IRAQI DELEGATION RECEIVES ADVICE, SUPPORT FROM

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000188 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2017 TAGS: PREL IZ MU SUBJECT: IRAQI DELEGATION RECEIVES ADVICE, SUPPORT FROM OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER REF: 06 MUSCAT 1588 Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) Summary: An Iraqi delegation led by the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs visited Muscat from February 16-18. Oman's Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Yousef bin Alawi, told the group that the Iraqi government needed to "speak with one voice" and promote policies that transcend sectarian divisions if it wished to counter negative media reports. He further advised that Iraq should engage Arab governments more directly - including at the upcoming Arab League Summit - to elicit increased Arab support. End Summary. ¶2. (C) During a February 21 meeting with the Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Under Secretary Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi described as "successful" the February 16-18 visit to Muscat of an Iraqi delegation headed by the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Safa Mohammed al-Safi. Sayyid Badr stated that Yousef bin Alawi spent more than four hours with the delegation, during which time he expressed Oman's support for the Iraqi government and people, and offered advice on how Iraq could better promote domestic stability and garner stronger support from its Arab neighbors. ¶3. (C) According to Sayyid Badr, bin Alawi encouraged the Iraqis to conduct more direct outreach to other Arab states, particularly members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in order to avoid isolation. He assured the delegation that once the Iraqi government began to speak with one voice and articulated a national platform that rises above sectarian interests, more Arab support would be forthcoming. Bin Alawi also said that the Iraqi government had to find a way to "take control of the message" of what is happening inside Iraq, rather than continue to allow extremist voices in the Arab media to define the situation for regional audiences. The next Arab League summit, which Saudi Arabia will host in March, presents Iraq with "a golden opportunity to send the right message," bin Alawi told the delegation. ¶4. (C) In addition to crafting a message for regional audiences, bin Alawi advised the delegation that the Iraqi government needs to do a better job of connecting with its own people, Sayyid Badr reported. The Minister suggested that Iraq focus on the needs of its youth by providing jobs and training that would make young people loyal to the nation instead of individual leaders fueling the insurgency. Bin Alawi offered Oman as an example, citing his country's experience in ending its own Dhofar rebellion of the early-1970's through a combination of political, economic and military tactics. ¶5. (C) Sayyid Badr said that while the Iraqi delegation did not request any specific new assistance, Oman intends to continue its quiet policy of providing the Iraqi government with political and moral support. He stressed, however, that Oman is not able to open an embassy in Baghdad until the security situation there improves. The Ambassador encouraged the Omani government to consider sending a high level delegation to Iraq, and offered USG assistance - including assistance for security - to facilitate such a visit. GRAPPO