Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD1692
2006-05-22 20:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

MALIKI PUSHING DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION IN BASRA,

Tags:  PGOV KDEM IZ 
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VZCZCXRO3226
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHGB #1692 1422006
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 222006Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4597
INFO RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001692 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: MALIKI PUSHING DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION IN BASRA,
WORKING TO FILL SECURITY MINISTER POSTS

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 001692

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: MALIKI PUSHING DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION IN BASRA,
WORKING TO FILL SECURITY MINISTER POSTS

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told the Ambassador in a
brief May 22 meeting that he plans to push for urgent action
to find a political solution to the deteriorating security
situation in Basra. Maliki said that he believes the crux of
the problem is a tribal conflict between Muhammad Falaq (the
SISTANI representative in Basra) and the Basra governor.
Maliki said he believes that any Mehdi Army elements involved
in the violence are acting outside Muqtada al-Sadr's control.
He said Sadrist Salam al-Maliki is playing a positive role
in pushing for calm. Maliki acknowledged SCIRI-Fadhila
differences in Basra but doubted that they are a cause of the
violence. The Ambassador urged the PM to act rapidly to
resolve the situation and warned that the Coalition soon
would have to consider options to improve security for the
British Consulate and Regional Embassy Office there or reduce
its diplomatic presence. The latter option would not send
the right message - especially in the aftermath of the
formation
of the unity government.


2. (C) Maliki said he remains determined to fill his vacant
security portfolios rapidly. He said he met Tawfiq al-Yasiri
the previous day and was impressed that Yasiri is the right
candidate for Interior. Maliki said that Yasiri still faces
opposition inside the Shia Coalition, which he (Maliki) would
face down in a leadership meeting that evening. Maliki said
he remains focused on Muhammad Bara Najib al-Rubaie for the
Defense post. The Ambassador informed him that Rubaie would
be arriving in Baghdad, with U.S. transportation help, on the
morning of May 24. Maliki said he would look forward to
receiving Rubaie immediately and making a decision. Maliki
said that he had met that day with Tawafuq dissidents Khalaf
Alayan and Abd al-Nasser al-Janabi, in addition to Muhammad
al-Dayni, a representative of Saleh Mutlak's Hewar Front.
Maliki said they had asked him to dismiss and replace several
ministers affiliated with the Iraqi Islamic Party and to
appoint Khalaf Alayan as MinDef. Maliki said that he told
them that their request was unreasonable and that he remains
committed to finding capable independents for the security
portfolios.


3. (C) Maliki said that he welcomed the U.S. offer of help in
expanding the Iraqi PM's ties to regional states but that he
feels he already is off to a strong start. Maliki said that
most countries in the region had passed invitations for him
to visit but that he remains determined to launch and
organize his government before setting out on any trips.
Maliki voiced his continued hope that the U.S. would play a
driving role in the international compact campaign for Iraq
even as the UN is vested more formally with the
responsibility for leading the effort. Maliki welcomed
Embassy efforts to distribute materials to all new ministers
describing current Coalition efforts in their respective
fields and outlining the path to further cooperation.
KHALILZAD