US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD4777

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004777 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, IZ, SA 
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER JAFARI TO VISIT SAUDI ARABIA 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) Prime Minister Jafari told the Ambassador that he has 
been invited to visit Saudi Arabia.  He departs November 29. 
He plans to meet the Saudi king during his visit. 
 
2. (C) The PM may raise the following issues: 
 
-- Increasing the number of hajj slots for Iraqis; 
 
-- Sending a Saudi Ambassador to Baghdad in order for the 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to get a better understanding 
of Iraq and to allow regular interaction with the GOI; 
 
-- Persuading the Saudis to encourage Iraqi Sunni Arabs to 
participate in the political process; 
 
-- Encouraging Saudi Arabia to play a positive role in the 
next Iraqi National Accord Conference in February; 
 
-- Encouraging Saudi Arabia to assist with reconstruction in 
Iraq; and 
 
-- Reassuring the KSA about the Iraq-Iran relationship. 
 
3. (C) President Jalal Talabani also is traveling to Saudi 
Arabia for the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) 
Summit on December 6.  He will seek bilateral meetings with 
KSA officials to discuss similar issues. 
KHALILZAD