DAS GARBER TALKS IRAQ COMPACT CONFERENCE WITH

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000310

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EUR FOR NB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON IQ EU SW
SUBJECT: DAS GARBER TALKS IRAQ COMPACT CONFERENCE WITH
STATE SECRETARY BELFRAGE

REF: A. A) STOCKHOLM 278

B. B) STATE 43799

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED--PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.


1. (SBU) Summary: On April 25, DAS Judy Garber, accompanied
by DCM, met with State Secretary Frank Belfrage to discuss
issues surrounding the International Compact with Iraq (ICI)
on May 29 in Stockholm. The Swedes are pressing EU and Gulf
capitals to send FMs to the ICI, and would appreciate
continued U.S. support on this. Sweden wants to see greater
progress on Iraqi reforms prior to the meeting, and agreed to
send its ambassador more often to Iraq to facilitate
coordination of the ICI. Please see action request
paragraph 5. End summary.

EU and Gulf State Participation
--------------


2. (SBU) Belfrage was grateful to hear that U.S. embassies
are demarching host governments to encourage participation at
the ICI (ref A). He gave us this update based on his
contacts:

-- Kuwaiti FM Sabah might attend;
-- Jordanian FM Muasher intends to go;
-- Iranian FM Mottaki will attend;
-- Syrian FM Moallem will attend;
-- Turkish FM Babacan will attend;
-- Saudi FM Prince Saud al-Faisal had a scheduling conflict
and will send his Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Madani;
-- Bahrain officials are likely to attend;
-- French Foreign Minister Kouchner has changed his mind and
now plans to attend;
-- German FM Steinmeier has a scheduling conflict and might
attend; and
-- British FM Miliband will attend.


3. (SBU) Belfrage said EU members must be well-represented at
the ICI, and is actively working to convince the European
capitals to participate in building Iraq's future and not
hold grudges. He asked for continued U.S. support to
encourage FM attendance (ref B).

Closer Swedish-Iraqi Cooperation
--------------


4. (SBU) Belfrage said Sweden's Ambassador to Iraq, Niklas
Trouve, is the point of contact for the ICI. The DCM
suggested Trouve, who is resident in Amman, stay in Baghdad
to work with Barham Salih and Amb. Ries on the ICI agenda.
Belfrage took the point and discussed it with his staff after
the meeting.


5. (SBU) Belfrage said the ICI's agenda also requires
coordinated work. He noted that there are "confusing"
signals coming from the Iraqis, especially on whether Sweden
should hold an International Reconstruction Fund Facility for
Iraq (IRFFI) on May 28. The DCM said having Swedish
officials in Baghdad would prevent confusion.


6. (SBU) Action Request: The DCM will meet with Belfrage on
the morning of April 30. Post appreciates Washington
relaying any updates on ICI attendance by COB April 29.


7. (U) DAS Garber cleared this cable.
WOOD