US embassy cable - 04AMMAN10177

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 010177 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2014 
TAGS: PREL, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: ALLAWI MEETS WITH KING AND WOLFENSOHN 
 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b), (d). 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (C) In a December 22 meeting, Iraqi PM Iyad Allawi 
discussed with King Abdullah and World Bank (WB) 
President James Wolfensohn assistance to Iraq for the coming 
year, efforts to strengthen the Jordan-Iraq border, and GOJ 
proposals to develop the Aqaba-Al Karama road and upgrade the 
port at Aqaba.  Allawi told local press he had met with Iraqi 
tribal leaders in Amman and that none of them had 
categorically rejected the holding of elections on January 
30.  According to post's Iraqi contacts, Allawi did not meet 
with any Sunni opposition figures during his latest visit, 
but has continued periodic contact with them 
via telephone. End Summary. 
 
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TRIPARTITE MEETING 
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2. (U) Faris Hadad-Zervos, Head of the World Bank,s Iraq 
Office in Amman, gave a brief readout to Econoff of a meeting 
between Allawi, Wolfensohn and King Abdullah during a lunch 
hosted by the King.  Also in attendance were Jordanian PM 
Faisal al-Fayez, GOJ Minister of Planning Bassam Awadallah, 
Iraqi Minister of Planning Mehdi Al-Hafedh, and Jordanian 
Royal Court Minister Samir Rifai.  Hadad-Zervos said the 
meeting focused on three issues:  World Bank assistance to 
Iraq, regional cooperation on projects of interest to Iraq, 
and a GOJ proposal for infrastructure project development in 
Jordan aimed at the Iraq transit trade. 
 
3. (U) Meeting participants discussed implementation of the 
USD 400 million in WB assistance programs to Iraq for the 
coming year and next steps regarding an Iraqi request for USD 
500 million in WB International Development Assistance (IDA) 
loans-- 20-year, interest-free loans.  They agreed that the 
Iraqi Deputy Ministers from the Finance and Planning 
Ministries, along with the Iraqi Central Bank, would develop 
an IDA strategy document to submit to the WB board. 
 
4. (U) Allawi, the King, Wolfensohn and others further agreed 
to promote greater regional cooperation, especially projects 
to benefit Iraqi trade development.  The key priority, 
according to Hadad-Zervos, is an effort to develop the 
Iraq-Jordan border area, including a free trade zone. 
Finally, the GOJ proposal to develop the Aqaba-Al Karama road 
and to upgrade Aqaba port facilities was briefly discussed. 
Allawi relayed to Wolfensohn the need for continued support 
of Iraq by the World Bank through the WB's assistance program 
and grants.  He also called for greater support from the 
international community. 
 
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LOCAL PRESS COVERAGE 
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5. (U) In an interview with local Arabic daily Al Rai, Allawi 
urged &some8 of Iraq's neighbors to tighten their borders 
to prevent infiltration of terrorists.  With the exceptions 
of Jordan, Kuwait and Turkey, Allawi said border cooperation 
with Iraq,s other neighbors was "below expectations," but 
noted this did not mean that terrorist acts were carried out 
with the consent of foreign government authorities.  On 
elections, Allawi said he had met with several tribal leaders 
in Amman (he presumably meant during previous visits) and 
that they did not categorically reject the holding of 
election on January 30. 
 
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MEETINGS WITH SUNNI OPPOSITION FIGURES 
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6. (C) Several of our Iraqi contacts told emboff December 23 
that to their knowledge, Allawi did not request meetings with 
any Sunni opposition figures ) including people he had met 
with previously - during this latest visit.  Allawi and his 
people, however, continue to be in periodic telephone contact 
with these leaders.  We understand Allawi plans to visit 
Amman December 29 on his return to Baghdad. 
 
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