INTERNATIONAL COMPACT WITH IRAQ MINISTERIAL

UNCLAS BERN 000224 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/I AND EUR/AGS (Y.SAINT-ANDRE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EFIN PGOV PREL IZ SZ SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL COMPACT WITH IRAQ MINISTERIAL REF: STATE 43799 ¶1. (SBU) Acting POL Counselor discussed the message in reftel on May 9 with Rascha Osman, Swiss MFA Iraq Desk Officer. Osman reported that MFA State Secretary Ambuehl (Deputy Minister equivalent) will lead the Swiss delegation to the May 29 International Compact with Iraq (ICI) Ministerial in Stockholm. MFA A/S equivalent for Middle East Affairs Livia Leu will accompany Ambuehl, as will the Swiss Ambassador to Sweden. ¶2. (SBU) Osman said the success of Iraqi reconstruction is important to the Swiss government. She noted that the GOS reached agreement with Iraq in 2007 regarding Iraqi debt to Switzerland. That arrangement included Switzerland forgiving 80 percent of the Iraqi debt. ¶3. (SBU) Osman said that Switzerland has provided some technical assistance within Iraq, but generally has found it difficult to provide such assistance via its liaison office in Baghdad. The GOS therefore has focused its support on assistance to Iraqi refugees in Jordan and Syria. Osman reported that Switzerland has doubled its assistance to Iraqi refugees since last year, expecting to reach USD 4.1 million for 2008. She said that the MFA also is considering a training course in federalism for Iraqi government officials, sometime later this year. The training would be based on a similar study visit provided to Iraqi officials in 2006. CONEWAY