AMBASSADOR CALLS ON MINISTER OF CULTURE,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004926

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR ECA (IVES,KOUROUPAS),NEA
PARIS FOR US MISSION TO UNESCO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL PGOV KPAO IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON MINISTER OF CULTURE,
DISCUSSES NEW SUNNI POLITICAL PARTY, CULTURAL AFFAIRS


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador met with ITG Culture
Minister Nuri Al-Rawi on November 30. They reviewed
the impact of Iraq's security situation on Iraqi
cultural heritage sites and the promotion of Iraqi
culture generally. Fourteen Iraqi cultural centers
are planned worldwide (three in the U.S.). Al-Rawi
also seeks return of Adhamiyah Palace in Baghdad for a
UNESCO-supported library project. Al-Rawi offered his
moderate Sunni Iraqi People's Movement as a vehicle to
reach out to Sunni tribes in the Ramadi area. END
SUMMARY.

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CULTURAL AFFAIRS DIFFICULT;
BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP POSITIVE
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2. (U) On November 30, Ambassador met with Minister
of Culture Nuri Al-Rawi to discuss both the state of
cultural affairs in Iraq and Al-Rawi's political
aspirations. Al-Rawi, a moderate Sunni from Ramadi,
is a candidate in the December 15 election. He thanked
the Ambassador for the visit, his first to the
Ministry of Culture. The Minister spoke positively of
his interactions with the Embassy's Public Affairs
Section and of his support for the U.S. presence.


3. (U) When the Ambassador asked Al-Rawi about the
work of his ministry, he replied that, "it is going
well and (focusing on) true Iraqi culture. We are
starting with the children, to keep them from becoming
involved in violence." He explained that his ministry
is present in all of Iraq's governorates and often
cooperates with the Ministry of Education. According
to Al-Rawi, Iraq is a paradise for archaeologists,
with at least 16,000 known sites and a potential
150,000 sites (after further exploration). Al-Rawi
stressed that, because of Iraq's past, cultural
programming is essential to help Iraqis accept a new,
more peaceful future.


4. (U) Even though financing is difficult, Al-Rawi
explained, cultural events are needed to introduce
Iraqi culture to the world. Unfortunately, the
security situation has hampered the Ministry's ability
to conduct events inside Iraq. He noted some recent
events outside of Iraq, including a cultural fair in
Denmark, and announced that 14 Iraqi cultural centers
worldwide have been planned and budgeted for, three of
them in the U.S. The Ambassador and Al-Rawi discussed
the possibility of an Iraqi cultural event in the
U.S.: perhaps a traveling exhibit of traditional Iraqi
dress, which Al-Rawi also offered to organize for
Baghdad's International Zone residents.


5. (SBU) The Ambassador raised the issue of
protecting historical and archaeological sites like
Babylon, telling the Minister that one day, "cultural
tourism could be bigger than oil" in Iraq, the
birthplace of civilization. Al-Rawi responded that
there are still problems with looting in Babylon and
other historical areas. Al-Rawi requested vehicles
and weapons to assist ministry guards in protecting
these areas. He also requested an armored car for
himself. The Ambassador promised that he would look
into the possibility of MNSTC-I providing training for
the ministry guards.


6. (SBU) Al-Rawi related that, with the assistance of
the Italian government and UNESCO, much of Babylon has
been restored and is now designated a "World Heritage
Site." He suggested that future restoration work done
in Iraq always be supervised by UNESCO. He also
praised the Italian government for its assistance to
the Iraqi Museum in computerizing its collections,
given that the security situation still prevents the
Museum from opening to the public.

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LEADER OF MODERATE SUNNI PARTY
OFFERS ASSISTANCE IN RAMADI
--------------


7. (SBU) Al-Rawi then shifted to describe his new
political party, the Iraqi People's Movement (IPM),as
moderate and Sunni. Its slogan, he said, is
"agreement, not difference." According to Al-Rawi,
the party's list contains 75 names and is active in
ten governorates, especially in Mosul, Ramadi, Kirkuk,
Salah ad-Din, Baghdad, Kut and Diwaniyah. He predicted
his party will win 15 seats in the upcoming election.


8. (SBU) Al-Rawi stressed his support for the
democratic process and expressed a willingness to have
his party work with tribes in Al-Anbar (especially in
Ramadi, his home town) to improve the situation there.
According to Al-Rawi, Syria finances terrorist acts in
Ramadi, and the local people feel defeated by Zarqawi
and the Ba'athists. Al-Rawi believes that Iraqis in
Ramadi want to stand up but are afraid that the U.S.
might desert them one day. If they could be sure the
U.S. would stay, he added, they would be willing to
cooperate more, even more than with the ISF. (NOTE:
Al-Rawi's allegation that Ramadi locals want coalition
forces to stay is completely contrary to the general
opinion of Ramadi leaders relayed repeatedly to
visiting EmbOffs. END NOTE.)


9. (SBU) The Ambassador responded that he is willing
to speak with the citizens of Ramadi to improve the
situation, assuring Al-Rawi that it is important that
the old regime and the insurgents not be allowed to
destabilize the region. Al-Rawi repeated both his
offer to arrange a meeting between the Ambassador and
the Ramadi sheiks and his overall support for the U.S.
effort. Then he wondered aloud what assistance the
U.S. might give his party. He asked the Ambassador to
intercede on behalf of two detainees being held in the
area.


10. (SBU) COMMENT: After the opening discussion on
cultural issues, Al-Rawi's ministry assistants slipped
out of the room, leaving behind a journalist for the
political discussions, who subsequently asked to
interview the Ambassador. Clearly, this was at Al-
Rawi's instigation on behalf of his party. Al-Rawi's
attitude throughout the visit, including the political
discussion and the media interview, remained upbeat
and positive. His commitment to helping improve the
situation in Ramadi seemed genuine, and he may in fact
be able to organize a meeting for the Ambassador with
local Ramadi leaders (several of whom Al-Rawi said he
had met with that same day). END COMMENT.

KHALILZAD