AMB AND PM DISCUSS SYRIA, KUWAIT AND KRG ELECTIONS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002124 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2019 TAGS: CASC EWWT IZ PGOV PREF PREL PTER SUBJECT: AMB AND PM DISCUSS SYRIA, KUWAIT AND KRG ELECTIONS REF: A. DAMASCUS 196 B. BAGHDAD 1912 C. KUWAIT 442 D. BAGHDAD 1950 E. BAGHDAD 1477 Classified By: Ambassador Christopher J. Hill for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d) ¶1. (S) Summary. In their regular weekly meeting on August 6 (and the first since the PM,s return from Washington),the Ambassador and PM discussed Iraqi participation in the proposed Syrian-Iraq-U.S. trilateral border initiative. Maliki stated that he currently has an ongoing dialogue with Syria and still has unanswered questions about the proposed USG dialogue with Syria about Iraq. The PM cited his long experience with Syria and said &Please let us deal with them in our own way.8 It is clear from this and previous conversations that the PM prefers waiting before engaging in trilateral dialogue with Syria at this time. Maliki, however, welcomed USG assistance in resolving the Iraq-Kuwait maritime border issue, but did not give us much to work with. He said that it was the most difficult of all bilateral issues between the two countries. He reiterated the GOI,s belief that the maritime border demarcation was unfairly established without any Iraqi input and that there would be no stability for either country until a &rational8 long-term solution was found. He said the absence of the resolution would be tantamount to "continuing tensions with our neighbor Kuwait, something neither of us wants." We do not take this hard line as a final position, but it does suggest the progress will be slow. The PM characterized his recent visit to Sulaymaniyah and meetings with KRG President Barzani and other KRG leadership as positive and indicated that the GOI was encouraged by current conditions to work toward resolution of outstanding issues. He also offered to reach out to the Iranian Ambassador and other contacts about the three Americans arrested at the Iranian border. Addressing issues related to his trip to Washington, the PM indicated that a Refugee Coordinator had been named and promised to have his staff send Emboffs the name and further details. He also said he was happy to have spoke with Secretary Gates about wanting F-16s and volunteered that Iraq would have to pay for them and thought the GOI budget could be adjusted (without saying in which fiscal year) to do so. End summary. SYRIAN ENGAGEMENT -------------- ¶2. (S) The Ambassador stresed the importance of Iraqi �A;participation in the proposed Syrian-Iraq-U.S. trilateral border initiative (Ref A) pointing out there should be "nothing about you without you." The PM responded that he already has an ongoing dialogue with the Syrian government. The PM said two days prior he met with a Syrian delegation and that there was an Iraqi delegation currently visiting Damascus. The Iraqi delegation was sent to Damascus with all of the information the GOI had with regard to foreign fighters entering Iraq through Syria in the hopes that the two countries could come up with a solution to the problem, he said. The PM told the Ambassador that he understood USG intentions for the trilateral dialogue, but preferred to handle the issue bilaterally for the time being . Maliki stated he knew the Syrians well, having lived in Syria for 17 years, and said &Please let us deal with them in our own way.8 The PM opined that relationships must be based on mutual respect and that specific roles needed to be established before any dialogue could occur between the USG and Syria with regard to Iraq. He said that he would not Qand Syria with regard to Iraq. He said that he would not make any decisions on participating in the proposed trilateral border initiative until his team returned from Damascus and briefed him on their visit. MARITIME BORDER WITH KUWAIT -------------- ¶3. (S) The Ambassador sought clarification on the GOI,s stance with regard to the maritime border issue with Kuwait. The PM stated that the maritime border was the most difficult bilateral issue with Kuwait and that all other issues could more easily be resolved. The problem with the maritime border issue, he said, was that demarcation was done &in the absence of Iraq8 and was &unjust.8 (Note: Maliki is likely referring the findings of the UN Boundary Demarcation Commission established in May 1991. The Iraqi delegation only participated in five sessions before ceasing participation in July 1992 based on a litany of complaints. The commission completed its work and its final report was issued as an appendix to UNSCR 833. For further explanation, see Ref B. End note.) Maliki likened Iraq to a &big house with a very small door8 and that &Iraq,s maritime freedoms are in the hands of Kuwait8 which was &unacceptable8 nor did he believe an agreement on flagging could resolve the issue. The PM hoped that a &calm and rational8 resolution could be reached and expressed his desire for a long-term sustainable solution that he could defend to the Iraqi BAGHDAD 00002124 002 OF 002 people. Maliki repeatedly noted the difficulty of resolving the maritime border issue, saying that there would be &no stability8 for either country until it was resolved. The PM requested and supported USG assistance in resolving this matter, but indicated that it was unlikely any substantive progress on the issue would be made until after the national elections. ¶4. (S) Maliki stated that the GOI has no issues with the land border demarcation but that a potential problem loomed in the form of Iraqi farmers currently living on the Kuwaiti side of the border (Ref C). The PM claimed that the GOI has reached out to these &tribes8 living in the border area informing them that the GOI and GOK are willing to build new homes and offer compensation in order for them to relocate to the Iraqi side of the border. He said that the farmers rejected the offer and threatened to fight if they were forcibly removed. PM,S VISIT TO SULAYMANIYAH -------------- ¶5. (S) The PM described his recent trip to Sulaymaniyah and meetings with KRG President Barzani and other KRG leadership as &a good visit.8 He said that there was agreement between the GOI and the KRG that the situation prior to the elections was challenging and worrisome due to large amounts of money being spent by various political blocs but that in the end he felt the electoral and democratic processes were protected. The PM spoke of a fear of an &Arab/Sunni8 project being implemented by other countries (namely Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan),a concern he addressed with President Obama and Vice President Biden during his visit to Washington last month. He thanked the Ambassador fo the clear Presidential and Vice Presidential reasurance that the USG was not involved in plotting to restore Ba'athists to supremacy in Baghdad. He said he worried that the Arab/Sunni project would polarize the country along sectarian lines and would push both the Shia and the Kurds (out of fear) towards a closer alliance with Iran. This concern was addressed during his discussions with KRG leadership, Maliki said, and the Kurds agreed to refrain from taking sides and continue working towards a united Iraq. The PM expressed his belief that based on current conditions, &it encourages us to move toward solutions8 for outstanding issues. OUTREACH TO IRANIAN EMBASSY RE ARRESTED AMERICANS -------------- ¶6. (S) The Ambassador briefed the PM on the three American hikers detained at the Iranian border. The PM stated he would try to assist by contacting the Iranian Ambassador the same day and use some of his contacts to find out more information and urge their immediate release. REFUGEE COORDINATOR NAMED? -------------- ¶7. (S) The Ambassador asked the PM whether a Refugee Coordinator had been named per his commitment to Secretary Clinton during their meeting in Washington. The PM said that he thought this was already done, but would have his staff get back to Emboffs with further details and the name. COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (S) Based on this and previous conversations (Refs D and E) with the PM regarding any trilateral engagement between the Syria-Iraq-U.S., it is clear that there is no interest at this time. As the PM indicated during this conversation, the GOI is in the midst of establishing its own bilateral engagement with Syria and does not want USG interference. However, USG assistance would be welcome in resolving the Iraq-Kuwait maritime border issue. Because the maritime QIraq-Kuwait maritime border issue. Because the maritime border issue is tied to UNSCR 833, which the Iraqis have accepted, it will be difficult to separate the issue from the rest of the UNSCR and convince the Kuwaitis to make some adjustments in the demarcation of the maritime border. HILL