Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SEOUL738
2008-04-11 07:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
ROK HAS FORGIVEN 80 PERCENT OF IRAQ DEBT, LOOKING
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #0738 1020750 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 110750Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9323 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4092 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 4243 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 8663 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0115 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 2594 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA CC SEOUL KOR RUACAAA/COMUSKOREA INTEL SEOUL KOR RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000738
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV KS PREL IZ IR TU EUN
SUBJECT: ROK HAS FORGIVEN 80 PERCENT OF IRAQ DEBT, LOOKING
TO INVEST IN OIL
REF: STATE 35471
Classified By: A/DCM Joseph Yun. Reasons 1.4(b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000738
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV KS PREL IZ IR TU EUN
SUBJECT: ROK HAS FORGIVEN 80 PERCENT OF IRAQ DEBT, LOOKING
TO INVEST IN OIL
REF: STATE 35471
Classified By: A/DCM Joseph Yun. Reasons 1.4(b/d)
1. (C) In an April 11 meeting with Gulf Region Division First
Secretary Moon Byung-jun, poloff, per reftel, (1) requested
SIPDIS
that MOFAT attend the May 29 Ministerial in Stockholm, (2)
recommended that the ROKG use its meetings with Iraq,s
neighbors to encourage them to increase engagement with Iraq
by establishing diplomatic missions in Iraq, and (3)
encouraged the ROKG to follow through on debt reduction
pledges. Moon said that the ROK had already followed through
on 80 percent of its Iraq debt forgiveness, and provided a
nonpaper with further details on the its debt forgiveness to
date (Post will send via email to Iraq and Korea desks). For
the other two requests, Moon said he would follow up with the
appropriate bureaus within MOFAT.
2. (C) In terms of the ROK's views on Iraq, Moon stated that
he thought the current situation in Iraq would likely
continue until at least October, when Iraq's provincial
elections would be held. The continued deployment of 140,000
U.S. forces in Iraq, therefore, was a "good strategy." In
terms of the ROK's continued deployment of the Zaytun unit to
Erbil, Moon said that a political decision would have to be
made at the highest levels of the ROKG.
3. (C) Moon said that the ROK was concerned about its
commercial firms expanding operations in Iraq, given that the
current security environment outside of Kurdish controlled
areas was still shaky. Moon mentioned, however, that the ROK
was interested in further investment in Iraq's oil industry,
and that the Iraqi oil law would be key to spurring
additional investment by South Korean companies. President
Lee Myung-bak has emphasized the development of energy
security as part of his foreign policy, Moon noted.
STANTON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV KS PREL IZ IR TU EUN
SUBJECT: ROK HAS FORGIVEN 80 PERCENT OF IRAQ DEBT, LOOKING
TO INVEST IN OIL
REF: STATE 35471
Classified By: A/DCM Joseph Yun. Reasons 1.4(b/d)
1. (C) In an April 11 meeting with Gulf Region Division First
Secretary Moon Byung-jun, poloff, per reftel, (1) requested
SIPDIS
that MOFAT attend the May 29 Ministerial in Stockholm, (2)
recommended that the ROKG use its meetings with Iraq,s
neighbors to encourage them to increase engagement with Iraq
by establishing diplomatic missions in Iraq, and (3)
encouraged the ROKG to follow through on debt reduction
pledges. Moon said that the ROK had already followed through
on 80 percent of its Iraq debt forgiveness, and provided a
nonpaper with further details on the its debt forgiveness to
date (Post will send via email to Iraq and Korea desks). For
the other two requests, Moon said he would follow up with the
appropriate bureaus within MOFAT.
2. (C) In terms of the ROK's views on Iraq, Moon stated that
he thought the current situation in Iraq would likely
continue until at least October, when Iraq's provincial
elections would be held. The continued deployment of 140,000
U.S. forces in Iraq, therefore, was a "good strategy." In
terms of the ROK's continued deployment of the Zaytun unit to
Erbil, Moon said that a political decision would have to be
made at the highest levels of the ROKG.
3. (C) Moon said that the ROK was concerned about its
commercial firms expanding operations in Iraq, given that the
current security environment outside of Kurdish controlled
areas was still shaky. Moon mentioned, however, that the ROK
was interested in further investment in Iraq's oil industry,
and that the Iraqi oil law would be key to spurring
additional investment by South Korean companies. President
Lee Myung-bak has emphasized the development of energy
security as part of his foreign policy, Moon noted.
STANTON