PM MALIKI UPBEAT ON REACTION TO RECONCILIATION PLAN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002281

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2016
TAGS: IZ PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: PM MALIKI UPBEAT ON REACTION TO RECONCILIATION PLAN


Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In a June 28 meeting, Prime Minister Maliki
said that he is optimistic about his upcoming trip to the
Gulf and pleased with Ambassador's readout of his own
consultations in Jeddah, in which Ambassador reported that
the Saudis are ready to help Maliki with reconciliation and
the International Compact. Maliki said that he was surprised
with the positive reaction to his reconciliation proposal,
both internationally and at home. Maliki cited cases in
which armed groups have signaled their desire to disarm and
rejoin the Iraqi body politic. Maliki said that views in his
cabinet range from support for total amnesty for everyone, to
no amnesty at all. He will begin consultations on membership
on the Higher Council for National Reconciliation on June 29.
After initial concerns over lack of consultation, both
Ayatollah SISTANI and Shaykh Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim reportedly
are now supportive of the reconciliation plan. End Summary.

Travel to the Gulf
--------------


2. (C) On June 28, the Ambassador briefed Prime Minister
Maliki on his trip to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia the previous day.
Ambassador reported that the Saudis are looking forward to
welcoming the Prime Minister to Jeddah and that they relayed
their readiness to provide aircraft for his trip. Maliki
said that he would take an Iraqi airplane to Jeddah but that
he had accepted a Saudi offer of an aircraft to take him from
Jeddah to the UAE and on to Kuwait.


3. (C) The Ambassador reported that the Saudis said they
would help on the International Compact, serve on the
Steering Group, and host meetings if necessary. If it proves
impossible to gather appropriately senior officials for a
preparatory meeting in Baghdad on either July 12 or 17,
Ambassador said, the Saudis would consider hosting the
meeting in the Kingdom. Alternatively, the Saudis also
indicated that they would consider hosting the final,
pledging conference. The Ambassador advised Maliki to tell
the Saudis what he would prefer. Maliki told the Ambassador
that Barham Salih had just suggested the possibility of
holding the final event in New York during the UNGA, to take
advantage of the presence of so many foreign ministers.
Maliki wondered, however, if doing it in the U.S. would make
it appear too much a U.S.-sponsored event. Ambassador agreed
that it could but doubted that the process could be completed
by September. (In a later meeting, Barham Salih told the
Ambassador he believed he could be
ready by the end of September).


4. (C) Ambassador said that the Saudis also indicated
willingness -- if the Prime Minister thought they could be
helpful -- to work with some of the Iraqi parties on
reconciliation. The Ambassador told the Prime Minister that
the Saudis would help him if he asks. Maliki said that he
needs the Saudis' support and that he hopes that the U.A.E.
could also use its influence in support of Iraqi
reconciliation. The Ambassador suggested that the Prime
Minister's agreement to return 59 Saudi detainees to the
Kingdom would be a well-appreciated gesture. MNF-I is ready
to transfer them to Saudi Arabian custody, Ambassador said.
Maliki said that it is a sensitive matter that could affect
the Iraqi street; he would have to study the issue and noted
a similar problem with Lebanon regarding extradition.

Reconciliation
--------------


5. (S) The Ambassador asked the Prime Minister what the
reaction had been to his reconciliation proposals, whether he
had an implementing plan yet, and if the U.S. could help.
The Prime Minister said he had been surprised at the positive
reaction both internationally and at home. The international
and regional reaction had positively affected the attitude of
Iraqis themselves. Already, Maliki said that he has received
indications that some rejectionist groups might be ready to
disarm. Aiham Samarie (Sunni former Minister of Electricity)
has conveyed to the PM that there are four groups ready to
disarm, and Ansar al Islam in Kurdistan also has come
forward. Some small Shia groups, including some associated
with the JAM, have also come forward with their support for
reconciliation. Maliki said that he had received messages of
support from senior figures of the Sunni Waqf, including from
Ahmed Abdel Ghafur Samarie, and a number of civil society
leaders.


6. (C) The Prime Minister said a number of tribal leaders
have also told him they are "ready." If it were not for his
upcoming trip, Maliki said that he would have begun setting
up governorate and local-level reconciliation committees

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immediately. The PM said that he intends to begin
discussions the next day on the composition of the Higher
Council for National Reconciliation and Dialogue. The
Minister of State for National Dialogue, plus representatives
from the major constitutional bodies and political blocs,
would be involved in the creation of this Council. Maliki
also will have representatives from Basrah. (NOTE: In an
aside, Maliki told the Ambassador that he had sent a message
to the governor of Basrah not to interfere with the military
team he would be sending to Basrah. END NOTE.)


7. (C) The Prime Minister also reported progress in setting
up committees to fast-track review of detainee files, but
assured the Ambassador that those who attacked the MNF-I
would not be recommended for release. This prompted recall
of the Prime Minister's former spokesman Adnan Ali, who
claimed the Prime Minister had called for an amnesty for
those who had killed Coalition Forces. The Prime Minister
called Ali a "liar" and said that, not only had he (Maliki)
never said such a thing, but that he regretted any damage
that it might have caused to the U.S.-Iraqi relationship and
to the feelings of all those working in Iraq. The Ambassador
told him of his own recent remarks on the issue of amnesty
and on the need to balance the requirements of reconciliation
with the requirements of justice. Although the issue would
be difficult to solve, Ambassador said that he hopes that
those of goodwill would keep an open mind. The Prime
Minister described wide divisions among Iraqis on this issue.
His cabinet, for example, ranges from support for a broad
amnesty to total rejection of the idea. Many Iraqis are
angry about any detainee releases, Maliki noted, while others
demand that all the detainees should be freed. Maliki said
that he hopes to find the needed wisdom and to be able to
maintain accountability, but he does not believe that a broad
amnesty could be seriously considered until stability had
been restored.


8. (C) As an example of the strong views relating to
detainees, Maliki said that the cabinet voted unanimously to
keep Abu Ghraib open. Although some new prisons are under
construction, the Iraqis need Abu Ghuraib to house the
prisoner population, Maliki stated. The Prime Minister said
further consultation with the U.S. is needed on the detainee
issue and acknowledged that the current situation is
irregular (referring to the lack of timely judicial review of
those detained). The Ambassador said that the U.S. needs a
reliable Iraqi counterpart on this issue. The Prime Minister
said he had asked the Minister of Justice and a
representative of the Judiciary to serve on a committee to
deal with the MNF-I, but agreed to appoint a specific
official to serve as a point of contact on this issue.


9. (C) Finally, in response to the Ambassador's question
regarding the views of Ayatollah SISTANI on the
reconciliation plan, the Prime Minister said that he heard
that Mohammad Ridha SISTANI initially had expressed concern
but is now supportive. Maliki acknowledged that he should
have provided the text of the reconciliation plan to Mohammad
Ridha before announcing it publicly. Likewise, Shaykh Abdul
Aziz Al-Hakim -- who has been out of the country -- also
expressed consternation since he had not been consulted in
advance, but the Prime Minister understands that Hakim now is
comfortable with the proposal.

Khalilzad

Khalilzad