Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAGHDAD939
2009-04-06 13:07:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

SYRIAN FM MU'ALLIM'S VISIT TO BAGHDAD: SECURITY IS

Tags:  PGOV PREL MOPS IZ SY 
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VZCZCXRO0485
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #0939/01 0961307
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 061307Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2561
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000939 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2029
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS IZ SY
SUBJECT: SYRIAN FM MU'ALLIM'S VISIT TO BAGHDAD: SECURITY IS
KEY

REF: A. BAGHDAD 931

B. BAGHDAD 847

C. DAMASCUS 218

Classified By: Charge d' Affairs Patricia Butenis for reasons 1.4 (d)

--------
Summary
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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000939

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2029
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS IZ SY
SUBJECT: SYRIAN FM MU'ALLIM'S VISIT TO BAGHDAD: SECURITY IS
KEY

REF: A. BAGHDAD 931

B. BAGHDAD 847

C. DAMASCUS 218

Classified By: Charge d' Affairs Patricia Butenis for reasons 1.4 (d)

--------------
Summary
--------------

1. (S) Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mu'allim became the
latest high-level visitor to Baghdad March 25-26, following
on the heels of Turkish President Gul's visit the day before
(Ref A). (Note: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
subsequently visited Baghdad April 5.) During the two-day
visit, Mu'allim met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (Ref
B),Deputy Prime Ministers Barham Saleh and Rafi Essawi, Vice
Presidents Adel Mehdi and Tariq al-Hashmi, and Foreign
Minister Hoshyar Zebari. In public comments to the press,
GOI officials were generally upbeat about the visit but
stressed that improving bilateral security cooperation is
critical. Maliki echoed this sentiment in subsequent
discussions with the USG, although he expressed his doubts
about Syrian sincerity. For his part, Mu'allim publicly
voiced the SARG's support for the GOI and called on other
Arab states to strengthen ties with Baghdad. The visit marks
the latest step in Iraqi-Syrian rapprochement and follows the
posting of a Syrian Ambassador to Baghdad in September and of
an Iraqi Ambassador to Damascus in late-January. It also set
the stage for a meeting between Syrian President Bashar
al-Asad and PM Maliki at the annual Arab League Summit in
Doha, Qatar on March 30 (Ref C),a meeting that we understand
from FM Zebari went well atmospherically. But further
improvement in the Iraqi-Syrian relationship will depend on
concrete SARG action on critical bilateral security issues as
well as GOI action on Syrian priorities including the
Kirkuk-Banyas pipeline and increased bilateral trade. End
Summary.

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GOI Welcomes Visit; Security the Focus
--------------


2. (U) Press reports following Foreign Minister Mu'allim's
meeting with Prime Minister Maliki said Maliki underlined the
GOI's "political will to boost relations with Syria in
different fields" and said discussions focused on border
security, water resources, fuel, and strengthening Arab

cooperation. In a short televised interview, Iraqi
Government Spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said "this is a
significant visit and a first step that we welcome. We
extend our hands to our brother Syrians." Al-Dabbagh added,
"There are active groups in Syria, which are not political
opposition parties, but those supporting armed groups that
kill Iraqis and destroy the Iraqi infrastructure and the
Iraqi people." Al-Dabbagh affirmed the GOI's "genuine will"
towards developing good bilateral relations but stressed that
"security should be the key in developing this relation."


3. (U) Foreign Minister Zebari put a decidedly positive spin
on the visit during a joint press conference with Mu'allim,
stating "We discussed Iraqi-Syrian relations in detail. We
did so cordially, frankly and clearly . . . relations have
much improved compared to past years, thanks to the Syrian
government's positive response to Iraqi calls to help
entrench security and stability . . . true, some Iraqi
opposition figures are perhaps active there, but we are a
democratic country that understands the meaning of political
and unarmed opposition. Do not forget that we, too, lived in
Syria for years when we were in the opposition. This is a
fact we will not forget."


4. (C) Zebari told PMIN on March 26 evening that the
Syrians had said that they would continue to talk to and host
Baathists but they'd look at whatever derogatory security
QBaathists but they'd look at whatever derogatory security
intelligence about Iraqi Baathists the Iraqi Government
wanted to provide. The Syrians, Zebari said, made no
specific promises about the borders but Syrian delegation
member Nasif claimed that the Syrian Government had shut down
several networks funneling fighters into Iraq. Zebari opined
that the Syrians' main goal was to get the pipeline to Banyas
working again - they accented this in all discussions, Zebari
stated. Zebari added that the Syrian PM is scheduled to come
to Baghdad again to sign some bilateral cooperation
agreements. Zebari opined that the Syrians are still trying
to take Maliki's measure as a man who keeps his word or not.


5. (C) In an April 2 meeting with PMIN, FM Zebari made
clear that his public statements were a fairly accurate
reflection of how he assessed Mu'allim's visit. He said the
visit had set the stage for a friendly meeting between PM
Maliki and President Asad on the margins of the Doha Summit,
although significant issues remain on both sides. The

BAGHDAD 00000939 002 OF 002


Syrians, Zebari said, are frustrated with Maliki, feel he has
not been serious, and believe he has deliberately delayed
progress on the Kirkuk-Banyas pipeline issue and on
developing bilateral trade relations. Maliki, according to
Zebari, is focused on the need for Syria to do more on the
security front and has concerns about Iraqi Baathists
residing in Syria, issues Maliki stressed both to Mu'allim in
Baghdad and Asad in Doha.

-------------- --------------
Mu'allim: Greetings and Congratulations from Bashar
-------------- --------------


6. (U) At the same joint press conference with Zebari,
Mu'allim said his visit had been at the behest of President
Asad in order "to convey to the brothers in the Iraqi
leadership his congratulations and the congratulations of the
Syrian leadership and people on the success of provincial
elections and the results achieved." He added that he had
briefed the results of the four-party summit held in Riyadh
so that coordination and consultation can be held with my
brother Hoshyar on the best ways to ensure
success of the upcoming Doha summit. Responding to a
question on internal Iraqi reconciliation dynamics,
Mu'allim said, "National reconciliation is first and foremost
an Iraqi affair. We do not have specific
proposals but good wishes for the attainment of this
reconciliation and Syrian willingness to help achieve this
goal."

--------------
Maliki Questions Syrian Security Cooperation
--------------


7. (S) In his regular weekly meeting with Charge d'Affaires
Butenis and MNF-I Commanding General (CG) Odierno on March
27, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki indicated that the Syrian
visit was successful in advancing the bilateral relationship
(Ref B). Maliki indicated that security is the "magic key" to
this relationship. He confirmed that Iraq and Syria will
establish two teams to exchange information about insurgents.
However, Maliki noted that whenever Iraq presented Syria
with information on insurgent elements operating in Syria,
the SARG denied complicity and refused to take action.
Separate reporting from Damascus indicates that Syria may
finally be serious about addressing joint security concerns
(Ref C).

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Comment
--------------


8. (S) Cooperation between Syria and Iraq on security issues
is a positive indicator of Iraq's expanding sovereignty,
demonstrates Iraq's increasing ability to engage neighbors on
regional matters, and could serve as a precursor to eventual
U.S./Iraqi/Syrian cooperation on regional counterterrorism
issues. In the past, the Syrians have been unresponsive to
GOI requests for cooperation on combating insurgent elements
in Iraq. However, Syria has added incentives to cooperate,
as it recently uncovered a Syrian cross-border smuggling
network with significant Iraqi ties, and Syria may want Iraqi
assistance in countering Saudi support to Sunni extremist
elements in Lebanon and Iraq. Also, Syrian action countering
Saudi support for legitimate Sunni political activities in
Iraq diminishes the Saudi counterweight to Iran. Embassy
will encourage the Iraqis on security cooperation, with a
watchful eye toward monitoring any actions which could have
destabilizing sectarian or political motivations. Without
concerted Syrian action against insurgents, we expect Iraq
will remain uninterested in seriously engaging with Syria on
other bilateral issues.
BUTENIS