US embassy cable - 05CAIRO3065

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003065 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2015 
TAGS: PREL, EG, IZ, Democracy 
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL EGYPTIAN VIEWS ON A PROPOSED 
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRAQ AND PREPARATORY MEETING IN 
CAIRO 
 
REF: STATE 71272 
 
Classified by Charge Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Responding to reftel demarche on the U.S.-EU 
sponsored conference on Iraq and a possible 
Egyptian-sponsored preparatory conference (PrepComm), poloff 
met April 19 with MFA senior Cabinet member Alaa Hadidi. 
Drawing from reftel talking points, poloff shared our 
preliminary responses to GOE questions and concerns regarding 
the 
PrepComm proposal, including on topics such as participation, 
the agenda, dates, and location for the various meetings. 
Hadidi welcomed the clarifications and information, and 
looked forward to hearing the results of Ambassador Jones's 
consultations after meetings in European capitals.  Hadidi 
said that Egypt was certainly interested in hosting the 
PrepComm, as Ambassador Jones had heard during his April 11 
meetings in Cairo, but noted that his Minister was curious 
why neither the Europeans nor the Iraqis had approached the 
GOE yet about hosting this PrepComm.  Hadidi said that the 
GOE was in favor of moving ahead on the PrepComm proposal but 
would key its formal response to the formation of a new 
government in Baghdad, similar PrepComm interest from the 
Europeans and Iraqis, and additional consultations with the 
USG following Ambassador Jones's latest talks in Europe. 
 
2.  (C) Turning to specific details of the U.S. proposal, 
Hadidi understood our interest in keeping the prepcomm 
relatively small and manageable and made no effort to press 
for broader attendance, with the exception of questioning 
whether the Arab League and China might be included.  Hadidi 
appreciated clarifications that all members of the G-8 were 
to be invited to the PrepComm, but noted his understanding 
that Bahrain - not the United Arab Emirates - was currently 
the Chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council.  If the UAE is to 
be invited, it should be made clear on what basis the 
invitation will be issued in order to avoid diplomatic 
complications with other neighbors. 
 
3.  (C) On the draft communique, Hadidi sought clarification 
on whether Egypt should present an initial draft or if Iraq 
and/or others would craft this document.  Poloff shared that 
the "small group" consisting of Iraqis, the U.S., the EU, 
Egypt, and possibly the United Nations would likely consult 
ahead of the prepcomm on a draft communique that could be 
discussed in detail at the PrepComm and shared later with all 
attendees to the full conference.  Hadidi had no reaction to 
our description of what the full ministerial conference 
agenda might entail. 
 
4.  (C) Hadidi, who was supposed to have been in Istanbul for 
the Iraq Neighbors meeting, confirmed that the Turkish MFA 
had moved the meeting to April 27-28, pending word on the 
formation of a new Iraqi government.  Hadidi said that he was 
trying to get the Turks to delay the meetings by one day (to 
April 28-29) so that both his Minister and the Saudi Foreign 
Minister could attend.  Responding to poloff's question as to 
whether Egypt was ready to resume full diplomatic relations 
with Iraq once a new government was in place, Hadidi said 
that he "presumed that was the case."  (Note:  Our British 
Embassy colleagues reported to us that FM Aboul Gheit told UK 
Ambassador Plumbly last week that Egypt was ready to restore 
normal bilateral relations with Iraq once a government was in 
place in Baghdad and that the Arab League was similarly 
interested in opening a new page in its relations with 
Baghdad.  End note.) 
 
5.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
 
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