Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DAMASCUS839
2008-11-25 11:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
IRAQI D/FM ABBAWI SEES SUPPORTING ABBAS AS KEY
how-toVZCZCXRO9067 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHDM #0839 3301117 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 251117Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5616 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0477 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000839
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/IPA-PAYTON, NEA/ELA
NSC FOR ABRAMS/MCDERMOTT
PARIS FOR WALLER
LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PREL KWBG AL IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI D/FM ABBAWI SEES SUPPORTING ABBAS AS KEY
OBJECTIVE AT NOV 26 AL MINISTERIAL
REF: STATE 123317
Classified By: Classified by CDA Maura Connelly for reasons 1.5 b and d
.
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000839
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/IPA-PAYTON, NEA/ELA
NSC FOR ABRAMS/MCDERMOTT
PARIS FOR WALLER
LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PREL KWBG AL IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI D/FM ABBAWI SEES SUPPORTING ABBAS AS KEY
OBJECTIVE AT NOV 26 AL MINISTERIAL
REF: STATE 123317
Classified By: Classified by CDA Maura Connelly for reasons 1.5 b and d
.
1. (C) At Embassy Baghdad's request, we delivered reftel
demarche November 22 to Iraqi D/FM Abbawi, who was in
Damascus attending the November 21 Iraqi Neighbors Border
Security Working Group (BSWG) and would be heading the Iraqi
delegation at the November 26 Arab League Ministerial.
Abbawi expressed general support for U.S. objectives and said
PA President Mahmoud Abbas' attendance at the ministerial
would be important. Abbawi pledged to deflect any criticism
of Abbas and to highlight Abbas's important efforts to
promote Palestinian reconciliation and achieve an agreement
on the creation of a Palestinian state.
2. (C) Abbawi commented that Abbas's recent four-point
proposal (which Hamas Politburo chief Khaled Meshaal
subsequently rejected) represented yet another extended hand
by Fatah. Abbawi asserted now would be a good time to press
Arab League Chairman Amr Moussa to make good on a previous
pledge to hold accountable those responsible for the
breakdown in Palestinian reconciliation discussions. Though
Abbawi remained skeptical that the Arab League would actually
single Hamas out for its role in scuttling Egyptian-brokered
talks, he said it would be important to push the Arab League
on this point to bolster Abbas' position.
3. (C) Abbawi added Iraq wanted to be supportive of
Egyptian mediation efforts, since this process represented
the best hope for achieving Palestinian unity and
re-establishing a cease fire in Gaza. Eventually, he argued,
the various Palestinian factions would have to be in
agreement in order to achieve statehood. At the same time,
Abbawi said it would be important for the PA-Israeli
negotiations to continue so that there was an established
process for the new U.S. administration to pick up after
taking office.
4. (SBU) Embassy Baghdad cleared on this message.
CONNELLY
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/IPA-PAYTON, NEA/ELA
NSC FOR ABRAMS/MCDERMOTT
PARIS FOR WALLER
LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PREL KWBG AL IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI D/FM ABBAWI SEES SUPPORTING ABBAS AS KEY
OBJECTIVE AT NOV 26 AL MINISTERIAL
REF: STATE 123317
Classified By: Classified by CDA Maura Connelly for reasons 1.5 b and d
.
1. (C) At Embassy Baghdad's request, we delivered reftel
demarche November 22 to Iraqi D/FM Abbawi, who was in
Damascus attending the November 21 Iraqi Neighbors Border
Security Working Group (BSWG) and would be heading the Iraqi
delegation at the November 26 Arab League Ministerial.
Abbawi expressed general support for U.S. objectives and said
PA President Mahmoud Abbas' attendance at the ministerial
would be important. Abbawi pledged to deflect any criticism
of Abbas and to highlight Abbas's important efforts to
promote Palestinian reconciliation and achieve an agreement
on the creation of a Palestinian state.
2. (C) Abbawi commented that Abbas's recent four-point
proposal (which Hamas Politburo chief Khaled Meshaal
subsequently rejected) represented yet another extended hand
by Fatah. Abbawi asserted now would be a good time to press
Arab League Chairman Amr Moussa to make good on a previous
pledge to hold accountable those responsible for the
breakdown in Palestinian reconciliation discussions. Though
Abbawi remained skeptical that the Arab League would actually
single Hamas out for its role in scuttling Egyptian-brokered
talks, he said it would be important to push the Arab League
on this point to bolster Abbas' position.
3. (C) Abbawi added Iraq wanted to be supportive of
Egyptian mediation efforts, since this process represented
the best hope for achieving Palestinian unity and
re-establishing a cease fire in Gaza. Eventually, he argued,
the various Palestinian factions would have to be in
agreement in order to achieve statehood. At the same time,
Abbawi said it would be important for the PA-Israeli
negotiations to continue so that there was an established
process for the new U.S. administration to pick up after
taking office.
4. (SBU) Embassy Baghdad cleared on this message.
CONNELLY