Secret Message From James Baker to Tariq Aziz

This October 21, 1989 cable carries the text of a secret message from Secretary of State James Baker to Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz. Baker informs Aziz, whose government 13 months previously had gassed Kurdish villages, that "the United States seeks a broadened and deepened relationship with Iraq." President Bush's policy, writes Baker, "is to work to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Iraq whenever possible."

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SUBJECT: MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY TO TARIQ AZIZ

1. SECRET - ENTIRE TEXT

2. PLEASE DELIVER THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY BAKER TO FOREIGN MINISTER AZIZ. THERE WILL BE NO SIGNED ORIGINAL.

3. BEGIN TEXT:

DEAR MR. MINISTER:

I APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET YOU. I FOUND OUR MEETING EXTREMELY USEFUL. MY HOPE IS THAT IT HAS LAID THE BASIS FOR A FRANK AND DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US. IN THAT SPIRIT, I WANT TO RESPOND TO THE CONCERNS YOU RAISED WITH ME

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AS I SAID IN OUT MEETING, THE UNITED STATES SEEKS A BROADENED AND DEEPENED RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAQ ON THE BASIS OF MUTUAL RESPECT. THAT IS THE POLICY OF THE PRESIDENT.

IN THIS REGARD, THE PRESIDENT HAS ASKED ME TO SAY TO YOU AND THROUGH YOU TO PRESIDENT HUSSEIN, IN THE MOST DIRECT WAY POSSIBLE, THAT THE UNITED STATES IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY EFFORT TO WEAKEN OR DESTABILIZE IRAQ. HAVING LOOKED INTO THE MATTER, AND DISCUSSED IT WITH THE PRESIDENT, I CAN TELL YOU THIS WITH THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY. SUCH AN ACTION WOULD BE COMPLETELY CONTRARY TO THE PRESIDENT'S POLICY, WHICH IS TO WORK TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND IRAQ WHENEVER POSSIBLE. IF YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION I HOPE YOU WILL DO SO. I WANT TO BE VERY SURE THAT THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THIS IN THE MIND OF THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP.

MR. MINISTER, YOU ALSO ASKED ME TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE OF THE CCC CREDIT GUARANTEES. I AM DOING SO ON AN URGENT BASIS AND WILL GIVE YOU A FINAL RESPONSE AS SOON AS I CAN. AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDER WAY, AND IN ALL CANDOR THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS THAT NEED TO BE EXAMINED FURTHER. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT OUR ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE CCC PROGRAM ARE NOT IN ANY WAY MOTIVATED BY POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS. THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ HAS SET A HIGH STANDARD ON ISSUES OF INTEGRITY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND CORRUPTION AND I AM SURE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE DETERMINATION OF MY GOVERNMENT TO BE THOROUGH. AT THE SAME TIME, I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE ARISEN QUICKLY AND TO CONTINUE WITH THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM, AS YOU REQUESTED.

WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE THIS MATTER MY PERSONAL ATTENTION...[document ends]