GON HAS "WAIT AND SEE" APPROACH ON ATTEMPTS TO BAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000047 SIPDIS NEA/I/POL WILLIAM CAVNESS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2020 TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ NO SUBJECT: GON HAS "WAIT AND SEE" APPROACH ON ATTEMPTS TO BAR CANDIDATES FROM UPCOMING IRAQI ELECTIONS REF: SECSTATE 5980 Classified By: DCM James T. Heg for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) MFA Iraq Desk Officer Anita Krokan told PolOff January 26 that their embassy in Amman has recommended a "wait and see" strategy in approaching the GoI in regards to barring of candidates from participating in the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections, Krokan said non-Sunni groups have also been barred, and the GoN remains unconvinced that discrimination was the motive behind the Iraqi Accountability and Justice Commission and the Iraqi High Electoral Commission action. Krokan added that their embassy had asked the GoI for additional information and would await the results of the "internal Iraqi process." She said the Government of Sweden had taken the same position. Krokan concluded by noting if the USG had specific information demonstrating discrimination, the GoN would re-consider its approach. WHITE