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