Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BAGHDAD4776
2005-11-29 16:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
PRESIDENT TALABANI ON ELECTIONS, CITIZENSHIP LAW
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004776
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2015
TAGS: PGOV PNAT PHUM CPAS IZ
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT TALABANI ON ELECTIONS, CITIZENSHIP LAW
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1.4
(B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004776
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2015
TAGS: PGOV PNAT PHUM CPAS IZ
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT TALABANI ON ELECTIONS, CITIZENSHIP LAW
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1.4
(B) AND (D).
1. (C) In a November 27 meeting, President Talabani
outlined to the Ambassador his predictions for the
December election results: 90-110 seats for the Shia
list; 50-60 seats for the Kurds; 45-50 seats for the
Sunni Arabs; 25-35 seats for former PM Ayad Allawi's
coalition; and 5-10 for Deputy PM Chalabi's group. Of
the Sunni Arab seats, Talabani predicted the majority
would be won by List 618, with Saleh Mutlaq's Iraqi
Front for National Dialogue relegated to 5 seats at
most.
2. (C) In response to the Ambassador's query on
election preparations, Talabani stated that the
propaganda and publicity machinery was active and
working well. However, Talabani deprecated Allawi's
statements to the British press that the current state
of human rights in Iraq "was worse now than under
Saddam." (Note: Talabani's aide Kamiran Karadaghi
repeatedly tried to correct Talabani to reflect more
accurately Allawi's statement that the current human
rights situation in Iraq is as bad as it ever was
under Saddam. End Note.) Talabani became very
animated, wondering how Allawi could make comparisons
between the freedoms Iraqis enjoy now and the brutal
mass graves of Saddam Hussein.
3. (C) The Ambassador then brought up the topic of
citizenship rights, noting that the Transitional
National Assembly (TNA) had passed a bill that
specifically excluded Iraqi Jews from reclaiming their
Iraqi citizenship. The Ambassador characterized the
move as unnecessary and unwise, pointing out its
incompatibility with the tenets of the new Iraqi
Constitution. Talabani vowed to reject the bill and
later during the meeting he instructed Karadaghi to
find the bill immediately and reject it.
4. (C) Finally, the Ambassador raised the issue of the
four Western citizens who recently had been kidnapped
from their car after meeting with the Muslim Ulema
Council. Talabani expressed his concern and urged the
Ambassador to speak with the Ulema Council for their
assistance.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2015
TAGS: PGOV PNAT PHUM CPAS IZ
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT TALABANI ON ELECTIONS, CITIZENSHIP LAW
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1.4
(B) AND (D).
1. (C) In a November 27 meeting, President Talabani
outlined to the Ambassador his predictions for the
December election results: 90-110 seats for the Shia
list; 50-60 seats for the Kurds; 45-50 seats for the
Sunni Arabs; 25-35 seats for former PM Ayad Allawi's
coalition; and 5-10 for Deputy PM Chalabi's group. Of
the Sunni Arab seats, Talabani predicted the majority
would be won by List 618, with Saleh Mutlaq's Iraqi
Front for National Dialogue relegated to 5 seats at
most.
2. (C) In response to the Ambassador's query on
election preparations, Talabani stated that the
propaganda and publicity machinery was active and
working well. However, Talabani deprecated Allawi's
statements to the British press that the current state
of human rights in Iraq "was worse now than under
Saddam." (Note: Talabani's aide Kamiran Karadaghi
repeatedly tried to correct Talabani to reflect more
accurately Allawi's statement that the current human
rights situation in Iraq is as bad as it ever was
under Saddam. End Note.) Talabani became very
animated, wondering how Allawi could make comparisons
between the freedoms Iraqis enjoy now and the brutal
mass graves of Saddam Hussein.
3. (C) The Ambassador then brought up the topic of
citizenship rights, noting that the Transitional
National Assembly (TNA) had passed a bill that
specifically excluded Iraqi Jews from reclaiming their
Iraqi citizenship. The Ambassador characterized the
move as unnecessary and unwise, pointing out its
incompatibility with the tenets of the new Iraqi
Constitution. Talabani vowed to reject the bill and
later during the meeting he instructed Karadaghi to
find the bill immediately and reject it.
4. (C) Finally, the Ambassador raised the issue of the
four Western citizens who recently had been kidnapped
from their car after meeting with the Muslim Ulema
Council. Talabani expressed his concern and urged the
Ambassador to speak with the Ulema Council for their
assistance.
KHALILZAD