US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS2369

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 002369 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2014 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, IZ, UNSC, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: EU ON LATEST IRAQ DEVELOPMENTS: WHAT TO EXPECT IN 
JUNE 
 
REF: A. STATE 121748 
 
     B. STATE 121718 
     C. DUBLIN 840 
 
Classified By: USEU Poloff Van Reidhead for reasons 1.4 (b, d) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  The EU intends to release a medium term 
strategy on Iraq at its June 17-18 Summit.  The strategy will 
govern political and economic relations with sovereign Iraq 
through the 2004-05 electoral period.  Specific proposals 
include support for the electoral process, human rights, 
democratic institutions and civil society, as well as 
regional reintegration and significant microeconomic 
assistance.  Pleased with a new government in Iraq and 
hopeful about a passage of UNSC resolution on Iraq, formal 
EU-Iraq relations will likely begin with a high level troika 
visit this summer; one of our interlocutors described as an 
EU commitment to "progressively engage in Iraq." On June 2, 
Deputy Secretary Armitage raised many ref A-B points in his 
discussion on Iraq with EU Council Hi-Rep Javier Solana 
(septel). Solana is both publicly and privately supportive of 
the new government and wants the UNSC resolution on Iraq to 
go ahead. End Summary. 
 
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EU Intends "Progressive Engagement" With Sovereign Iraq 
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2. (C) We called on the Council Secretariat Iraq Desk to 
discuss the draft UNSCR on Iraq and the Brahimi-al Allawi 
announcement naming an Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) 
(reftels).  Principal Administrator Lena Hove (protect) 
affirmed EU support for a return to sovereignty on June 30 
and said that "everybody is quite happy with Brahimi" and his 
efforts as UN Special Advisor.  She added that the EU has 
"lots of hope and expectation for what the UN can do in 
Iraq," and is looking for ways to engage and assist the IIG 
in the run up to elections. 
 
3. (C) Hove reports that EU leaders hope to adopt a strategy 
at their June 17-18 Summit for engaging with Iraq throughout 
the interim period.  An Irish contact confirms the intent for 
leaders to "welcome, review and possibly endorse" the 
strategy, which both Hove and our Irish contact describe as a 
"medium term" effort intended to cover the period from July 1 
through the 2004-05 electoral period.  The draft strategy (or 
"Communication" in Eurojargon) is scheduled for release by 
the Commission on June 9.  Member States will have from then 
until the June 14 GAERC to review and revise the document. 
FMs could either endorse it on June 14 or mandate further 
revision prior to the June 17-18 EU Summit.  Hove said that 
in either case, the EU was determined to have a strategy in 
place by the June 30 transfer of sovereignty.  Asked if 
passage of the draft UNSCR was viewed as a prerequisite for 
adopting an EU strategy for enhanced engagement, Hove said 
no; Member States hoped that the resolution would be passed 
in time to inform the EU strategy but that that was not a 
condition.  Somewhere along the way, HiRep Solana and 
Commissioner Patten will issue a joint letter detailing a 
shared vision of the EU's political and security relationship 
with sovereign Iraq (Hove did not think the drafting was yet 
underway).  The letter will be addressed to FMs and Heads of 
State/Government for consideration alongside the Commission 
document. 
 
4. (C) Hove said the emerging strategy would contain an EU 
commitment to "progressively engage in Iraq."  It will 
contain "concrete proposals" for supporting the electoral 
process, creating democratic institutions, developing civil 
society, promoting human rights standards, and promoting 
regional reintegration.  It will also describe outlines for 
the eventual negotiation of an EU-Iraq trade agreement (in 
the form of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement), and 
will propose "significant" near- and mid-term microeconomic 
assistance.  The Commission will also propose opening a 
delegation in Baghdad and will work with Member States to 
develop a formal political dialogue with Iraq.  Hove said 
they expected the process to start over the summer with a 
high level Troika visit to Baghdad. 
 
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Recent Public Statements by HiRep Solana and FM Cowen 
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5. (U) HiRep Solana and Irish FM Cowen (speaking for the EU 
Presidency) commented on Iraq in separate statements to the 
press June 1 and 2.  Speaking in The Hague June 1, Solana 
said, "I hope very very much that the (UNSCR) will be 
approved, if possible unanimously, so that the government 
will have the legitimacy needed to move the country forward 
to stability."  On June 2, following a meeting with Deputy 
Secretary Armitage (septel), Solana praised Brahimi's "good 
 
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job" and said that the EU "was pleased to see that a 
government has been established." Solana also expressed hope 
that the UNSC would come out with a resolution on Iraq. The 
Irish EU Presidency also released a short statement June 1 
welcoming the formation of the IIG and conveying FM Cowen's 
wishes for "every success" as the IIG steers the country 
toward free and fair elections (ref c). 
 
6. (U) CPA Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Schnabel