IRAQI GOVERNMENT FORMATION: BARGAINING DURING END

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001655 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2026 TAGS: PGOV PNAT KDEM IZ SUBJECT: IRAQI GOVERNMENT FORMATION: BARGAINING DURING END GAME Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: As of midday May 18, a final deal on the new cabinet was close, but there were last minute changes and demands. The Finance, Interior and Defense slots were still undecided and we heard Tawafuq grumbling about some of the candidates proposed. Tawafuq negotiator Ali Baban told Poloff on May 18 that Tawafuq is also asking for an adjustment of its ministries, but it will participate in the government even if their demands were rejected. Meanwhile, Iraqiya asked to trade the Human Rights Ministry for Transportation, Industry or Agriculture. Rumors that Iraqiya would withdraw from government negotiations if their demands for another ministry are not met appear overstated, and there were signs that the Shia Islamist Coalition would be willing to grant Iraqiya a Minister of State slot. Hewar's Saleh Mutlak demanded the Ministry of State for National Dialogue to be made a full ministry and wanted to trade Women's Affairs for Agriculture. He said that he would accept what he gets, though he left open the possibility of going into opposition. Much of this swirling is typical at the end of an long Iraqi negotiation; we see nothing that ultimately would break the emerging deal. There was crash planning to have the Parliament vote and inauguration on Saturday, May 20. PM- designate Maliki may be seeking to use the May 20 date to force the remaining big questions to closure. End Summary. -------------- Tawafug Unhappy but on Board -------------- ¶2. (S) Tariq al-Hashimi, one of the top leaders of Tawafuq, told Poloff early May 18 that Tawafuq did not want Nasar al-Amari to be Interior Minister; he claimed that he had ties to the Badr Corps. In addition, Hashimi said, Tawafuq was not comfortable with candidate for the Defense Minister slot, Thamir as-Sultan. ¶3. (C) Meanwhile, another Tawafuq official (and negotiator) Ali Baban told Poloff on May 18 that Tawafug wanted a service-delivery ministry to compensate for the loss of Health to the Sadrists. He said that PM-designate Maliki offered them another Ministry of State (of their choosing),but that Tawafuq wanted either Human Rights or Justice. Tawafuq will wait until Maliki completed Maliki's negotiations with Iraqiya and Hewar in the hope that a ministry will become available. If Maliki refuses, "we will participate" in the government on Maliki's terms - the decision has been made - said Baban. There is still a problem within Tawafuq since Shaikh Khalaf Alayan (of the National Dialogue Council) and "others" rejected the current ministerial offer, according to Baban. Embassy help will be needed to convince Alayan to acquiesce, he predicted. (Comment: the Embassy is intensively engaged with all the leaders of Tawafuq and we are trying to clarify Hashimi's exact objections to these two security minister candidates mean. We interpret Baban's remark to mean that Tawafuq would accept not getting a service-sector ministry. We still sense that security portfolios are more sensitive for Tawafuq and other political blocs too. End Comment.) Iraqiya in Tizzy as Allawi Goes Home to London -------------- - ¶4. (C) In a May 18 telephone with PolOff, Iraqiya Chief of Staff Ibrahim al-Janabi contradicted rumors that Iraqiya plans to withdraw from government negotiations. He added that earlier on May 18 he had distributed letters to Ambassador Khalilzad, Shia Coalition leader Abdul Aziz al- Hakim, President Jalal Talabani, PM-designate Nuri al- Maliki, and UK Ambassador William Patey affiriming Iraqiya's desire to participate in the government but its demand that it receive a "fair" share of ministries. The letter stated that Iraqiya wished to exchange the Ministry of Human Rights for a service ministry like Transportation, Industry or Agriculture. It gave the Shia Coalition until midnight to respond. In May 18 telephone calls with PolFSN, senior Iraqiya member Judge Wael Abd al-Latif al- Fadel and Iraqiyya negotiating team member Shaikh Hussein Sha'alan both confirmed what al-Janabi reported. Al-Janabi said that Iraqiya had not discussed whether it would withdraw if the Shia Coalition does not reply. (Note: Sha'alan speculated that if there is no response, Iraqiya leaders would tell the media that the national unity government is a failure. End Note.) Saad al-Janabi, an Iraqiya insider told Poloff on May 18 noted that Iraqiya's BAGHDAD 00001655 002 OF 002 demand that the Assistant Prime Minister be given rank and stature is meant to appease Safia Suheil and is not serious and is not a serious impediment for Iraqiya participation in government. He said Ayad Allawi left Baghdad on May 17 and won't return until the end of the month. (Comment: we are hearing indications that the Shia Coalition might accept giving Iraqiya another Minister of State slot - making the deal a little easier for them. End Comment.) -------------- Hewar Wants Agriculture -------------- ¶5. (C) The smaller Sunni Arab bloc Hewar's Saleh Mutlak told Poloff on May 18 that he wanted the Ministry of State for National Dialogue that he had been offered to be a full ministry. He also demanded the Agriculture ministry and was willing to trade Women's Affairs for it. He complained that his party has candidates with good experience in agriculture (Mutlak owns a 75,000 acre farm) and would nominate a qualified independent for the ministry whereas the Sadrists have proposed a medical doctor. He also complained that some Shia raised objections to Huda Nuaimi, his nominee for Women's Affairs. She was neither a Ba'thist nor has she ever held a position in Saddam's regime, said Mutlak. Mutlak said he wanted to participate in the government but must have something to show his electorate and what was being offered is not enough. When asked by Poloff what he would do if Maliki rejected his demands, Mutlak responded that he will have to live with whatever is offered or go into opposition. (Comment: we sense he'll take what is offered. End Comment.) -------------- Kurds Tinkering with their Share -------------- ¶6. (C) In a late night May 17 phone call, KDP Minister of Industry designate Fawzi Hariri told PolOff that Kurdish leadership had switched him to Minister of Culture. He said that he is not thrilled about the change and will lobby hard to get the Ministry of Industry and Minerals back. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) The complaining and last-minute haggling is entirely in keeping with the style of Iraqi negotiations. Nothing above sounds like it would break the emerging deal. That said, three key jobs still are undecided: Finance, Interior and Defense. (We are not convinced by stories on Iraqiya TV that the deal on Interior and Defense is done - it looks like one of the negotiators trying to force events.) Negotiations on specific candidates and ministries are likely to continue until the very last moment. By early afternoon May 18 there was a flurry of Iraqi-inspired planning for a parliamentary confirmation of the cabinet and the inauguration events for Saturday, May ¶20. Maliki may be using the press of the May 20 date to bring the last contentious cabinet spots to closure. End Comment. KHALILZAD