US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD4465

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004465 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2015 
TAGS: PREL, EG, IZ 
SUBJECT: SHAHRISTANI AND ZEBARI ON ARAB LEAGUE ENGAGEMENT 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David M. Satterfield for reasons 1.4 ( 
b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) In an October 30 meeting with the Charge, First Deputy 
TNA Speaker Husayn al-Shahristani reflected on Amre Moussa's 
recent visit to Iraq.  Shahristani indicated that both ITG 
officials in Baghdad and Ayatollah Sistani in Najaf pressed 
the SYG to establish Arab League representation in Iraq as a 
demonstration of support for the Iraqi people. Shahristani 
added that, even though the SYG claimed to accept the new 
Iraq, he continued to insist on the immediate withdrawal of 
coalition forces, the abandonment of de-Ba'athification, and 
the reinstatement of the previous Iraqi military. Such a 
platform is contradictory to professed Arab League 
recognition of "the new Iraq" and breeds mistrust, 
Shahristani commented. He added that Iraq's emerging 
democracy and Shia empowerment are a psychological shock to 
the Sunni Arab world and the Arab League. However, as long as 
the Arab League respects Iraq's sovereignty, Shahristani said 
it could have a positive role. 
 
National Accord Conference 
-------------------------- 
 
2. (C) In a separate meeting, FM Zebari told the Charge he 
did not have high hopes for the Cairo preparatory meeting for 
the Moussa-proposed Iraqi National Accord Conference.  Like 
Shahristani, Zebari could not confirm whom Arab League 
planned to invite to the Cairo event. Zebari hoped that the 
Arab League would invite members of Iraq's parliamentary 
blocs plus Sunnis from outside the Transitional National 
Assembly, with an expectation for 40-60 persons in 
attendance. 
 
3.  (C) Both Shahristani and Zebari expressed concern that 
the presence of outside parties, including "neighbors" and 
the Coalition, either at the Cairo preparatory or the Baghdad 
National Accord conferences would be problematic. Zebari 
commented that "outsiders" would only change the focus in a 
debate between the outside parties or between certain 
elements of the Iraqi participants (read Sunni hardliners) 
and "some outsiders" (read the US, given the issue of 
Coalition force presence). Both agreed that the National 
Accord conference should be held in Baghdad, after the 
upcoming elections, and after the formation of the new 
government, so that the conference could be seen as Arab 
League support of the new government, not intervention in 
Iraq's political process. 
 
Representation in Iraq 
---------------------- 
 
4.  (C) Zebari told Charge that he pressed Amre Moussa to 
send an Arab League Ambassador to reside in Baghdad. Charge 
offered Zebari assistance with Arab League accommodation in 
the IZ. 
Satterfield