Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JEDDAH183
2008-04-30 08:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
OIC PLANS TO OPEN OFFICE IN BAGHDAD
how-toVZCZCXRO1691 PP RUEHBC RUEHBW RUEHDE RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHJI #0183 1210839 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 300839Z APR 08 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0684 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000183
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN, DEPARTMENT FOR IO, NEA/ARP,
HERRO MUSTAFA IN P
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2018
TAGS: PREL KISL IZ SA
SUBJECT: OIC PLANS TO OPEN OFFICE IN BAGHDAD
Classified By: Acting Consul General CB Toney for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d
).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000183
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN, DEPARTMENT FOR IO, NEA/ARP,
HERRO MUSTAFA IN P
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2018
TAGS: PREL KISL IZ SA
SUBJECT: OIC PLANS TO OPEN OFFICE IN BAGHDAD
Classified By: Acting Consul General CB Toney for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d
).
1. (C) In an April 29 meeting with Organization of the
Islamic Conference (OIC) Director General for Political
Affairs Mahdy Fathallah, he elaborated on OIC plans to open
an office in Baghdad. The OIC hopes to send soon Ambassador
Hamed Mohammad Altani to run a three-person shop (the
Ambassador and two locally employed staff) at an office near
the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (NOTE: According to
Fathallah, Altani is a prominent Sudanese diplomat, having
had positions as Ambassador to Iran (2001 - 2005) and
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson. END NOTE.).
2. (C) While Fathallah could not say when Ambassador Altani
would depart for Baghdad, he was able to speak on the goals
of the OIC presence in Iraq. The more immediate goal is to
prepare for the "technical" visit of representatives from the
OIC's 21 agencies, including the Islamic Development Bank, to
asses how the Organization can best assist in reconstruction.
Another goal, he added, was to build on the OIC's 2006 Mecca
Declaration Initiative to facilitate reconciliation between
Shia and Sunni leaders.
3. (C) In response to why the OIC has chosen to open an
office now, Fathallah stated that on his April trip to
Baghdad (from which he accompanied Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri
Al-Maliki in his plane to the April 22 Conference of the
Neighboring Countries of Iraq),he observed two major
changes. He said he noticed immediately an improved security
environment as well as a desire to cooperate between the Shia
and Sunni leaders. Nevertheless, he admitted he did not
anticipate OIC member state governments to follow suit
"because they have their own criteria for opening an Embassy."
TONEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN, DEPARTMENT FOR IO, NEA/ARP,
HERRO MUSTAFA IN P
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2018
TAGS: PREL KISL IZ SA
SUBJECT: OIC PLANS TO OPEN OFFICE IN BAGHDAD
Classified By: Acting Consul General CB Toney for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d
).
1. (C) In an April 29 meeting with Organization of the
Islamic Conference (OIC) Director General for Political
Affairs Mahdy Fathallah, he elaborated on OIC plans to open
an office in Baghdad. The OIC hopes to send soon Ambassador
Hamed Mohammad Altani to run a three-person shop (the
Ambassador and two locally employed staff) at an office near
the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (NOTE: According to
Fathallah, Altani is a prominent Sudanese diplomat, having
had positions as Ambassador to Iran (2001 - 2005) and
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson. END NOTE.).
2. (C) While Fathallah could not say when Ambassador Altani
would depart for Baghdad, he was able to speak on the goals
of the OIC presence in Iraq. The more immediate goal is to
prepare for the "technical" visit of representatives from the
OIC's 21 agencies, including the Islamic Development Bank, to
asses how the Organization can best assist in reconstruction.
Another goal, he added, was to build on the OIC's 2006 Mecca
Declaration Initiative to facilitate reconciliation between
Shia and Sunni leaders.
3. (C) In response to why the OIC has chosen to open an
office now, Fathallah stated that on his April trip to
Baghdad (from which he accompanied Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri
Al-Maliki in his plane to the April 22 Conference of the
Neighboring Countries of Iraq),he observed two major
changes. He said he noticed immediately an improved security
environment as well as a desire to cooperate between the Shia
and Sunni leaders. Nevertheless, he admitted he did not
anticipate OIC member state governments to follow suit
"because they have their own criteria for opening an Embassy."
TONEY