ARAB PARLIAMENT SPEAKERS DEBATE FUTURE OF IRAQ,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 003829

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM IZ SY JO
SUBJECT: ARAB PARLIAMENT SPEAKERS DEBATE FUTURE OF IRAQ,
CALL FOR END OF U.S. OCCUPATION

REF: AMMAN 01665

Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm for Reasons 1.5 (b),(d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Speakers of seven parliaments in the region held a
two-day conference May 12-13 in Amman to discuss the
situation in Iraq. Participants called for an end to U.S.
occupation, highlighted their support for democratic
institutions in Iraq, and advocated a wider UN role in
rebuilding the country. The conference criticized the U.S.
for abuse of Iraqi prisoners and for imposing sanctions on
Syria, with representatives from Iran and the Arab
Parliamentary Union (APU) accusing the U.S. of disregard for
international law and trying to control the region's oil
wealth. Jordan's Speaker received backing for his proposal
for a large-scale national Iraqi conference to help select a
new Iraqi leadership and determine solutions to that
country's problems. This event was largely choreographed by
the Jordanian Speaker for purposes of his own political
self-promotion. End Summary.

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LET'S TALK IRAQ
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2. (U) The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU),with GOJ
support, sponsored a meeting in Amman on May 12 and 13 for
speakers of parliaments from countries neighboring Iraq (as
well as from Bahrain and Egypt) to discuss ways to promote
security and stability in Iraq. During the opening ceremony,
IPU President Sergio Verdugo said the purpose of the
conference was to "help bring the suffering of the Iraqi
people to an end and restore their freedom and dignity."
Ross Mountain, Special Representative of the UN Secretary
General for Iraq, briefed participants on the UN role in
helping Iraqis establish an interim government and prepare
for elections in January 2005.


3. (U) The speakers were unanimous in calling for an end to
the U.S. occupation of Iraq and for restoring sovereignty to
the Iraqi people. They also pledged their support for
building democratic institutions, including an elected
parliament, to help unify Iraqi groups and factions. The
President of Saudi Arabia's Al Shura Council, for example,
said that "achieving stability, freedom and prosperity for
the Iraqi people will not happen without a truly
representative political system based on national unity and
consensus."


4. (SBU) A final statement called for bringing "to justice
all officials who are responsible for committing
international crimes against the peoples of Iraq, Iran and
Kuwait and especially the leadership of the former regime of
Iraq including Saddam Hussein." It also urged a greater role
for the UN after the June 30 transfer of power to an interim
government and that any foreign military forces remaining
after this date "should be organized under a clear mandate
from the UN Security Council." Unconfirmed press reports
alleged that there were serious differences between some of
the delegates with the Kuwaitis fighting off attempts to
include a strong condemnation of the invasion and occupation
of Iraq from the final communiqu.

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ADMONISHMENT OF THE U.S.
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5. (U) Several of the delegates criticized the abuse of
Iraqi prisoners by U.S. forces. Speaker of the Turkish Grand
National Assembly expressed condemnation of the U.S.
"humiliation" of prisoners, claiming the mistreatment "hurt
the dignity of all Iraqis." Others went farther in their
U.S.-bashing. The Speaker of the Iranian Islamic Council
accused the U.S. of using only force to achieve its goals
while disregarding international law and human rights. APU
Secretary General Noriddin Boshkouj alleged in his speech

SIPDIS
that the U.S. occupation of Iraq was part of a larger plan to
"dominate" the region and control its oil wealth. The
conference's final statement, in addition to condemning the
inhumane treatment of Iraqi prisoners by coalition forces,
also denounced U.S. sanctions imposed on Syria, claiming that
they were "a direct violation of international law" and "fell
within the double standards practiced (by the U.S.) in the
region."

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PUSHING FOR A NATIONAL CONFERENCE
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6. (C) Jordanian Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali
proposed convening a national Iraqi conference gathering over
1,000 "loyal and qualified" Iraqi intellectuals, politicians,
religious leaders, and other prominent figures to help select
a new national leadership and find ways to end that country's
internal strife. Other participants expressed support for
this proposal. (NOTE: Majali has previously advocated to
Ambassador and PolOff a large-scale conference on Iraq,
possibly under UN auspices, to select a new governing body -
see reftel.) Majali also defended his decision not to invite
Iraq to attend the parliamentary gathering in Amman, noting
that Iraq did not currently have a functioning parliament.

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COMMENT
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7. (C) Majali has been keen for some time to host this
parliamentary meeting to bolster his standing both in Jordan
and in Arab political circles. By giving the meeting a green
light, the GOJ gave greater credence to its stated concern
for the Iraqi people while solidifying Majali's support for
the cabinet's legislative agenda. It is somewhat ironic that
parliamentary speakers from countries in real need of their
own political reforms are calling for open elections,
democratic institutions, and representative government in
Iraq.


8. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.

Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ or through the
Department of State's SIPRNET site.
GNEHM