C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000923

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2017
TAGS: PREL OIC ARAB LEAGUE UN IZ FR
SUBJECT: SIGIR STUART BOWEN RAISES AWARENESS OF IRAQ
NEIGHBORS CONFERENCE AND OTHER PROGRESS IN IRAQ

REF: STATE 28320

Classified By: MINISTER COUNSELOR OF POLITICAL AFFAIRS FOR REASONS 1.4
B AND D.


1. (C) Post took advantage of the presence of Special
Inspector for Iraq Reconstruction, Stuart Bowen, to inform a
broad array of GOF officials and press outlets of the points
in reftel. Bowen, en route to Washington from Iraq, had
scheduled, in a public diplomacy effort, a series of meetings
with MFA, MOD and other officials. He spoke with Ambassador
Jean-Pierre Guinhut, Head of the Inter-Ministerial Mission
for the Restructuring of Iraq,; Dominique Boche, Diplomatic
Advisor to the President on North Africa, Middle East,
Central Asia and the Americas; Lieutenant Colonel Millot,
North America Desk at the MOD and other MOD staffers; and
journalists from French, German and US publications. Post has
also shared reftel points with MFA Director for Northern
Africa and Middle East Affairs Jean Felix-Paganon and MFA
Middle East cabinet advisor Damien Loras.


2. (C) Bowen repeatedly raised the promise of the March 10
conference, and the ministerial meeting potentially to
follow. He reminded the French of the importance of GOF
involvement and support for security in Iraq and the region.
Boche asked Bowen if the US would engage in bilateral
meetings with Syria or Iran at the March 10 conference. Bowen
responded that such meetings were not planned, but pointed
out the importance of a meeting that includes all the
neighbors. All GOF interlocutors vocally supported the
conference initiative. They viewed the inclusion of Iran and
Syria as a positive move toward stability and security.


3. (C) Beyond reftel points, Bowen also delivered a message
of "cautious optimism" about the "improving security
situation in Baghdad" since the arrival in Iraq of General
David Petraeus. He noted in particular as signs of progress
reduced VBIED detionations in the last several weeks, the new
hydrocarbons law, and the new activism of PM Nouri Al Maliki
(evidenced by the impending cabinet reshuffle, and the new
fortitude of Iraqi troops in action in Baghdad).


4. (C) All of Bowen's interlocutor's welcomed his message
positively. Boche and Guinhut noted the change in tone, with
Boche saying, "this is the first good news we've heard out of
Baghdad." For his part, Guinhut, whose role consists mostly
of consulting French businesses with interests in Iraq,
mentioned the possibility of the GOF freeing up money in the
context of the Iraq compact. He proposed that Bowen approach
his German counterpart, Rudiger Lutz, with his message of
"cautious optimism" to shore up support at the EU.


5. (C) COMMENT: Post believes that SIGIR Bowen, whose past
messages to the GOF have been frank about issues of
corruption, fraud and violence in Iraq, has earned a
reputation for straight talking with the GOF. This reputation
made him an ideal mouthpiece for a positive message on Iraq.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm

STAPLETON