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Cablegate: Us-Eu Iraq Conference: Deliverables

Published: Mon 6 Jun 2005 03:19 AM
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS MUSCAT 000904
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID EIND ECON IZ MU
SUBJECT: US-EU IRAQ CONFERENCE: DELIVERABLES
REF: A. SECSTATE 103222
B. MUSCAT 874
C. STATE 93742
1. (SBU) Summary: Oman's attendance at the US-EU
International Conference on Iraq will be determined upon the
return of the Foreign Minister, perhaps during the week of
June 11. The MFA's Arab Affairs chief indicated to the Dutch
(EU representative) that Oman would like to see the draft
communique, if possible, and suggested that a Sunni Arab
delegation from Iraq also be invited to offset their lack of
representation in the ITG. The chief also indicated that
Oman may wait until a not-yet-scheduled visit by the Iraqi FM
to disburse its Madrid Conference pledge. End summary.
2. (SBU) The Embassy delivered ref A points to the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs June 5 reiterating the request for
high-level Omani representation at the U.S.-EU International
Conference on Iraq, and encouraging the restoration of full
diplomatic ties and disbursement of Oman's Madrid Conference
assistance pledge. The political adviser to the MFA Under
Secretary indicated to A/DCM that the Ministry is aware of
SIPDIS
our strong interest in the conference, but is awaiting the
return to Oman of Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs
Yusuf bin Alawi before offering a response. Just as the
Minister had previously indicated to the Ambassador, however,
the adviser hinted that Bin Alawi may be on other travel
during the June 21-22 conference dates.
3. (SBU) Dutch DCM Sander Janssen separately provided us a
read-out of his June 5 demarche (on behalf of the EU
Presidency) to MFA Arab Affairs Department Chief Ambassador
Ahmed al-Harthy, which followed along the lines of ref C.
Al-Harthy asked a number of questions to clarify the aims and
structure of the conference, other attending states, and for
a copy of the draft communique if one currently exists.
Al-Harthy reportedly also expressed concern that the ITG was
the only Iraqi entity invited. Given the low Sunni Arab
participation in the elections, he wondered if a Sunni
delegation could be formed that might also participate in
Brussels.
4. (SBU) On the question of disbursing Oman's Madrid
Conference pledge, Ambassador al-Harthy assured the Dutch
that the Sultanate would make good on its commitment, though
he did not know the exact amount of the pledge. As the
Minister had previously indicated to us, al-Harthy mentioned
that Oman had invited the Iraqi FM to visit Muscat, and would
prefer to use that occasion to disburse its funds. But while
the invitation has been formally extended, al-Harthy said a
Zebari visit has yet to be formally scheduled. As for Omani
participation at the conference, Ambassador al-Harthy
likewise told the Dutch that the question would be resolved
when the Minister returns to Muscat (which we expect to be
sometime during the week of June 11).
BALTIMORE
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