Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAGHDAD2755
2009-10-13 16:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
IRAQ-UK SECURITY AGREEMENT APPROVED BY COUNCIL OF
how-toVZCZCXRO8743 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #2755 2861607 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 131607Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2025 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5060
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002755
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MASS MOPS UK IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ-UK SECURITY AGREEMENT APPROVED BY COUNCIL OF
REPRESENTATIVES
REF: A. BAGHDAD 2662
B. BAGHDAD 2273
C. SECSTATE 91299
Classified By: Political Military Minister Counselor Cameron Munter for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002755
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MASS MOPS UK IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ-UK SECURITY AGREEMENT APPROVED BY COUNCIL OF
REPRESENTATIVES
REF: A. BAGHDAD 2662
B. BAGHDAD 2273
C. SECSTATE 91299
Classified By: Political Military Minister Counselor Cameron Munter for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Iraq's Council of Representatives (COR) passed the UK
bilateral security agreement October 13 with 139 votes.
British Defense Attach Brigadier Ben Bathurst said the
British Ambassador had been working closely with Iraqi
Speaker Ayad al-Samarraie to encourage the passing of the
agreement. Bathurst said that only the Sadrist bloc opposed
the agreement, and so al-Samarraie, who wanted the agreement
to pass, waited until at least 180 representatives showed up
to introduce the agreement. Some 30-40 Sadrists walked out
as expected, but the 139 votes in favor was just enough to
reach a quorum. Bathurst added that British troops and
trainers temporarily assigned elsewhere in the region, while
waiting for the COR to reconvene after Ramadan (ref B),would
return. The British ships could come back into Iraq's waters
on short notice, once the Iraqi Presidency ratifies the
agreement and NAVCENT is prepared to switch US ships with
Royal Navy ships.
2. (C) According to the Iraqi press, the Sadrists are
challenging the agreement, claiming that al-Samarraie and his
deputy, Khalid al-Atiya, passed the agreement illegally.
Bathurst said that the Sadrist made this claim once they
returned to the COR chamber, but that they had no basis and
the session continued uninterrupted.
3. (C) Comment: Per ref A, Post continued to press PM Maliki
on passing the UK security agreement in previous weeks. The
Ambassador also raised this with al-Samarraie on October 11.
We are encouraged by the cementing of this important
relationship and the continuation of the UK's naval training
mission in and around the port of Umm Qasr. End comment.
HILL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MASS MOPS UK IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ-UK SECURITY AGREEMENT APPROVED BY COUNCIL OF
REPRESENTATIVES
REF: A. BAGHDAD 2662
B. BAGHDAD 2273
C. SECSTATE 91299
Classified By: Political Military Minister Counselor Cameron Munter for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Iraq's Council of Representatives (COR) passed the UK
bilateral security agreement October 13 with 139 votes.
British Defense Attach Brigadier Ben Bathurst said the
British Ambassador had been working closely with Iraqi
Speaker Ayad al-Samarraie to encourage the passing of the
agreement. Bathurst said that only the Sadrist bloc opposed
the agreement, and so al-Samarraie, who wanted the agreement
to pass, waited until at least 180 representatives showed up
to introduce the agreement. Some 30-40 Sadrists walked out
as expected, but the 139 votes in favor was just enough to
reach a quorum. Bathurst added that British troops and
trainers temporarily assigned elsewhere in the region, while
waiting for the COR to reconvene after Ramadan (ref B),would
return. The British ships could come back into Iraq's waters
on short notice, once the Iraqi Presidency ratifies the
agreement and NAVCENT is prepared to switch US ships with
Royal Navy ships.
2. (C) According to the Iraqi press, the Sadrists are
challenging the agreement, claiming that al-Samarraie and his
deputy, Khalid al-Atiya, passed the agreement illegally.
Bathurst said that the Sadrist made this claim once they
returned to the COR chamber, but that they had no basis and
the session continued uninterrupted.
3. (C) Comment: Per ref A, Post continued to press PM Maliki
on passing the UK security agreement in previous weeks. The
Ambassador also raised this with al-Samarraie on October 11.
We are encouraged by the cementing of this important
relationship and the continuation of the UK's naval training
mission in and around the port of Umm Qasr. End comment.
HILL