VZCZCXRO9690
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHBS #0550 1020953
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110953Z APR 08
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000550
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ UEU
SUBJECT: PM MALIKI VISIT WILL HIGHLIGHT EU COMMITMENT TO
IRAQ
REF: BRUSSELS 0533
(SBU) Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki's April 16 meetings in
Brussels will, according to EU officials, send a strong
signal that the EU is engaging on and committed to Iraq.
Maliki and his entourage, including the Foreign Minister, Oil
Minister, Interior Minister, Defense Minister and National
Security Advisor, among others, will meet with EU Council
HiRep Solana, Commission President Barroso, Slovenian
Presidency FM Rupel, and European Parliament President
Poettering. Following his meeting with Poettering he will
address the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee.
Contacts said the EU has no enormous expectations for the
visit, but they will use this opportunity to reinforce
messages on the importance of political inclusiveness and to
reiterate EU commitment to Iraq. UN Special Representative
for Iraq Staffan Di Mistura's April 11 briefing to the
Council's Political and Security Committee will serve as
curtain raiser for the Maliki visit. The Maliki visit will
also serve to inform the EU prior to the April 29 meeting of
EU Foreign Ministers (GAERC), where they will review progress
in Iraq.
MURRAY
.