US embassy cable - 04AMMAN6437

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 006437 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2014 
TAGS: PREL, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: IRAQI CHARGE UPBEAT ON RECEPTION, ALLAWI VISIT, 
AND NEW PASSPORTS; DOWN ON IRAQI MFA, NEW IRAQI AMBASSADOR 
 
REF: AMMAN 6250 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.5 (b), (d). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  Iraqi Charge in Amman Ma'an Barakat 
portrayed a July 26 reception celebrating the transfer of 
sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) as a "major 
success".  The turnout, however, was far smaller than Iraqi 
National Day receptions of the recent past.  Barakat said 
that visiting PM Allawi and GOJ officials focused on border 
issues, Iraqis in Jordan, and improved Jordan-Iraq relations. 
 According to Barakat, the Iraqi Mission received 500 
newly-issued passports during Allawi's visit, and issued the 
first two on July 26.  Barakat was displeased by a local 
media report that Ata Abdul Wahab would be nominated as the 
new Iraqi Ambassador to Jordan.  End Summary. 
 
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RECEPTION A SUCCESS 
------------------- 
 
2. (C) Barakat told PolOff in a July 27 meeting that the Iraq 
Mission's reception in celebration of the transfer of 
sovereignty to the IIG was a "major success" and a strong 
sign of acceptance of the IIG.  According to Barakat, 
approximately 300 attended, including several prominent Iraqi 
businessman (who largely bankrolled the party), foreign 
diplomats, and GOJ officials.  (Note:  Charge, who also 
attended, noted that the turnout was far smaller than Iraqi 
National Day receptions in prior years--typically held at the 
sports stadium to accommodate the guests--and that only two 
GOJ ministers attended.  Diplomatic corps attendance was also 
light, although that may be because we are in the season of 
charges.) 
 
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ALLAWI'S VISIT, BORDER ISSUES 
----------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Barakat declared that PM Allawi's recent visit to 
Jordan (July 19-21) went very well, focusing on border 
issues, Iraqis in Jordan, and improved relations.  According 
to Barakat, Jordan and Iraq agreed to increase cooperation at 
the borders to facilitate the travel of people, while 
improving security.  Based on Allawi's visit, he believed 
that cooperation between Iraq-Jordan border security 
officials would improve "100 per cent."  Allawi had also, 
Barakat said, broached the issue of illegal Iraqis in Jordan 
and urged the GOJ to help provide them with work and medical 
care.  Additionally, he said PM Allawi and GOJ officials 
discussed aligning their positions on a proposed oil pipeline 
(reftel) and trade. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
COMMUNICATION ISSUES, PASSPORTS, NEW IRAQ AMBASSADOR 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
4. (C) Barakat said that communications with the MFA in 
Baghdad continued to be troublesome.  He complained that, in 
most cases, he was not aware of visiting Iraqi officials 
until after they had arrived in Amman.  These "surprise" 
visits, he said, were embarrassing and took him away from his 
efforts in assisting Iraqi citizens and making the Mission 
appear more professional and modern.  (Note:  PolOff noticed 
a renovated waiting room for Iraqi citizens, most notably a 
wider waiting space and glass windows.  In contrast to 
previous visits to the Iraqi Mission, there were also a more 
substantial number of Iraqi citizens, approximately 75, 
waiting for consular services.) 
 
5. (C) According to Barakat, the Iraqi Mission received 500 
newly-issued passports during Allawi's visit and had issued 
the first two on July 26.  Barakat urged for U.S. recognition 
of the new passports as a step toward cementing U.S.-Iraq 
relations and assisting Iraqis in need of U.S. visas for 
urgent medical care. 
 
6. (C) Barakat was clearly miffed by a July 27 media report 
that the new Iraq Ambassador to Amman would be Ata Abdul 
Wahhab.  He characterized Wahhab as an "old man from Iraq's 
monarchy period."  (Abdul Wahhab, now aged 70, has reportedly 
not been in Iraq since the fall of the Hashemite monarchy 
there in 1958.  In the past, he has worked for members of the 
Jordanian Hashemite family.) 
 
7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Visit Embassy Amman's classified website at 
 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ 
 
or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET 
home page. 
 
HALE