for Iraq. Ali noted that the Egyptian government has begun to register Iraqi children in school, granting parents of these children residency status for one year. ¶2. (C) Regarding the prospect of exchanging Iraqi and Egyptian ambassadors, Ali reported that based on the Talabani meetings, the next step is that Baghdad would determine its candidate to be Iraqi Ambassador to Egypt, and seek agrement. He noted that FM Zubari and PM Maliki are at odds over several candidates for ambassadorships and key MFA positions. This, he assessed, could likely delay progress. He said he does not expect to be named as ambassador. ¶3. (C) Next, Egypt would name its ambassador to Baghdad. Ali said that as he understands it, the current proposal is that the new Egyptian Ambassador would submit his or her credentials in Baghdad, and stay for 1-2 days before returning to Cairo. The Egyptian ambassador would initially visit Baghdad on an intermittent basis. As the security situation progressed, his physical presence in Baghdad would become more regular. RICCIARDONE