AMBASSADOR RICE'S INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH IRAQI

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000207

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC IZ KU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE'S INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH IRAQI
PR BAYATI

Classified By: AMBASSADOR SUSAN RICE, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D


1. (C) During a March 4 introductory meeting, Iraqi PR Hamid
al-Bayati told Ambassador Rice that Iraq was eager for a
"long-term strategic relationship with the U.S." He
expressed his willingness to serve as an intermediary with
the UN,s group of Arab Ambassadors, and also offered to help
assist as an intermediary with Iran. Ambassador Rice asked
that Bayati and the Iraqi government encourage Iran to be
more constructive in the region and in its relationship with
Iraq. Bayati agreed, and said the Iran nuclear issue was of
great concern to Iraq, since they shared a border and would
be greatly affected if Iran developed a nuclear weapon
capability.


2. (C) Bayati said the most important current issue for the
Iraqi Mission to the UN was the review mandated by Resolution
1859 of all Security Council resolutions pertaining to Iraq.
(Note: This UN review will likely be released to the Security
Council in June. End note) He complained that Kuwait was
"deliberately punishing the people of Iraq" by refusing to
negotiate on the many legacy issues related to Iraq,s
invasion of Kuwait, including the Compensation Committee, the
missing Kuwaiti archives and persons, and border issues.
Bayati said Kuwait was treating Iraq as if Saddam Hussein was
still in power. He asked for U.S. assistance in convincing
Kuwait to be more flexible. He also asked for U.S.
assistance in improving Iraq,s relations with the region,
especially with Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Ambassador Rice said
the U.S. was sensitive to Iraqi concerns, and emphasized that
it was in the clear interest of the U.S. to strengthen and
deepen the relationship between Iraq and its neighbors in the
region.
Rice