VZCZCXRO2878
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #0003/01 0020630
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 020630Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5071
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000003 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2017 
TAGS: PREL MARR ENRG PHUM MOPS NBTS IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND FM ZEBARI DISCUSS URGENT TOPICS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (S) Summary.  In a December 30 meeting, the Ambassador 
reviewed with Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari the Strategic 
Framework Agreement (SFA), suggesting that the GOI establish 
a negotiating team parallel to the U.S. delegation.  On the 
Tuwaitha shipment, FM Zebari agreed to send a letter to the 
International Atomic Energy Agency to allow the US packing 
team to break the seals on the radioactive material in 
Tuwaitha.  Zebari also clarified the status and restrictions 
upon Iraqi funds for refugee assistance in Jordan, but he was 
evasive in finding cooperative solutions to the problem with 
PKK on the Turkish border.  End Summary. 
 
SOFA is the First Part of the SFA 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (S) Ambassador Crocker met with FM Zebari on December 30, 
accompanied by EMIN and POLMIL MinCouns.  Ambassador 
explained that the U.S. approach is to negotiate the security 
portion of the SFA first, then move to the economic portion. 
The security portion would be concluded as a Status of Forces 
Agreement (SOFA).  The Ambassador passed to Zebari a copy of 
the preliminary outline of the SOFA.  The Ambassador noted 
that the U.S. is still assembling its team, with State 
Department lead, supported by Defense and other agencies.  He 
suggested that Iraq should have a parallel structure.  FM 
Zebari agreed that the Foreign Ministry should have the Iraqi 
lead, but he acknowledged that the Prime Minister's and 
President's advisors would seek involvement.  The Ambassador 
added that it is National Security Advisor Mowaffak al 
Rubaie's stated position that the Foreign Ministry should 
lead because it has expertise in negotiations.  The 
Ambassador advised FM Zebari that technical assistance from 
outside consultants (e.g. UNAMI experts) would be acceptable, 
but only the two governments should have a place at the 
negotiation table. 
 
Tuwaitha Radioactive Materials Shipment 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (S) The Ambassador and EMIN explained the urgent time 
constraints for the following events:  requesting IAEA 
permission to break seals, packing of radioactive material, 
and granting of sale authority.  A letter from the Foreign 
Ministry to the IAEA, requesting permission to break the 
seals, was most urgent because it was the first event in the 
sequence for preparation and movement.  FM Zebari agreed to 
send a letter. 
 
Refugee Assistance 
------------------ 
 
¶4. (C) FM Zebari clarified that refugee assistance funds have 
been transferred to the Iraqi account in Jordan.  He stated 
that from the GOI point of view, those funds were 
satisfactorily obligated in the 2007 fiscal year.  The GOI 
intends to give the funds to Jordan.  Zebari stated that 
Jordan has asked to give the Iraqi funds to an NGO, like 
UNHCR or IRC.  He said that Iraq would permit Jordan to give 
the funds to an NGO, but Iraq could not give the funds 
directly to an NGO. 
 
Turkey and PKK 
-------------- 
 
¶5. (S) The Ambassador emphasized that all parties must stay 
focused on the end of PKK presence on Iraqi territory.  He 
further emphasized that purely kinetic operations will cause 
collateral damage and will not solve the problem.  FM Zebari 
concurred with both points.  The FM worried about the 
potential for "mistakes" to inflame the situation.  However, 
Zebari did not acknowledge any recent bilateral contacts with 
Turkey.  POLMIL MinCouns noted several proposals for meetings 
between Iraq and Turkey, but FM Zebari evaded the idea, 
describing instead a long list of pending diplomatic actions 
and activities. 
 
Upcoming Diplomatic Initiatives 
------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) FM Zebari was planning to go to Cairo on January 6 to 
talk about a "long term relationship" with Egypt.  He stated 
that Egypt was keen to look at a joint resolution and to 
revive old agreements.  He added that he was also planning a 
trip to Kuwait.  Zebari said that he wanted to propose the 
names of potential Iraqi ambassadors to those two countries. 
He claimed that Russia was pursuing a "framework for a future 
relationship" with the GOI, but the Iraqi delegation to 
Moscow was postponed and would not travel until February. 
 
¶7. (S) FM Zebari stated that diplomacy between Iraq and Iran 
was currently focused on the schedule for trilateral talks 
 
BAGHDAD 00000003  002 OF 002 
 
 
(Note: a date is still pending.  End Note.)  He added that 
the Algiers Agreement was under discussion and that the 
demarcation of the border needed to be redone due to the 
shifting of the channel in multiple areas within the Shatt al 
Arab. 
 
CROCKER