NINEWA: LOCAL KURDKISH LEADERS CALL FOR MORE U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002699 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2016 TAGS: PREL PINS PINT PGOV PHUM IZ MARR ECON SUBJECT: NINEWA: LOCAL KURDKISH LEADERS CALL FOR MORE U.S. PRESENCE IN IRAQI KURDISTAN Classified By: PRT IPAO Jerome P. Hohman. Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (U) This is a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Ninewa cable. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶2. (C) Kurdish political party leaders from Ninewa are calling for a greater U.S. presence in Iraqi Kurdistan. PUK West Ninewa Director Mustafa Kokhe and Vice Governor and KDP Provincial Director Khasro Goran say that though the future of Iraqi Kurdistan will likely remain as a federal unit within greater Iraq for practical reasons, the Kurdish area is "calm, stable and ready" for greater U.S. military and economic presence. Kokhe says the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) also wants U.S. guidance to address concerns of human rights abuses and corruption. He sees the region -- from Israel to Afghanistan -- suffering from further turbulence in coming years, but believes that with greater U.S. support, the KRG will be able to serve as an example of democracy and freedom for the rest of Iraq and the Middle East. End Summary. ¶3. (SBU) IPAOs met with Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) West Ninewa Director Mustafa Kokhe on July 19, and with Ninewa Vice Governor and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Provincial Director Khasro Goran on July 22 in Mosul. -------------- STRONGER U.S. PRESENCE IN KURDISTAN -------------- ¶4. (C) Over the past few months Kurdish officials in Ninewa Province have called for a greater U.S. presence in Iraqi Kurdistan. The KRG was very calm and stable, and ripe for the U.S. to "develop it," economically and politically, said Kokhe. He believed the key for strengthening Iraq was for the U.S. to concentrate on the civilian population, from a humanitarian perspective, and that there was no better place to start than the KRG. "Consider the KRG a U.S. base," he said, "to improve Iraq and the region as a whole." The U.S. should increase the number of U.S. military serving in the KRG, especially along the border with Iran and Turkey, suggested Kokhe, to guard against future military action by those countries against the Kurds in Iraq. This could be done, he said, by building a permanent military base in the KRG. ¶5. (C) Kokhe said other than building a permanent U.S. military base, the U.S. should also have a consulate in Irbil. The KRG was amenable to the idea of a consulate, he said, since "we have the same objectives" as the U.S. to "fight terrorism and protect the people." If U.S. and Coalition Forces withdrew now, it would be "victory for the terrorists," asserted Kokhe. He said insurgents, supported by former Ba,thists, were now disseminating propaganda at local mosques claiming they were "winning the war" as CF were withdrawing. -------------- BROADENING U.S. INVESTMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) Goran claimed the U.S. was losing ground on investing in the KRG. He said the Iranians, Turks, Germans, Russians, Saudis and the United Arab Emirates were all interested in or had begun investing in the KRG. Citing an example of the improved and ever-changing economic conditions in the KRG, Goran said the airport in Irbil was "taking off." Direct flights to Europe and the Middle East were rapidly expanding, said Goran. He produced a flight schedule with flights to Aleppo, Amman, Amsterdam, Beirut, Copenhagen, Cologne, Damascus, Dubai, Dusseldorf, Istanbul, Stockholm, Tehran, and Vienna. Although many of the flights were chartered, many more were with major airlines, he said. The KRG had its own airline as well, Kurdistan Airlines, but Goran did not have specifics on how many planes it had or how the company was financed. Goran said very directly that he hoped major U.S. airlines would soon be operating to and from Irbil, especially once the new international terminal and runway was completed. "Dream City," being built next door to the Irbil airport was another example of positive foreign investment, said Goran. The Turks were funding the project which included high-rise condos, parks, and a mall with a theater. Goran said no time was better than now to invest as the KRG recently passed a new law allowing for 100 percent foreign BAGHDAD 00002699 002 OF 002 ownership to attract international investors. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) Goran and Kokhe,s comments echo opinions we have recently received from several Kurdish sources in Ninewa. Whether or not these are the same views held by KRG leadership remains unknown, but the underlying message should not be lost on U.S. policymakers. Without compromising U.S. efforts to develop a pluralistic Iraq, the USG could be well served to take advantage of the relative peace and security of Iraqi Kurdistan to build a more permanent strategic and economic presence in the area which could serve as a viable and stable example to the region. SCOBEY