Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD1843
2006-06-01 08:07:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
ARAB LEAGUE AMBASSADOR REPORTS SISTANI SUPPORTIVE
how-toVZCZCXRO4174 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #1843 1520807 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 010807Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4824 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 001843
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2026
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE AMBASSADOR REPORTS SISTANI SUPPORTIVE
OF CONFERENCE PROPOSAL
REF: SECSTATE 1792
Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford for
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 001843
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2026
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE AMBASSADOR REPORTS SISTANI SUPPORTIVE
OF CONFERENCE PROPOSAL
REF: SECSTATE 1792
Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford for
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Arab League Ambassador to Iraq Mukhtar Lamani told
Poloff that his May 31 visit to Najaf was successful.
During the one day trip, Lamani met separately with
Ayatollah SISTANI, Fadilah Party Spiritual Leader Muhammad
al-Yaqubi, SCIRI leader Abd al-Aziz al-Hakim and Muqtada
al-Sadr. Lamani was accompanied by Mouez al-Khateeb, the
Iraqi MFA Director for Arab Affairs and Mevan Muhammed,
Hakim's personal secretary. The Embassy provided
helicopter transport for the party.
2. (S) Lamani said that SISTANI was supportive of the June
20-22 reconciliation conference. SISTANI told Lamani he
would not attend, as he never participates in political
meetings. Lamani said SISTANI was also non-committal about
whether his son Muhammad Ridha would attend. Lamani said
that he spoke separately for 90 minutes with Muhammad Ridha
and suggested that he have lunch with the son of the head
of the Sunni Muslim Scholars Association Harith al-Dhari.
Lamani said Muhammad Ridha told him he would consider the
proposal. Lamani said that Muhammed al-Yaqubi was also
very supportive of the conference and offered several
constructive suggestions.
3. (S) Lamani said Muqtada al-Sadr raised two demands -
that the conference not be held in the International Zone
and that no Americans be present. Lamani assured Sadr on
the first point and pointed out that during the sessions
for Iraqis, there will be no non-Iraqis present. However,
he told Sadr, during the sessions where foreign guests are
present, the Americans will be there. Lamani indicated
that Sadr was not satisfied by this response.
4. (C) Lamani said the most negative reaction to the
conference came from Abdul Aziz al-Hakim who he claimed
treated him to a 60 minute lecture on Ali and the Shia-
Sunni split. Lamani said Hakim questioned the need for the
conference and will likely create difficulties along the
way.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2026
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE AMBASSADOR REPORTS SISTANI SUPPORTIVE
OF CONFERENCE PROPOSAL
REF: SECSTATE 1792
Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford for
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Arab League Ambassador to Iraq Mukhtar Lamani told
Poloff that his May 31 visit to Najaf was successful.
During the one day trip, Lamani met separately with
Ayatollah SISTANI, Fadilah Party Spiritual Leader Muhammad
al-Yaqubi, SCIRI leader Abd al-Aziz al-Hakim and Muqtada
al-Sadr. Lamani was accompanied by Mouez al-Khateeb, the
Iraqi MFA Director for Arab Affairs and Mevan Muhammed,
Hakim's personal secretary. The Embassy provided
helicopter transport for the party.
2. (S) Lamani said that SISTANI was supportive of the June
20-22 reconciliation conference. SISTANI told Lamani he
would not attend, as he never participates in political
meetings. Lamani said SISTANI was also non-committal about
whether his son Muhammad Ridha would attend. Lamani said
that he spoke separately for 90 minutes with Muhammad Ridha
and suggested that he have lunch with the son of the head
of the Sunni Muslim Scholars Association Harith al-Dhari.
Lamani said Muhammad Ridha told him he would consider the
proposal. Lamani said that Muhammed al-Yaqubi was also
very supportive of the conference and offered several
constructive suggestions.
3. (S) Lamani said Muqtada al-Sadr raised two demands -
that the conference not be held in the International Zone
and that no Americans be present. Lamani assured Sadr on
the first point and pointed out that during the sessions
for Iraqis, there will be no non-Iraqis present. However,
he told Sadr, during the sessions where foreign guests are
present, the Americans will be there. Lamani indicated
that Sadr was not satisfied by this response.
4. (C) Lamani said the most negative reaction to the
conference came from Abdul Aziz al-Hakim who he claimed
treated him to a 60 minute lecture on Ali and the Shia-
Sunni split. Lamani said Hakim questioned the need for the
conference and will likely create difficulties along the
way.
KHALILZAD