Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD259
2006-01-30 13:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
ZEBARI DISCUSSES PM CANDIDATES AND CABINET
how-toVZCZCXRO6093 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #0259 0301319 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 301319Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2371 RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000259
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PNAT IZ
SUBJECT: ZEBARI DISCUSSES PM CANDIDATES AND CABINET
POSITIONS.
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Robert S.
Ford for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000259
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PNAT IZ
SUBJECT: ZEBARI DISCUSSES PM CANDIDATES AND CABINET
POSITIONS.
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Robert S.
Ford for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1.(C) On January 26, Foreign Minister Hoshyar
Zebari told POLOFF that Fadhila Party Leader Nadim al-
Jabiri's bid for Prime Minister is misguided.
According to Zebari, al-Jabiri has yet to approach the
Kurds with a deal. From his conversations with
several members of the Kurdish leadership, Zebari said
they consider al-Jabiri the wrong man for the job
because he lacks government experience. Zebari added
that al-Jabiri's push for the premiership has TNA
Deputy Speaker al-Shahristani making a serious bid for
the position as well. Zebari said that Shahristani
would have a better chance than al-Jabiri of becoming
PM.
2. (C) Regarding cabinet positions, Zebari said that
the agreement between PUK Jalal Talabani and KDP
Masoud Barzani remains intact. Zebari deflected the
question of his own aspirations in the new government
and re-emphasized that the agreement between Talabani
and Barzani does not allow for current Planning
Minister Barham Saleh to become Foreign Minister, i.e.
leaving Zebari in the Foreign Minister position.
Zebari claims to have told the Shia Coalition leaders
that the Alliance has the right to choose the Prime
Minister without interference from the Kurds,
indicated that the Kurds prefer current Deputy
President and SCIRI member Adil Abd' al-Madhi over
current Prime Minister Ibrahim Ja'afari.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PNAT IZ
SUBJECT: ZEBARI DISCUSSES PM CANDIDATES AND CABINET
POSITIONS.
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Robert S.
Ford for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1.(C) On January 26, Foreign Minister Hoshyar
Zebari told POLOFF that Fadhila Party Leader Nadim al-
Jabiri's bid for Prime Minister is misguided.
According to Zebari, al-Jabiri has yet to approach the
Kurds with a deal. From his conversations with
several members of the Kurdish leadership, Zebari said
they consider al-Jabiri the wrong man for the job
because he lacks government experience. Zebari added
that al-Jabiri's push for the premiership has TNA
Deputy Speaker al-Shahristani making a serious bid for
the position as well. Zebari said that Shahristani
would have a better chance than al-Jabiri of becoming
PM.
2. (C) Regarding cabinet positions, Zebari said that
the agreement between PUK Jalal Talabani and KDP
Masoud Barzani remains intact. Zebari deflected the
question of his own aspirations in the new government
and re-emphasized that the agreement between Talabani
and Barzani does not allow for current Planning
Minister Barham Saleh to become Foreign Minister, i.e.
leaving Zebari in the Foreign Minister position.
Zebari claims to have told the Shia Coalition leaders
that the Alliance has the right to choose the Prime
Minister without interference from the Kurds,
indicated that the Kurds prefer current Deputy
President and SCIRI member Adil Abd' al-Madhi over
current Prime Minister Ibrahim Ja'afari.
KHALILZAD