GOI ON NEIGHBORS PROCESS SECURITY WORKING GROUP:

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003086

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ
SUBJECT: GOI ON NEIGHBORS PROCESS SECURITY WORKING GROUP:
NEED FOR DETAILED SECURITY PLANS

Classified By: By Political Counselor Robert S. Ford for reasons 1.4(b)
and (d).


1. (C) Deputy Foreign Minister Labeed Abbawi told Political
Military Counselor and Deputy Political Counselor September
18 that the GOI is moving ahead on plans to host the next
Expanded Iraq Neighbors Ministerial meeting in Baghdad in
November. He said that Jordan had just notified the MFA that
it could not host the next meeting of the Neighbors Process
security working group in Jordan, a request the GOI had made
to take advantage of the fact that Interior Ministers would
already be in Amman for the Arab League Interior Ministers
meeting on October 20. Abbawi said the GOI will ask again,
and noted that the Egyptians had offered to host the meeting.
(Note: In an separate discussion on September 17, MFA
Neighboring Countries Director Taha al-Abassi informed us of
Jordan's negative decision, but said the GOI was now working
to have Syria host the next security working group meeting,
and Jordan host the next refugees working group - both in
October prior to the envisioned November Neighbors
Ministerial. End Note.) Abbawi said the energy working
group would meet in Istanbul in early October.


2. (C) Abbawi said that the two previous Neighbors Process
security working group meetings had focused on process rather
than practical discussion on how to improve Iraq's border
security. He said the upcoming meeting should include more
focus on practical aspects and the need for detailed security
plans that outline specific responsibilities for each country
and modalities for their implementation. For example, it
would be useful to get each of the neighboring countries to
make the liaison officers (supposedly established under the
process) more effective. PolMil Counselor noted that the USG
and UN and had sent experts to the security meetings to
address practical steps but that there had been no time
allotted for expert discussions at either meeting. Abbawi
conceded the point and said a French expert on border issues
from the UN recently was advising the GOI for two weeks on
how to address border security. He endeavored to work harder
to make the next border security meeting more practical and
effective.


3. (C) Abbawi agreed with PolMil Counselor that border
security needs to be raised with the Syrians. He lamented
that Syria is not doing enough to secure its borders with
Iraq. The GOI is exerting every effort, he said; Syria is
not doing its share. Abbawi agreed with PolMil Counselor's
observation that Iran had been obstructionist in previous
border security meetings, and that this would likely remain a
challenge. In contrast, he noted, the Egyptians, although
overly focused on their Arab leadership role and procedural
matters, ultimately do not obstruct a meaningful outcome.
Abbawi said he planned to confer with counterparts in the GOE
beforehand so that the Iraqi and Egyptian delegations would
come to the working group meeting with coordinated positions
that would optimize chances for concrete results.
CROCKER