ZEBARI ON NEIGHBORS MINISTERIAL, STRATEGIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001342

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: ZEBARI ON NEIGHBORS MINISTERIAL, STRATEGIC
FRAMEWORK

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Patricia A. Butenis for Reasons 1.4(b)
and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. During an April 27 meeting, Foreign
Minister Hoshyar Zebari agreed with Ambassador Crocker and
S/I Satterfield that Iraq must host the next Neighbors
Ministerial and that the GOI must fast track ambassadorial
nominees to key neighboring countries, Kuwait and Saudi
Arabia in particular. He related that he had been
non-committal when, at the recent Kuwait Neighbors
Ministerial, Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki asked if the
USG was interested in a further trilateral. Zebari described
Jordan's Foreign Minister Al-Bashir as "very unhappy" with
the bilateral relationship and acknowledged that Iraq had to
be more pro-active in managing relations with Jordan. Deputy
Foreign Minister Labeed Abbawi also attended the meeting.
END SUMMARY.

Next Neighbor's Ministerial -- Baghdad Must Host
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2. (C) Ambassador Crocker emphasized that the aspirational
language in the last paragraph of the Kuwait Communique must
be treated as a directive. Zebari favors a single-day
format, most likely in October, perhaps at the Rashid Hotel
in the International Zone. Ambassador Crocker assessed that
early preparation for the Ministerial would also create
positive momentum for increased diplomatic presence because
countries sending foreign ministers to a conference in
Baghdad would no longer be able to rationalize the absence of
an embassy.

Saudi Arabia/Kuwait Trip -- Assistance Perhaps -- Embassies
Problematic
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3. (C) To Zebari's request for a readout of the Kuwait and
Saudi Arabia trip, Ambassador Crocker mentioned that the SAG
would not open a Baghdad EMBASSY "as a first measure" and
described King Abdullah's reasoning as "non-linear," bouncing
from security to elections preparation issues. What this
reveals about Saudi thinking about Iraq (one misconception
involves an alleged 3.4 million Iranians studying Arabic to
try to pass as Iraqis during upcoming provincial elections)
highlights the need for a Saudi presence on the ground. On
the upside, the SAG is contemplating debt forgiveness and
other types of financial assistance for Iraq. Ambassador
Crocker thought Saudi reservations about dealing with NGOs
and with the Iraqi government directly could be resolved if
assistance were funneled through U.S.-administered programs
like the Commanders Emergency Response Program (CERP). To
the Ambassador's comment that Prime Minister Maliki agreed to
fast-track in the Council of Ministers ambassadorial
appointments to key neighboring countries, Zebari added (as
he has repeatedly over past months) that he has candidates in
mind and wants to move on the issue as soon as possible.


4. (C) Zebari said during the Neighbors ministerial he
discussed debt forgiveness and compensation issues with
Kuwaiti Prime Minister al Sabah, who linked the question to
upcoming legislative elections in Kuwait. S/I Satterfield
asked if either Zebari or Deputy Foreign Minister Abbawi
could comment on PM Maliki's April 21 observation to the
Secretary that he believed the Kuwaitis were prepared to

SIPDIS
accept a UN proposal that the GOK forego all but Kuwait's USD
4 billion environmental compensation claims or reduce the
compensation rate to one percent of oil sales. Deputy
Foreign Minister Abbawi said that the PM was reflecting a
"French idea" proposed in Geneva and nothing more. Abbawi
added that the Geneva Compensation Committee talks on these
issues, which Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Haj Hamoud
leads for the Iraqi side, have gone well so far.

Relations with Jordan Poor
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5. (C) Zebari also mentioned that Jordan's Foreign Minister
Al-Bashir was "very unhappy" with the GOI on a range of
issues, with the GOI's move to impound Saddam Hussein's
former yacht serving as a catalyst for other grievances
ranging from Iranian influence to anemic trade relations.
Zebari acknowledged that Iraq had to be more pro-active in
managing its relations with Jordan. Ambassador Crocker
pointed out that the refugee issue colored all others and
confided that part of the Secretary's recent message to Prime
Minister Maliki had been that the problem was seriously
damaging Iraq's reputation both regionally and
internationally and that the GOI had to do significantly more
to alleviate the plight of its refugees. S/I Satterfield
added that the tone of the GOI's message (that the refugees
were all Ba'athist enemies of the state) particularly
offended the Jordanians and suggested that he and Zebari

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develop outreach messages targeted for neighboring countries
that S/I Satterfield can use during an upcoming regional trip.

Iran Trilat
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6. (C) Zebari alluded to comments critical of Iran made the
previous day by National Security Adviser Mowaffaq Rubaie,
but noted that the Prime Minister's office had already issued
a statement distancing the GOI from the statement. Zebari
volunteered that during the Kuwait Ministerial he had also
chided Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki about Iran's
unhelpful role in Iraq's internal affairs, but did not
elaborate on Mottaki's reaction. Zebari said Mottaki asked
if the US was still interested in holding trilats. Zebari
said he responded non-committally in light of recent multiple
postponements and cancellations which he described as
embarrassing. Ambassador Crocker thought that was the right
approach but stressed the USG wanted to keep the channel open.

SFA/SOFA
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7. (C) Ambassador Crocker told Zebari that Prime Minister
Maliki and the rest of the Executive Council had agreed to
use a two-track negotiating scheme that would produce a
single document. Prime Minister Maliki wants the Executive
Council deputies (the same group that produced the August
2007 Leaders Declaration -- probably a combination of Humam
Hammudi, Barham Saleh, Rosch Shaways, Ali Al Adib, Sadiq
Rikabi, Hadi al Amri and Ayad al Sammaraie) plus Deputy
Foreign Minister Mohammad Haj Hamoud to handle SFA matters,
while Hamoud's working group would focus on SOFA issues.
Hamoud's inclusion on both panels will ensure coordination
and balance on the GOI side. Zebari said it was important
that the principals designate their representatives and start
work as soon as possible. Zebari assured the group that Haj
Hamoud would take the lead on this and try to kick off
negotiations this week.

Anbar Mustard Gas Container
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8. (C) Ambassador Crocker informed Zebari and Abbawi that in
Anbar province, MNF-W units had unearthed an 11 by 4 meter
container that they think contained mustard gas. Ambassador
Crocker said MNF-W was not sure how old the container was,
and that it showed signs of decontamination efforts.
Ambassador Crocker cautioned that the press might be picking
up on the story and that it would be better if the GOI made
no pre-emptive statements. Zebari seemed pleased by the
news, assessed that there would be other containers, and
stressed that the story must be exploited.
BUTENIS