SIGIR STUART BOWEN RAISES AWARENESS OF IRAQ

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