UN SRSG QAZI ON RECENT MEETINGS WITH SISTANI AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001379 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2016 TAGS: PGOV PNAT KDEM PREL IZ SUBJECT: UN SRSG QAZI ON RECENT MEETINGS WITH SISTANI AND SADR REF: USUN 576 Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: At an April 24 meeting with the Ambassador, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) Ashraf Qazi said that Grand Ayatollah Sistani told him in an April 19 meeting that he (Sistani) would not weigh in on the prime ministerial selection because he then would be responsible for what happens next. During the same trip to Najaf, Qazi said that he urged Moqtada al-Sadr to join the political process and engage in a dialogue with the US. Qazi said that he initially was skeptical of Prime Minister-designate Jawad al-Maliki (Nuri Kamal) but that he now believes Maliki is a good choice for the job. END SUMMARY. -------------- QAZI'S TRIP TO NAJAF -------------- ¶2. (C) SRSG Qazi met with the Ambassador on April 24 to discuss the results of his April 19 visit to Najaf and the selection of Jawad al-Maliki as Prime Minister. Qazi spoke at length about his meetings with both Sistani and Moqtada al-Sadr and relayed the messages that he had presented to each of them (reftel). ¶3. (C) Qazi told the Ambassador that, although Grand Ayatollah Sistani conceded to him that Jafari would have had difficulty forming a government, he (Sistani) would not weigh in on the Prime Ministerial selection. Qazi said that Sistani appeared to fear that, if he became too closely involved in politics, he would be seen as responsible for the eventual outcome if it went badly. Qazi said he pointed out to Sistani that, although it may be unfair to him as a spiritual guide, everyone had been looking to Sistani to break the deadlock. Sistani's response, according to Qazi, was to smile and express thanks for the UN's concern. Speaking more generally about Sistani, Qazi said that he does not believe the Grand Ayatollah is a puppet of Iran, but rather that Sistani sees Iran as an indispensable asset to the Shia community in Iraq. Qazi added that Sistani is not optimistic about a unity government in Iraq. ¶4. (C) Qazi said that he also met with Moqtada al-Sadr and encouraged him to engage in the political process as a way to advocate his beliefs and put forward his legitimate complaints. Qazi said that he also encouraged Sadr to open a dialogue with the US, pointing out that Sadr's political activities are not a problem but that his militia activities are. Sadr responded that he would think about meeting with U.S. officials but that he believes the Americans are not sincere and may even be out to kill him. -------------- QAZI'S VIEW ON MALIKI AS PRIME MINISTER -------------- ¶5. (C) Qazi told the Ambassador that, although he initially was surprised by and skeptical of the selection of Jawad al-Maliki (Nuri Kamal) as Prime Minister, in the end it was a good move. Qazi described the new PM as far more decisive and clear-minded than Jafari. Qazi said that he had assumed the Sunnis would reject Maliki because of his strong advocacy of Shia views. However, Qazi said the PM-designate has reached out to Sunnis and shown he is at least willing to sit at their table and talk. The new PM, Qazi predicted, would speak with authority and clarity and is, under the circumstances, a good choice for the job. Qazi told the Ambassador that he believes Maliki's leadership would be tested but that we must be optimistic. KHALILZAD