Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ALGIERS1875
2005-09-06 10:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:  

PRESENTATION OF DRAFT IRAQI CONSTITUTION AND

Tags:  PGOV PREL IZ AG 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001875 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ AG
SUBJECT: PRESENTATION OF DRAFT IRAQI CONSTITUTION AND
ALGERIAN REACTION

REF: STATE 158420

Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001875

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ AG
SUBJECT: PRESENTATION OF DRAFT IRAQI CONSTITUTION AND
ALGERIAN REACTION

REF: STATE 158420

Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Ambassador, accompanied by Pol/Econ Chief, called on
FM Bedjaoui August 31 to deliver reftel demarche urging
strong support for the Iraqi people, the democratic process
in Iraq, and the October 15 referendum on the draft Iraqi
constitution. Ambassador reviewed the talking points in some
detail, providing the Secretary's statement on the new
constitution, the fact sheet on highlights of the
constitution, and the English language text. Ambassador said
that as an international jurist, the Foreign Minister would
find the document of interest. While the new constitution
was neither perfect nor final -- any more than the U.S.
Constitution has been in its initial form -- it was on the
whole an impressive achievement and the product of wide
debate, dialogue, and compromise. It was progressive in its
protection of individual, women's, and minority rights and
realistic in seeking to balance religious, democratic, and
human rights principles.


2. (C) Ambassador stressed that a genuine political process
was underway and that the Iraqi people should be strongly
encouraged to continue on this path. While some Sunnis were
not happy with aspects of the document, their views were not
necessarily reflective of all Sunnis. The important thing
was that all Iraqis, including all Iraqi Sunnis, would have
an opportunity on October 15 to express their views
democratically in the constitutional referendum and that
political differences should be resolved through the
political process, not through recourse to violence or
terror. We strongly hoped our partners and friends would
provide this kind of encouragement.


3. Bedjaoui indicated that Algeria wanted to see the
democratic process in Iraq move forward. At the same time,
he noted concerns among Iraqi Sunnis that the natural
resources were not equally distributed within Iraq, thus
raising fears among the Sunnis that if the country broke
apart, they would be left with nothing. Ambassador said the
draft constitution made very clear that Iraq's natural
resources were the property of all Iraqis. Furthermore, we
had found that some Sunni negotiators who had been publicly
critical of the constitution were much more ambivalent in
private -- a point that seemed to be of special interest to
the Minister. Iraqi Sunnis and everyone else would have an
opportunity to express themselves in the October referendum.
If there were things they did not like, they needed to work
within the political process to fix them, just as was the
case with the many other compromises that had been reached
during the constitutional drafting process.


4. (C) Bedjaoui, noting the bridge tragedy that had taken the
lives of hundreds of Iraqis earlier in the day, expressed
great sympathy for the Iraqi people and their troubles.
Algeria wanted to see the democratic process move forward in
Iraq and the terrible daily violence end. In this context,
he noted, Sunnis expected to be able to participate fully in
the political process in Iraq. Holding the referendum with
all the Sunnis voting against the constitution would indeed
be an "extraordinary event." It would be the first time such
a situation occurred in Iraq's history, and it would be
dangerous if Kurds and Shi'a supported the constitution while
Sunnis did not. Even if the constitution were approved by a
"sufficient majority," different perceptions of the rights
and obligations of Iraqi citizens could cause a split.
Bedjaoui agreed it was important to convince the Sunnis to go
forward with this current phase and to revisit certain
decisions at a later time. Despite their frustrations, they
needed to be patient.

ERDMAN