Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD1098
2006-04-04 14:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
IRAQ'S LEADERS COMPLETE UNITY GOVERNMENT FRAMEWORK
how-toVZCZCXRO1737 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #1098/01 0941453 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 041453Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3706 RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001098
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ'S LEADERS COMPLETE UNITY GOVERNMENT FRAMEWORK
WITH AGREEMENT ON CABINET BY-LAWS
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001098
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ'S LEADERS COMPLETE UNITY GOVERNMENT FRAMEWORK
WITH AGREEMENT ON CABINET BY-LAWS
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) Iraq's leaders on April 2 reached agreement on the key
by-laws for the next cabinet (appended below),the final
piece of a NATIONAL unity government framework before they
turn to naming ministers. The agreement on the cabinet
by-laws completes the last of four documents - also
addressing the NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL charter, ministerial
security committee, and government program -- that will shape
the next government.
2. (C) The agreement on the cabinet by-laws represents a
clear break with the ways of the current transitional
government's cabinet. Where the current cabinet meets
without a clear rule of procedure, the next cabinet, the new
document stipulates, will hold votes on all key decisions.
Strategic issues, including the budget and key government
appointments, must all be approved by a two-thirds vote.
Furthermore, while the current government's deputy prime
ministers seemed to inhabit empty posts devoid of
responsibility, the new by-laws ensure that the two NATIONAL
unity government's deputy premiers will be key officials,
overseeing implementation of SECURITY and services policies.
The leaders decided to leave the drafting of a complete set
of by-laws to lawyers after the government is formed.
Instead, the agreed provisions, translated below, succinctly
set the points of order on how the next cabinet will be run.
-------------- --------------
Text of the COUNCIL Of Ministers By-Laws Provisions
-------------- --------------
BEGIN TEXT
The Internal bylaws of the COUNCIL of Ministers shall include
achieving the following:
1. The basic function of work in the state is to ensure
partnership in decision-making, distribution of
responsibilities, and contribution to the implementation of
that political program of the political blocs that are in a
coalition for forming the Iraqi government. Therefore,
consideration must be given to performance, the building of
institutions and in the movement of work in a way that
confirms the above principle and reinforces a sense of Iraqi
belonging. In this respect we would like to emphasize that
the secretariat of the COUNCIL of Ministers is a technical
and administrative body, the formation of which should take
into consideration Item 23 of the political program of the
political blocs.
2. Voting by a two-thirds majority of the number of those
present with regard to the following matters:
(1) Bills of the Federal budget, final statement of account,
development plans and decisions of a strategic nature.
(2) International agreements and treaties.
(3) Ministry contracts exceeding 50,000,000 USD. Contracts
less than that can be confirmed by a simple majority.
(4) Matters related to the international borders of Iraq and
strategic international matters.
(5) Recommendation to approve the appointment of Deputy
Ministers, Ambassadors , individuals with special grades, the
Army Chief of STAFF and his assistants and those holding the
rank of a Division Commander and higher, the head of NATIONAL
Intelligence and heads of SECURITY services.
(6) Matters relevant to NATIONAL sovereignty including the
presence of MNF-I and the way of regulating their work.
3. The two Deputy Prime Ministers.
(1) There are three main portfolios in the COUNCIL of
Ministers: The SECURITY portfolio, the economic portfolio and
the services portfolio.
(2) The Prime Minister shall charge one of his deputies with
managing the economic portfolio, following up the
implementation of the decisions of the COUNCIL of Ministers
and the directives of the Prime Minister.
(3) The Prime Minister shall charge his other deputy with
managing the services portfolio and following up the
implementation of the decisions of the COUNCIL of Ministers
and the directives of the Prime Minister.
BAGHDAD 00001098 002 OF 002
(4) The Deputy Prime Minister who assumes the position of
Deputy Chairman of the SECURITY Committee shall be charged
with one of the two dossiers mentioned above.
END TEXT
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ'S LEADERS COMPLETE UNITY GOVERNMENT FRAMEWORK
WITH AGREEMENT ON CABINET BY-LAWS
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) Iraq's leaders on April 2 reached agreement on the key
by-laws for the next cabinet (appended below),the final
piece of a NATIONAL unity government framework before they
turn to naming ministers. The agreement on the cabinet
by-laws completes the last of four documents - also
addressing the NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL charter, ministerial
security committee, and government program -- that will shape
the next government.
2. (C) The agreement on the cabinet by-laws represents a
clear break with the ways of the current transitional
government's cabinet. Where the current cabinet meets
without a clear rule of procedure, the next cabinet, the new
document stipulates, will hold votes on all key decisions.
Strategic issues, including the budget and key government
appointments, must all be approved by a two-thirds vote.
Furthermore, while the current government's deputy prime
ministers seemed to inhabit empty posts devoid of
responsibility, the new by-laws ensure that the two NATIONAL
unity government's deputy premiers will be key officials,
overseeing implementation of SECURITY and services policies.
The leaders decided to leave the drafting of a complete set
of by-laws to lawyers after the government is formed.
Instead, the agreed provisions, translated below, succinctly
set the points of order on how the next cabinet will be run.
-------------- --------------
Text of the COUNCIL Of Ministers By-Laws Provisions
-------------- --------------
BEGIN TEXT
The Internal bylaws of the COUNCIL of Ministers shall include
achieving the following:
1. The basic function of work in the state is to ensure
partnership in decision-making, distribution of
responsibilities, and contribution to the implementation of
that political program of the political blocs that are in a
coalition for forming the Iraqi government. Therefore,
consideration must be given to performance, the building of
institutions and in the movement of work in a way that
confirms the above principle and reinforces a sense of Iraqi
belonging. In this respect we would like to emphasize that
the secretariat of the COUNCIL of Ministers is a technical
and administrative body, the formation of which should take
into consideration Item 23 of the political program of the
political blocs.
2. Voting by a two-thirds majority of the number of those
present with regard to the following matters:
(1) Bills of the Federal budget, final statement of account,
development plans and decisions of a strategic nature.
(2) International agreements and treaties.
(3) Ministry contracts exceeding 50,000,000 USD. Contracts
less than that can be confirmed by a simple majority.
(4) Matters related to the international borders of Iraq and
strategic international matters.
(5) Recommendation to approve the appointment of Deputy
Ministers, Ambassadors , individuals with special grades, the
Army Chief of STAFF and his assistants and those holding the
rank of a Division Commander and higher, the head of NATIONAL
Intelligence and heads of SECURITY services.
(6) Matters relevant to NATIONAL sovereignty including the
presence of MNF-I and the way of regulating their work.
3. The two Deputy Prime Ministers.
(1) There are three main portfolios in the COUNCIL of
Ministers: The SECURITY portfolio, the economic portfolio and
the services portfolio.
(2) The Prime Minister shall charge one of his deputies with
managing the economic portfolio, following up the
implementation of the decisions of the COUNCIL of Ministers
and the directives of the Prime Minister.
(3) The Prime Minister shall charge his other deputy with
managing the services portfolio and following up the
implementation of the decisions of the COUNCIL of Ministers
and the directives of the Prime Minister.
BAGHDAD 00001098 002 OF 002
(4) The Deputy Prime Minister who assumes the position of
Deputy Chairman of the SECURITY Committee shall be charged
with one of the two dossiers mentioned above.
END TEXT
KHALILZAD