IRAQ: MALAYSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT BAGHDAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000811

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2027
TAGS: PREL MARR MASS MOPS EAID KISL IZ MY
SUBJECT: IRAQ: MALAYSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT BAGHDAD
MAY 12

REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 758 - GOM MIGHT RESPOND TO IRAQI
REQUESTS

B. KUALA LUMPUR 419 - FM CONSIDERS BAGHDAD VISIT

C. KUALA LUMPUR 381 - PAKISTAN INITIATIVE

D. 06 KUALA LUMPUR 2271 - MALAYSIA'S OIC ROLE

Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark, reasons 1.4 (b an
d d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar plans to
visit Baghdad on May 12. FM Hamid has requested meetings
with Iraq's senior political leaders during his 12-hour stop.
The Iraqi embassy in Kuala Lumpur is not aware of any
Malaysian deliverables; however, FM Hamid's visit represents
a positive political gesture toward the Iraqi government and
supports Prime Minister Abdullah's interest in demonstrating
a greater Malaysian role in key Middle East issues. We
consistently have urged Malaysia to take up a constructive
role in relation to Iraq, and FM Hamid's visit represents an
important step forward. End Summary.

Twelve-hour Bilateral Mission
--------------


2. (C) Iraqi Charge Hoshiar Dazayi confirmed to polchief on
May 4 that Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar
planned to visit Baghdad for 12 hours on May 12. FM Hamid
would engage in bilateral talks with senior Iraqi leadership,
and Hamid had requested meetings with the Iraqi President,
Prime Minister, a Deputy Prime Minister, and the Speaker of
the Parliament, in addition to the Iraqi Foreign Minister.
Hamid's mission would be bilateral in nature, and would not
be carried out under Malaysia's role as OIC chairman. The
visit followed the Iraqi Foreign Minister's invitation to
Hamid (ref B). According to the Iraqi Charge, Hamid reached
the decision to proceed with the Baghdad mission while
traveling with Prime Minister Abdullah in Darfur.

Public Announcement after Cabinet Meeting
--------------


3. (C) Hoshiar said the Foreign Minister's travel to Baghdad
would be discussed during Malaysia's Wednesday cabinet
meeting, May 9, and would receive final approval at that
time. The GOM would publicly announce the visit on May 10.
Hoshiar believed the cabinet discussion to be a formality,
showing polchief the Malaysian diplomatic note he received to
confirm the travel. Security concerns could lead to a
postponement, Hoshiar acknowledged, as FM Hamid was extremely
nervous about conditions in Baghdad.


4. (C) According to Hoshiar, FM Hamid intended to travel
with a small party consisting of several aides and two
cameramen. Hoshiar also would accompany the Foreign
Minister. Hamid would use a charter aircraft for the
journey. The Iraqi Charge provided us with a copy of the
flight itinerary proposed by the charter company Jet Aviation
of Zurich, Switzerland. (Note: DAO has received an inquiry
from the Malaysian Armed Forces suggesting the GOM also is
considering a military aircraft. All relevant information,
including Malaysian enquiries regarding flight clearances and
security, has been forwarded via DAO channels. End Note.)
Hoshiar said the Iraqi government had begun to make
arrangements for ground security.

Positive Gesture, Short on Deliverables
--------------


5. (C) Hoshiar stated he was unaware of any deliverables FM
Hamid might present in Baghdad. Nevertheless, the visit
would be positive in and of itself as a political gesture
toward the Iraqi government, and could serve as the basis for
follow up actions. Hoshiar discussed a number of proposals
for Iraqi leaders to raise with Hamid, including training and
scholarships in Malaysia for Iraqi officials and citizens,
humanitarian aid, approval for an expanded Iraqi diplomatic

KUALA LUMP 00000811 002 OF 002


presence in Malaysia, and possible construction contracts for
Malaysian firms in "safer" areas, such as in Kurdish
territory. Malaysia had already forgiven "legal" Iraqi
debts, which derived from past palm oil sales. The Iraqi
debts to Malaysia that remained were "illegal debts," which
resulted from unspecified Malaysian sales in violation of
previous UN sanctions. Because of the potential for
embarrassment, both the Iraqi and Malaysian governments had
decided not to address the illegal debts for the time being.

Demonstrating Malaysia's Relevance (at Least to Malaysians)
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Concrete deliverables and actions aside, Hoshiar
thought that Prime Minister Abdullah viewed Hamid's mission
as a way to support a greater Malaysian role in the Middle
East (reftels). Although Malaysia is not part of the current
Sharm El-Sheik conference, Hamid's stop in Baghdad would
serve to demonstrate, at least to fellow Malaysians, his
country's relevance to critical Muslim world issues like
Iraq. Hoshiar remarked, however, that his government would
not take seriously any Malaysian offer to mediate between
Muslim groups in Iraq, describing this notion as ridiculous
given Malaysia's lack of standing in Iraq and its aversion to
Shi'a Islam.

Comment
--------------


7. (C) We consistently have urged Malaysia to take up a
constructive role in relation to Iraq, and FM Hamid's visit
represents an important step forward. Other than technical
questions regarding flight arrangements and flight security,
the Malaysian government has not approached us regarding the
mission, and specifically has not raised interest in meeting
with U.S. officials in Baghdad. Given its OIC leadership
position and domestic public opinion strongly opposed to
U.S.-led actions in Iraq, Malaysia very likely sees a need to
distance its bilateral visit from any U.S. or Coalition role.

LAFLEUR