DEPUTY FM ON IRAQ'S REGIONAL RELATIONS: BILATERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001168 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ KU JO SY SA TU SUBJECT: DEPUTY FM ON IRAQ'S REGIONAL RELATIONS: BILATERAL APPROACH IS BEST Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor John Fox for reasons 1.4 (b). ¶1. (C) Deputy Foreign Minister Labeed Abbawi told NEA DAS Schmierer and visiting USG delegation on May 2 that Iraq's regional engagement focus would be primarily bilateral. Acknowledging the initial utility of the Expanded Neighbors' Process as a mechanism for the region to deal with Iraq, Abbawi asserted that "We've passed that stage; Iraq now stands on an equal footing with these countries." He shared, with little enthusiasm, that "there are ideas floating" about transforming the Neighbors' Process into a new regional framework. He said the GOI does not favor such an approach because it does not want Iraq to get involved in sensitive, controversial international issues, such as Iran's nuclear program or the Arab-Israeli conflict. "We have enough problems as it is," he said. (Note: Meeting with the delegation later the same day, UNAMI Deputy SRSG Andrew Gilmour said that "Nobody is taking regional dialogue seriously -- neither Iraq nor its neighbors. The Iraqis view regional mechanisms as tieing Iraq's hands." End note.) ¶2. (C) Regardless of what happens with the broader neighbors architecture, Abbawi noted that it would be useful to continue Neighbors' Process working-group meetings on border security, energy and refugees. Abbawi also thought the International Compact with Iraq should continue; this was an important means of attracting foreign investment to Iraq. ¶3. (C) Abbawi then provided a quick survey of the state of Iraq's bilateral regional ties. He assessed Iraq's relations both with Turkey and Egypt as very good, and said Jordanian Prime Minister Dahabi was expected to visit Baghdad soon. He said the Syrians have "changed their attitude" toward Iraq and are looking to cooperate, as was clear in the productive recent visits of Syrian Foreign Minister Mu'allim and Prime Minister Utri, during which several bilateral agreements, including on security cooperation (NFI),were signed. Abbawi noted that the GOI continues to stress to Arab Gulf states that the best way for them to address their concerns about Iranian influence in Iraq "is to be here," in particular through strengthening investment and business ties. ¶4. (C) As we have heard previously from Abbawi and FM Zebari, relations with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are a particular MFA area of concern. Abbawi noted that recent "encouraging statements" from Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Feisal and the arrival of Iraq's Ambassador in Riyadh on April 25 are both positive developments. That said, he acknowledged that Iraq continues to have a "credibility problem" in Riyadh and sought U.S. help in convincing skeptics of the GOI's non-sectarian nature. ¶5. (C) On Kuwait, Abbawi underlined Iraq's desire to resolve outstanding issues "in a brotherly way" via bilateral negotiations, rather than through the UN Security Council. He asserted that Iraq is doing all it can, and all it is required to do, to fulfill its Chapter VII obligations. He pointed to the recent return of Kuwaiti Ministry of Information archives. Abbawi reiterated Iraq's readiness to receive a PM-led Kuwaiti delegation in Baghdad as soon as possible to discuss the full range of bilateral issues (debt, compensation, missing persons, etc.). (Comment: While Abbawi lamented what the GOI views as unrealistic Kuwaiti demands on certain issues -- such as limits on the GOI's ability to account for every Kuwaiti missing person -- he made no mention of the cause of recent Kuwait-Iraq friction: Prime Qmention of the cause of recent Kuwait-Iraq friction: Prime Minister Maliki's refusal to commit to current borders in a tense bilateral with the Amir of Kuwait on the margins of the March 29-30 Doha Arab League Summit. End comment.). DAS Schmierer responded that the U.S. is ready to help facilitate Iraqi-Kuwaiti reconciliation, but stressed that the GOI needs to do more to convince the Kuwaitis that Iraq is making a good-faith effort, in particular on the issue of Kuwaiti missing persons. Abbawi agreed, noting "we have to move quickly or voices will rise on both sides." ¶6. (U) DAS Schmierer has cleared on this message. HILL