CHARGE URGES SCIRI'S AL-HAKIM TO CLOSE DEAL ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002466

SIPDIS

NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KISL IZ UN
SUBJECT: CHARGE URGES SCIRI'S AL-HAKIM TO CLOSE DEAL ON
SUNNI ADDITIONS TO CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITTEE

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Henry S. Ensher for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Charge on June 10 made a firm
presentation to SCIRI leader 'Abd al Aziz al-Hakim to end the
drift and close a deal on adding Sunnis to the constitutional
committee. Charge noted that his presentation reflected the
concern of the highest level of the USG. Charge and DCM went
over the same points described below with PM Jafari in a
separate meeting June 10. The Charge suggested 15 Sunnis
would be an appropriate compromise for all sides; there
should not be conditions on or vetos on the names the Sunnis
propose. Al-Hakim agreed that the numbers were not
important, noting only the difficulty of getting the Sunnis
to agree among themselves. He said the same principle of
consensus that prevailed during earlier Iraqi political
negotiations would prevail. Constitutional Committee Chair
Humam Hammudi said proposed individuals must meet the same
criteria as TNA members. Hammudi also expressed his
displeasure at the recent presentation of a UN advisor who
had referred to MNF-I as an occupation force and who had
suggested an additional 25 Sunnis would be appropriate.
Charge noted that the Committee should take only the advice
it thought appropriate. Post contacted the UN Constitutional
adviser on this point. He said there had been a
misunderstanding of the UN position because of a bad
translation and would correct the misunderstanding as soon as
possible. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) The Charge and DCM visited SCIRI and United Iraqi
Alliance (UIA) leader 'Abd al-Aziz al-Hakim at the SCIRI
headquarters June 10. Joining al-Hakim were his deputy and
constitutional committee leader Humam al-Hammudi,
Transitional National Assembly (TNA) member Akram al-Hakim,
and Abd al-Aziz al-Hakim's son Ammar al-Hakim.


3. (C) The Charge stressed the need to finalize the
composition of the constitutional committee now. The Charge
praised the outreach efforts of the Shia towards the Sunnis,
especially given that the Shia are the elected members of the
government. The next step is to close a deal on Sunni
participation in the constitutional process. Charge noted
his presentation reflected the concerns of the highest level
of the USG. The Charge said we would be urging compromise on
all sides. The Sunni demand for 25 committee members seems
excessive to us; 15 is a compromise for all sides. Moreover,
the Charge suggested that other groups not place conditions
on or veto the members the Sunnis choose, since the Sunnis
need to feel the individuals represent them. In addition,
the USG expects the spirit of consensus rather than voting
will guide the committee's decisions. Charge and DCM made
the same points to PM Jafari in a separate meeting June 10.


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NUMBERS "NOT IMPORTANT"; SUNNI DIVISION COMPLICATES
EFFORT--AS IS THE UNITED NATIONS
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Al-Hakim responded that the numbers of Sunnis are "not
so important, whether 13 or 15". Al-Hakim assured the Charge
the Shia will practice the same principles in the
constitution that they did with forming the government.
Al-Hakim noted the generosity of the Shia who, although they
constitute 60-65 percent of Iraqi population, according to
U.S. studies (NFI),had afforded the Sunnis many prominent
posts in the government.


5. (C) Al-Hakim noted the difficulty in dealing with the
Sunnis because they are divided. Al-Hakim complained of the
meeting between the constitutional committee and Sunni groups
June 9 to discuss Sunni inclusion, which nearly descended
into near physical confrontation between the Sunni IIP and
National Dialogue (INDC) who accused each other of not truly
representing Sunnis. Al-Hakim noted the positive role the
USG could play to temper the Sunnis. Choosing Sunni
candidates should not be so difficult, al-Hakim said, but the
process should not entirely depend on Constitutional
Committee Chairman Adnan al-Janabi, who is not widely
accepted.


6. (C) Transitional National Assembly constitutional
committee head and SCIRI deputy Shaykh Humam Hammudi claimed
that most groups had been in favor of adding 15 Sunnis, but a
UN advisor had complicated the process by proposing an
additional 25 Sunnis. The UN is "ruining the process",
complained Hammudi, who also complained of a recent instance
in which a UN member greeted Hammudi by expressing sympathy
for Iraq living under MNF-I occupation. Moreover, the UN had
suggested the constitutional committee be the ultimate
authority on the Constitution draft without any role for the
TNA, ignoring the Transitional Administrative Law. Charge
said that the Committee is free to take or leave any advice
it wants. He suggested that Hakim and Hammudi might consider
the greater weight of advice from friends, such as the U.S.,
that were sharing with Iraqis the sacrifices of the fight
against terrorists. Hakim agreed. Post contacted UN
constitutional adviser Haysom on June 10 to seek an
explanation for the reported UN position. Haysom said a bad
translation in a UN non-paper might have caused a
misunderstanding and the UN was neither advocating a
particular number of Sunnis nor a process that would undercut
the TNA. He undertook to clarify the UN's views with Hammudi
as soon as possible.


7. (C) COMMENT: The meeting with Hakim was the first of a
round of calls to key representatives of all parties to the
constitutional inclusion process. We will press them all, as
they have indicated they wished us to do, to finalize the
composition of the constitutional committee. SCIRI seemed
very amenable to adding 15 Sunnis. We tend to agree with
them that much of the difficulty and delay lies with the
Sunnis themselves and their inability to agree on candidates.
We will press Sunnis with the same message of flexibility
and compromise. END COMMENT.


8. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO KIRKUK
minimize considered.
Jeffrey