US embassy cable - 05MADRID1053

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001053 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT PASS TO EUR/WE, NEA/ELA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, SP, IZ 
SUBJECT: SPAIN: IRAQI AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH CHARGE 
 
 
Classified By: Classified by Charge D'Affairs J.Robert Manzanares for r 
easons 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
//RELATIONS BETWEEN IRAQ AND SPAIN// 
1.(C) On March 17, Charge met with Iraqi Ambassador to Spain 
Falal Al-Khudairi.  Ambassador Al-Khudairi characterized the 
relations between the GOI and the GOS as "ok".  He said 
relations had been "cool" after the newly-elected Socialist 
government pulled Spanish troops from Iraq.  The GOI conveyed 
to Spain its understanding of why the troops were pulled out 
and its recognition that Spain participated in the 
multi-national contingent at a crucial time.  Ambassador 
Al-Khudairi said Iraq was ready to move past old differences 
with Spain, especially since both face a common enemy in 
terrorism.  The Ambassador said that relations were steadily 
improving and he attributed this to the successful Iraqi 
elections that were held in January.  He said he believes 
that the GOS may send an Ambassador to Iraq in the near 
future, perhaps after the next round of elections. 
Ambassador Al-Khudairi stated that Spanish Foreign Minister 
Moratinos was planning a visit to Iraq in the future, 
although no date has been fixed. 
 
//ATTITUDES WITHIN IRAQ// 
2.(C) Ambassador Al-Khudairi stated that the situation in 
Iraq has been "calming down" since the elections.  He 
expected that many of the people and political parties who 
had not participated in the January elections would 
participate in future elections.  He said that those people 
and parties had not expected a positive outcome to the 
elections and, not that they see that things went well, they 
will be more willing to become involved.  He said that the 
Iraqi people were "fed up" with the violence and he 
attributed the attacks within Iraq to outside influence; 
namely Syria, Iran and Al Qaeda.  The Ambassador further 
stated that Iran and Syria were afraid of the democratic 
model in Iraq and that the Iranians had been trying to spark 
civil war between the various ethnic/religious groups present 
in Iraq.  He said that the Iraqi people appreciated the U.S. 
presence in Iraq and that the Iraqi Embassy in Madrid would 
cooperate with the U.S. Embassy in whatever matters the USG 
feels are in the best interest of Iraq. 
 
//COMMENT// 
3.(C) This was our first meeting with Al-Khudairi since his 
arrival in December.  He has not been especially active in 
the diplomatic community (he has limited Spanish language 
skills), focusing instead on organizing his Embassy staff. 
We are encouraged by his readiness to engage now and his 
willingness to assist us on matters of joint interest. 
MANZANARES