US embassy cable - 05BRUSSELS358

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000358 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/ERA, NEA/I 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2010 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KPAO, IZ, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: SOLANA'S REMARKS ON IRAQI ELECTIONS 
 
REF: A. A. STATE 12757 
 
     B. B. STATE 14468 
 
Classified By: USEU POLOFF LEE LITZENBERGER; REASONS 1.4 (B,D) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary.  Recent press reports that EU High Rep 
Solana predicted "disaster" if Iraqi Sunnis don't vote were 
inaccurate, we were assured by two reliable sources. 
Instead, we were told Solana said the exclusion of Sunnis 
from the political process following the vote would be a 
disaster, and it was therefore imperative to involve them 
afterward in the drafting of the constitution.  The EU member 
states are considering a draft statement, for issue by FM's 
January 31.  The text they are working off of is extremely 
positive, and echoes the main themes suggested by the U.S. in 
Ref (A).  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) After reading press reports that EU High Rep Javier 
Solana predicted "disaster" in Iraq if Iraqi Sunnis do not 
participate adequately in the upcoming election are 
inaccurate, we immediately contacted EU Council and 
Parliament officials for an explanation.  We were assured 
that the press reports were inaccurate.  Instead, we were 
told Solana responded to a question following a presentation 
January 24 to the EP's Committee on Foreign Affairs, by 
saying he did not know how the elections would turn out, but 
that it would be a "disaster" if the Sunnis were not 
represented in the political process.  He further stated that 
if the Sunni population were not involved in the elections, 
it was imperative to involve them afterward in the drafting 
of the constitution. 
 
3.  (C)  The aide to Solana, Paul Reiderman, went on to note 
that Solana understands that the Iraqis, in fact, intend to 
involve the Sunnis in the post-election political process, 
regardless of their level of participation in the vote, and 
are actively reaching out to Sunni leaders now.  Solana 
applauds this policy, and was seeking to lend support to it 
in his response.  Unfortunately, Reiderman said, that thought 
was not prominently reported by the wire services.  Reiderman 
noted that the distinction between what Solana said, and the 
way it was reported, was subtle, "but significant." 
Parliament contacts have confirmed for us Reiderman's version 
of Solana's comments. 
 
4.  (C)  We reiterated to Reiderman Ref (A) points on the 
tone of public statements regarding the elections (which we 
had shared earlier in the week with the Luxembourg Presidency 
and Council Secretariat).  Reiderman responded by saying that 
the Luxembourg Presidency draft text for the January 31 EU 
Foreign Ministers meeting now being considered by members 
echoes precisely the themes outlined by the U.S.:  The 
Council warmly welcomes the holding of the elections, pays 
tribute to the courage of those Iraqis who participated and 
voted, and notes that this constitutes the first democratic 
election in Iraq in decades.  Reiderman added that there may 
be changes in the text that is ultimately agreed at 25, but 
the "starting point is very positive." 
 
SCHNABEL 
 
.