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.
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