US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS3010

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003010 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/I AND EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2009 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, IZ, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: EU-IRAQ:  DUTCH SUGGEST ZEBARI LETTER TO EU TO 
SPUR ENGAGEMENT 
 
REF: USNATO 0672 
 
Classified By: USEU POLOFF LEE LITZENBERGER; REASONS 1.4 (B,D) 
 
1.  (U) Action Request:  See para three. 
 
2.  (C) Reftel tracks well with what Dutch MFA Political 
Director Hugo Siblesz told EUR A/S Jones during the July 13 
US-EU Political Directors meeting in Brussels (septel).  In 
an aside to US delegation on the margins of that meeting, 
Siblesz said he thinks the Interim Iraqi Government (IIG) 
would be very smart to have Zebari follow up quickly the 
strong impression he made on EU Foreign Ministers with a 
letter to the EU that offers specifics of what the IIG wants 
from the EU within the EU's parameters.  Siblesz also 
recommended ncluding in the letter, perhaps, an invitation 
for an exploratory EU visit to Baghdad, and/or a high level 
meeting.  The letter should be sent soon, before the European 
summer holidays diffuse momentum.  If a letter came soon, 
Siblesz said, the Dutch EU presidency could galvanize member 
states to get into practical and specific actions on the 
ground in Iraq. 
 
3.  (C)  Comment/Action Request:  This is an offer we should 
encourage the IIG to accept.  Request Washington consider 
passing this request to the IIG with a strong endorsement. 
The letter could be addressed to Dutch FM Ben Bot or EU High 
Rep Solana. 
 
4.  (U)  Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
McKinley