PRIME MINISTER JA'AFARI TO APPOINT TURKMEN SUNNI

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003102

SIPDIS

NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KWMN IZ TU
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER JA'AFARI TO APPOINT TURKMEN SUNNI
WOMAN AS NEW DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C/NF) Both Prime Minister Ja'afari and President Talabani
told Ambassador Khalilzad on July 26 that they have decided
to appoint Aneesah Mohammad Nouri, a Turkmen Sunni woman, to
the position of Deputy Prime Minister. They said that KRG
President Masoud Barzani initially resisted the idea but he
relented yesterday. Ja'afari said that Nouri's appointment
would be officially announced tomorrow.


2. (C/NF) This appointment represents a positive step towards
improving the Iraqi Government's image in addressing women's
affairs, especially during the current constitutional debate
on women's rights. As a Turkmen, Nouri may prove valuable in
the Government's bilateral relationship with Turkey.
Additionally, her Sunni background should provide more
credibility to the Government's outreach efforts to the Sunni
community.


3. (C/NF) Comment: Born in Kirkuk, Nouri is a practicing
OBGYN with no prior known poltica experience. She is
reportedly a member of the Turkmen Consultative Council, an
advisory board to the Iraqi Turkmen Front. Despite this
affiliation, several sources have noted that Nouri is a
political independent. She is married to Nawzad Auchi, the
head of the Auchi Tribe, one of the most well known families
in Kirkuk.
Khalilzad