Cablegate: Arab League Foreign Ministers Call for Dismantling

VZCZCXRO8084
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #7078 3401636
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061636Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2845
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0510

UNCLAS CAIRO 007078

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA AND NEA/I

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EG IZ
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN MINISTERS CALL FOR DISMANTLING
MILITIAS IN IRAQ; ZEBARI URGES SUPPORT OF IRAQI SHIA

1. (SBU) Summary: Arab League foreign ministers, meeting in
Cairo on December 5, deplored the deteriorating security
situation in Iraq, and called for the immediate dismantling
of sectarian militias. Mubarak expressed support for Iraq,
and welcomed Talabani's visit on December 12. Iraqi foreign
minister Zebari says he is "satisfied" with the outcome of
the AL meeting, and urges support for Iraqi Shia. End
summary.

2. (SBU) On December 5, Arab League foreign ministers from
the AL's "Iraq Committee" (Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Algeria,
Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt) met in Cairo
to discuss the deteriorating security situation in Iraq and
the need for immediate steps to foster national
reconciliation there. AL Secretary General Amre Moussa and
Iraq Committee chairman Shaykh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa
(Bahrain's foreign minister) said the ministers had agreed to
a timetable for rebuilding Iraq's police and army prior to
the withdrawal of coalition forces. In a press statement
issued after their meeting, the foreign ministers condemned
"terrorist and criminal acts" in Iraq, and called for the
immediate dismantling of all militias in Iraq, and for the
preservation Iraq's unity and identity. The statement said
that the next AL conference on Iraq should be held in Baghdad
within four months.

3. (SBU) In a telephone conversation on December 5, Iraqi
foreign minister Zebari told the Ambassador that he had met
earlier that day with President Mubarak. Zebari said he told
Mubarak he had come "to correct relations" and urged support
for Iraqi Shia to "feel part of the Arab nation." He said
that Mubarak was supportive, and that he looked forward to
welcoming Iraqi president Jalal Talabani when he visits Cairo
on December 12. Mubarak also told Zebari that Iraqi Prime
Minister Maliki would be welcome "any time."

4. (SBU) Zebari described the meeting of the Arab League
foreign ministers as "the usual long debates" conducted with
"intense interest." He said he was very satisfied with the
final statement which called for supporting the Iraqi
government and the unity and integrity of Iraq, while
condemning terrorism and "takfirism" (declaring someone to be
an infidel). Zebari said he had parried AL calls for a
timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, urging instead a
timetable for strengthening Iraqi security forces. He said
that he stressed the need for the AL to accept and support
Iraqi Shia, reassuring that their primary allegiance was to
Iraq and not Iran. He said the ministers were apprehensive
about the Baker report, but he underscored for them that
President Bush will make the final decision and would not
withdraw U.S. forces prematurely. (Note: Zebari departed
Cairo early December 6 for Saudi Arabia. End note.)
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