FM ZEBARI DISCUSSES NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000156

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ
SUBJECT: FM ZEBARI DISCUSSES NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS WITH
MENENDEZ


Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Patricia A. Butenis for reasons
1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: On January 20, Senator Robert Menendez
(D-NJ) and the Deputy Chief of Mission met with Iraqi Foreign
Minister Hoshyar Zebari to discuss Iraq's relationship with
its neighbors, the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and
current Iraqi legislation. Zebari updated Menendez on the
upcoming Neighbors Ministerial in April, re-energizing the
working groups, and plans for new missions from Saudi Arabia,
Egypt, UAE, and Kuwait to open in Baghdad. He also described
Iraq's cooperation with Turkey in reducing the PKK threat,
and gave a frank assessment of Iran's attempts to gain
influence in Iraq. Zebari assured Menendez that Iraq was
serious about moving forward with the SOFA and hoped to have
it settled by July. On the provincial powers legislation,
Zebari said most Iraqi people wanted a strong federal
government. He also said that the legislative priorities
were hydrocarbons, provincial powers, revenue sharing and
elections law. He stated, "this package of legislation will
show others that the Iraqis are willing to live together and
share the wealth of the nation." End Summary.

ARAB NEIGHBORS
--------------


2. (C) On January 20, Senator Robert Menedez (D-NJ) met
with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. Menendez asked
Zebari how he saw Iraq's relations with Iran, Turkey and its
Arab neighbors. Zebari started with the Arab neighbors and
described a recent Arab League Ministerial meeting to discuss
the situation in Lebanon, during which he met with President
Mubarak of Egypt and the Emir of Kuwait. Both indicated they
were working to re-open their embassies in Baghdad. He said
that for the first time in the four years he has been Foreign
Minister, he has seen a positive change in the Arab
neighbors' attitude toward Iraq. They are seeing progress in
the security situation, in economics and in national
reconciliation. They also see that the current regime in
Iraq is here to stay, and that helps. Zebari stated his plan
for 2008 is to focus on strengthening these relationships.
He also mentioned that the Neighbors Ministerial is to be
held in Kuwait in April and that he had sent out a letter the
night before inviting the three working groups to Baghdad in
the next few weeks to re-energize their work.

TURKEY
--------------


3. (C) Zebari said the relationship with Turkey was a good
one -- Turkey has a strong embassy here and a consulate in
Mosul, and Iraq has a presence in both Ankara and Istanbul.
He said the problem is the PKK. He described Turkey's
concern as "legitimate" and said that Iraq has condemned the
actions of the PKK. However, he believes Turkey's response
has been out of proportion to the threat, and with troops
massed on the border, he fears an invasion. He said it was
not only destabilizing, but an embarrassment to the U.S. to
have a NATO ally prepared to invade a country the U.S. is
charged with protecting. Zebari described Iraq's action to
close front charities that are raising money for the PKK and
how KRG has taken concrete steps to help. He likened it to
the situation between Afghanistan and Pakistan and said it
was hard to control such remote areas. He is trying to
convince the Turks that this situation cannot be solved by
force alone; there needs to be a political perspective, also.

IRAN
--------------


4. (C) Menendez asked about Iran's interests in Iraq. The
Foreign Minister said the two countries have had historical
grievances, including the waterway issue and reparations from
the first Gulf war. However he pulled no punches in
describing Iran's main interest as dominating Iraq. He said
the Iranians want a friendly government in Baghdad. That is
one of the reasons they have reined in the Mahdi Army (JAM).
The violence had backfired and undermined a government the
Iranians support. Iran is also trying to strengthen
religious ties in order to extend its influence as much as
possible. They want a regional alliance of Iran, Iraq,
Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah. He said Syria has similar goals,
but is using economic integration and security concerns to
increase its influence. Zebari opined that Iran fears the
U.S. presence in the region and he fears they want to settle
the score with the U.S. in Iraq. He told the Iranians, "this
is an opportunity -- the U.S. won't be here forever, and
we're destined to live together."

SOFA
--------------


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5. (C) The last statement prompted Menendez to ask about
the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). Zebari said he had
discussed it with the Secretary when she was in town. He
informed Menendez that the members of the 3 plus 1 were each
designating a representative to the Iraq team, and promised
that the negotiations would be conducted in a professional
and meaningful way, unlike the UNSCR renewal of the MNF-I
mandate in December. He said that timing was key. Although
the Iraqi security forces are not ready to take over
entirely, the agreement cannot be open-ended. It is a matter
of sovereignty and other sensitive issues, such as command of
the Iraqi forces, the immunity of security details, and who
controls entry into Iraq. When asked about the Minister of
Defense's comments on how the Iraqi armed forces will not be
able to secure the country from external forces until 2018,
Zebari said the Minister had misspoken and was answering the
question as a soldier and not a diplomat. He said 2007 had
been a tough year, but that he thinks Iraq has passed the
threat of sectarian and civil war. Now there is
international support, money in the budget because of high
oil prices, and better reconciliation -- "a single sect
cannot govern Iraq."

LEGISLATION
--------------


6. (C) Menendez apologized for asking a domestic policy
question, but wanted the opinion of the Foreign Minister on
the domestic aspects of the provincial powers legislation and
the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Zebari
opined that the majority of Iraqis have the desire for a
strong federal government -- it is part of the Constitution.
He listed the main legislation that needs to be finalized as
the laws on hydrocarbons, provincial powers, revenue sharing
and elections. He also lamented the work of the Council of
Representatives (CoR),saying that they needed to work with
the executive branch more and manage legislation better,
including obtaining a quorum and coalition-building. Zebari
also mentioned the need for the Awakening movements to be
integrated immediately, into either the Iraqi security forces
or the government or this could become an explosive
situation. In the end, it is about reconciling the nation.
According to Zebari, "this package of legislation will show
others that the Iraqis are willing to live together and share
the wealth of the nation."


7. (U) CODEL Menedez did not have the opportunity to clear
this cable before departure.
CROCKER