Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JEDDAH368
2009-10-01 11:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
IRAQI CONSUL GENERAL IN JEDDAH MOVING TO KUWAIT AS
how-toP 011143Z OCT 09 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1544 INFO AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY AMEMBASSY KUWAIT PRIORITY IRAQ COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY RIYADH AMCONSUL DHAHRAN AMCONSUL JERUSALEM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL DIA WASHDC CIA WASHDC NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000368
NOFORN
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2029
TAGS: IZ KIRF KISL KU OFDP PAL PGOV PHUM SA
SUBJECT: IRAQI CONSUL GENERAL IN JEDDAH MOVING TO KUWAIT AS
CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, CLAIMING IRAQI MFA IS WITHHOLDING
AMBASSADORIAL RANK FOR SECTARIAN REASONS
Classified By: Consul General Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000368
NOFORN
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2029
TAGS: IZ KIRF KISL KU OFDP PAL PGOV PHUM SA
SUBJECT: IRAQI CONSUL GENERAL IN JEDDAH MOVING TO KUWAIT AS
CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, CLAIMING IRAQI MFA IS WITHHOLDING
AMBASSADORIAL RANK FOR SECTARIAN REASONS
Classified By: Consul General Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
1.(C/NF) At September 28 Libyan National Day reception in
Jeddah, Iraqi Consul General Dr. Ajwad Sheikh Taha Hamad
(strictly protect),Iraqi-Canadian dual national,told CG that
he expects any day now (as soon as his visa is ready),to
take up his new post in Kuwait as Charge d'Affaires.
Confiding mixed feelings about the new posting after
completing nearly four years in Jeddah, Dr. Hamad claimed
that his own Foreign Ministry is not sending him with
ambassadorial rank for what he believes are mainly "sectarian
reasons." Hamad said that he had seen a memo indicating that
Shia in the Iraqi MFA had blocked his appointment as
ambassador primarily because he is a Sunni. In addition to
the sectarian factor, he said his age was used as a pretext:
"why bother to make him an ambassador when he will be
retiring soon anyway." Hamad indicated that Iraqi diplomats
normally retire at sixty-three although can be granted
extensions; he indicated that he would attain that age in a
year or so.
2. (C/NF) Dr. Hamad complained about what he said was the
extremely high volume of Iraqi "politicians" being rewarded
with ambassadorships (citing a ratio of 60 political versus 5
career appointments) and about his own situation as a "loyal
bureaucrat" discriminated against as a Sunni even though many
of his family were married to Shia. ("What can we do, carry
the sectarian conflict into the bedroom?") Hamad remarked
that the Kuwait appointment was often sought after by Iraqi
diplomats and his wife, currently residing in Ontario,
Canada, is originally Kuwaiti. Just returned from a trip to
Baghdad, Hamad said the Foreign Minister told him he was
"needed in Kuwait." Thus, Hamad said he was resigned to
accept the assignment.
3. (C/NF) COMMENT: A mild-mannered, bearded, be-spectacled,
scholarly type, with a French doctorate in economics, Dr.
Ajwad Hamad has professional background and expertise on oil
issues. In addition to having worked in the Iraqi Petroleum
Ministry for several years, Hamad said he once ran a
"consultancy business" in the early 90s in Kazakhstan, but
gave it up and emigrated to Canada after Saddam Hussein
placed several members of his family, including his mother,
under arrest. Friendly towards Americans, Hamad appears
generally well regarded by his Jeddah counterparts.
Nevertheless, he can be acerbicly critical of Arab
colleagues, observing at the Libyan reception that the
Palestinian consul general, an outgoing Gaza native, is
"always the first in line to kiss the Saudi dignitaries."
Hamad, like some other Iraqi diplomats we have met in the
region, does not hesitate to express frank frustration with
his own government and deep concern about Iranian/Shia
influence in his country. END COMMENT.
QUINN
NOFORN
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2029
TAGS: IZ KIRF KISL KU OFDP PAL PGOV PHUM SA
SUBJECT: IRAQI CONSUL GENERAL IN JEDDAH MOVING TO KUWAIT AS
CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, CLAIMING IRAQI MFA IS WITHHOLDING
AMBASSADORIAL RANK FOR SECTARIAN REASONS
Classified By: Consul General Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
1.(C/NF) At September 28 Libyan National Day reception in
Jeddah, Iraqi Consul General Dr. Ajwad Sheikh Taha Hamad
(strictly protect),Iraqi-Canadian dual national,told CG that
he expects any day now (as soon as his visa is ready),to
take up his new post in Kuwait as Charge d'Affaires.
Confiding mixed feelings about the new posting after
completing nearly four years in Jeddah, Dr. Hamad claimed
that his own Foreign Ministry is not sending him with
ambassadorial rank for what he believes are mainly "sectarian
reasons." Hamad said that he had seen a memo indicating that
Shia in the Iraqi MFA had blocked his appointment as
ambassador primarily because he is a Sunni. In addition to
the sectarian factor, he said his age was used as a pretext:
"why bother to make him an ambassador when he will be
retiring soon anyway." Hamad indicated that Iraqi diplomats
normally retire at sixty-three although can be granted
extensions; he indicated that he would attain that age in a
year or so.
2. (C/NF) Dr. Hamad complained about what he said was the
extremely high volume of Iraqi "politicians" being rewarded
with ambassadorships (citing a ratio of 60 political versus 5
career appointments) and about his own situation as a "loyal
bureaucrat" discriminated against as a Sunni even though many
of his family were married to Shia. ("What can we do, carry
the sectarian conflict into the bedroom?") Hamad remarked
that the Kuwait appointment was often sought after by Iraqi
diplomats and his wife, currently residing in Ontario,
Canada, is originally Kuwaiti. Just returned from a trip to
Baghdad, Hamad said the Foreign Minister told him he was
"needed in Kuwait." Thus, Hamad said he was resigned to
accept the assignment.
3. (C/NF) COMMENT: A mild-mannered, bearded, be-spectacled,
scholarly type, with a French doctorate in economics, Dr.
Ajwad Hamad has professional background and expertise on oil
issues. In addition to having worked in the Iraqi Petroleum
Ministry for several years, Hamad said he once ran a
"consultancy business" in the early 90s in Kazakhstan, but
gave it up and emigrated to Canada after Saddam Hussein
placed several members of his family, including his mother,
under arrest. Friendly towards Americans, Hamad appears
generally well regarded by his Jeddah counterparts.
Nevertheless, he can be acerbicly critical of Arab
colleagues, observing at the Libyan reception that the
Palestinian consul general, an outgoing Gaza native, is
"always the first in line to kiss the Saudi dignitaries."
Hamad, like some other Iraqi diplomats we have met in the
region, does not hesitate to express frank frustration with
his own government and deep concern about Iranian/Shia
influence in his country. END COMMENT.
QUINN