NINEWA: PUK PERSPECTIVES ON SECURITY AND ARAB

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002870

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2011
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MARR ECON IZ
SUBJECT: NINEWA: PUK PERSPECTIVES ON SECURITY AND ARAB
RELATIONS


Classified By: Ninewa PRT Leader James Knight: Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
This is a Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Ninewa message.

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Ninewa's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)
party leadership believes security is the
fundamental key to political, economic and social
progress in the province. PUK Director Rebaz
Berkoty proposes a security conference for all
political and religious groups be convened to seek
consensus on solutions to insecurity and violence.


2. (C) Rebaz and his colleagues emphatically denied
Arab allegations of mistreatment by Kurds. He also
expressed strong PUK opposition to growing pressure
by religious-based parties, particularly the Iraqi
Islamic Party (IIP),to impose religious beliefs on
the political system. He stressed the enduring
friendship between Kurds and the USG, observing that
Kurds are our 'only true friends in Iraq'. End
Summary.


3. (SBU) PRT Leader Knight and IPAO Pope met PUK
Director for Ninewa Province Rebaz Berkoty, PUK
Deputy Director and Council of Representatives
Member Abdubari al-Zabari, PUK Spokesman Sheikh
Mohyadeen Ma?roof Mohyadeen, and PUK Liaison Officer
Mohammad Sulevanay at PUK offices in Mosul for a
working lunch on 2 August 2006.

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TIME FOR MULTIPARTY CONSULTATIONS ON SECURITY
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4. (C) Team Leader Knight opened conversation by
asking PUK's priorities for Ninewa Province. In
response, Rebaz listed PUK commitments to federal
and pluralistic government for Iraq that respects
the rule of law, human rights, and free expression
of religious belief. Rebaz believes the majority of
Iraqis support these goals, but they remain
secondary to achieving a secure and peaceful
environment. Rebaz pointed out that Ninewa is a
mirror of Iraq as a whole, since most religious,
ethnic, and political groups are represented here.
As such, Ninewa is a perfect laboratory for efforts
to promote peace and security.


5. (C) Rebaz continued by observing that all Iraqis
can learn to live together peacefully if they can
agree to talk with each other honestly. He
suggested a multiparty peace and security conference
be called by the PRT and coalition forces (CF) to
build consensus on security issues. Rebaz proposed
that political parties, tribes, and ethnic groups be
invited to such a conference, as well as Provincial
government leadership and ranking representatives of
the Iraqi police and army. He offered PUK offices
as a venue for such a conference.

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NO KURD MISTREATMENT OF ARABS
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6. (C) In response to PRT Leader's query regarding
Arab assertions of Kurd mistreatment and territorial
ambitions, Rebaz strongly denied that Kurds treat
the Arabs poorly in Ninewa or show disrespect
towards Arab leaders. He noted that the Kurdistan
Regional Government (KRG) enforces a necessary
security policy to contain terrorist threats that
might come from Ninewa. Procedures at Kurd
checkpoints apply to all entering the KRG from
Ninewa, Kurds included. PUK liaison officer
Sulevanay noted that he himself was subjected to the
same kind of searches on a recent trip to the KRG,
and then given permission to remain in the KRG only
ten days. Rebaz emphatically insisted that the PUK
and the KRG government have no territorial ambitions
in Ninewa. Such allegations by Arabs are efforts to
drive a wedge between Kurds and their U.S. allies.

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CONCERNS FOR RELIGIOUS PARTY INFLUENCE
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7. (C) When asked about relations with other
political parties in Ninewa, PUK leadership present
at the lunch collectively voiced concern that
religious parties, particularly the IIP in Ninewa,
will 'push the people toward fanaticism'. They
reported that the IIP was already demanding that
women in Ninewa cover their heads in accordance with
the IIP's strict view of Islam, and have threatened
to harm or kill women who refuse. Such efforts
violate the principles of a free society and make it
extremely difficult for secular parties such as the
PUK to work with the IIP.


8. (C) Rebaz expressed particular concern about the
looming possibility of IIP control of Ninewa's
Provincial Government after 2007 elections. He
noted that the IIP has no real power now, but is
nonetheless trying to impose its constituents'
religious beliefs and practices on everyone -- and
asked what (more) will they do if they have real
power in the future?

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NEVER SELL YOUR FRIEND FOR YOUR ENEMY
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9. (C) As the meeting closed, Rebaz emphasized to
the Team Leader that Kurds are America?s only true
friends in Iraq -- They have been fully supportive
of U.S. policies and continue to back our efforts to
establish a pluralistic, free federal Iraq for all
Iraqis. He worried that attempts by Arabs and
others to create friction between Kurds and their
American friends may undermine their mutual respect
and the strong relationship that has been
established. Rebaz admonished the U.S. not to
abandon its friends.

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COMMENT
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10. (C) This is the first suggestion to the PRT by
any political party or government office for a
multiparty security conference of this kind.
Similar conferences for tribal and religious leaders
have often degenerated into mutual recrimination;
this may not be a useful approach to address
security matters. Rebaz' insistence that Kurds have
no expansionist aims in Ninewa is difficult to
evaluate; certainly the comportment of Kurds in
Mosul -- especially among security forces -- makes
this assertion a hard sell. End comment.
KHALILZAD