MODERATE IRAQI PARTIES SEEK CPA PARTICIPATION IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006122 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2013 TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI JO SUBJECT: MODERATE IRAQI PARTIES SEEK CPA PARTICIPATION IN BAGHDAD CONFERENCE Classified By: DCM David M. Hale for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) Jamal Rifai, member of Jordan's al Mustaqbel Party and freelance journalist, told us September 22 that there will be a conference September 25 in Baghdad including 17 Iraqi political parties. Rifai outlined his involvement with the Iraqi Salam party and its participation in the conference, which he hoped the CPA would both attend and support. End Summary. -------------- SALAM PARTY - LEAD ORGANIZER -------------- ¶2. (U) According to Rifai, the Salam (Peace) party, organized the conference to allow Iraqis a "moderate" choice in the muddled political landscape of Iraq. The party, he claimed, is composed of Kurds, Shi'a and Sunnis. The party slogan is "Iraq is our identity, Peace is our choice". Their platform favors freedom of the press and speech, full rights for women and children, demilitarization of Iraqi society, canceling the military draft, and depoliticization and establishment of a national Iraqi army. It further favors separation of religion and politics and rejects involvement of religious clerics in political life. The Salam party platform respects the U.S. role in liberating Iraq and accepts the presence of coalition forces in Iraq until an Iraqi government and army is in place. -------------- --- CONFERENCE GOAL: REACH OUT TO IRAQIS AND THE CPA -------------- --- ¶3. (U) Rifai related how past attempts to initiate dialogue between the 17 party coalition and the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) have failed. He said Salam party leader, Saleh Abu Khumrah, wonders why the CPA seems to favor dialogue with what they deem as "outside" political parties that don't enjoy the support of average Iraqis and cannot ensure future stability and security in Iraq. Rifai added that all the major news organizations based in Baghdad have been invited to cover the conference. -------------- CONFERENCE FACTS -------------- ¶4. (U) The conference is scheduled for September 25 at the Sheraton Hotel's "Tamuz" room. According to Rifai, about 250 delegates from all over Iraq are expected, and invitations have been sent to Amb. Bremer and other CPA officials. Rifai added that these delegates were taking a big risk by reaching out to the CPA and were in need of both "moral" and "political" support. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) We cannot vouch for Jamal Rifai, and the Mustaqbel Party is not a major political player in Jordan. We pass on this information for the record. ¶6. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. GNEHM