US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3101

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003101 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, IZ, SY, EG, Terrorism 
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT TALABANI SEEKS CALL ON PRESIDENT BUSH IN 
SEPTEMBER; SETS TERMS FOR VISIT TO SYRIA 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
 1. (U) This is an action cable, see paragraph 6. 
 
2. (C/NF) President Talabani told me on July 26 that he plans 
to leave Baghdad on September 10 to attend the Socialist 
Democratic Summit in New York.  He said he must arrive in New 
York no later than September 13 for this meeting with various 
European and other heads of state.  In conjunction with this 
trip, he requests a meeting in Washington with President Bush 
either immediately before or after the summit, depending on 
the President's schedule.  Talibani will underscore the 
critical role the U.S. needs to play to help unite the people 
of Iraq, and the importance for the U.S. to sustain a 
long-term relationship with Iraq. 
 
3. (C/NF) Regarding the proposed Arab summit on terrorism 
mentioned in septel, Talabani said Arab League Secretary 
General Amre Moussa is trying to alter the scope of the 
meeting by adding the Gaza Strip to the agenda.  (Comment. 
Its inclusion would complicate the discussions and detract 
attention from the original intent of this summit.  End 
comment.) 
 
4. (C/NF) Talabani mentioned that Syria has again approached 
him regarding an official visit to Damascus.  Talabani 
rebuffed the offer and stated he cannot visit until Syria 
complies with the following conditions: 
 
-- that all wanted members of the former regime and 
terrorists, as well as other persons actively opposing to the 
leQtimate Iraqi government, be turned over to Iraqi 
authorities, 
 
-- that Syria return all Iraqi-owned funds held in Syrian 
banks and other safe locations to Iraq, and 
 
-- that Syria's media stop broadcasting programs opposing the 
legitimate Iraqi government, and return to programming that 
supports the new Iraq. 
 
5. (C/NF) Talabani stated that Syria has proposed 
establishing a joint committee to address these issues, but 
added that he is not in a hurry  to meet this request. 
Rather, Talabani intends to keep pressure on Syria until it 
meets the conditions mentioned above.  (Comment.  We defer to 
Embassy Damascus, but think Talabani's approach necessary for 
Syria to understand its need for action.  We must remain 
flexible in our approach.  End comment.) 
 
6. (C/NF) Action request. We request that the Department 
coordinate with the White House to determine the best time 
for a Talabani visit.  It would be an ideal follow-on to the 
earlier visit by PM Ja'afari.  The proposed time-frame would 
place the visit close to the fall session of the UNGA in New 
York. 
Khalilzad