NINEWA: KIU CALLS FOR PLURALISM AND DEMOCRACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002968 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2011 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MARR ECON PINR IZ SUBJECT: NINEWA: KIU CALLS FOR PLURALISM AND DEMOCRACY REF: (A) BAGHDAD 02869 (B) 05 MOSUL 00195 Classified By: Ninewa PRT Leader James Knight. Reasons: 1.4(b) and (d). This is a Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) message. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) PRT Team Leader Knight and IPAO Pope met Kurdish Islamic Union (KIU) Director for Mosul Sabah Ali Shareef and KIU/Mosul spokesman Shawkak Al- Sharafani at PRT offices on FOB Marez (Mosul) 10 August 2006. Shareef stressed KIU's commitment to a multiparty political system based on democracy and dialogue. He emphasized KIU respect for the rule of law and the views of others, as well as KIU's adherence to a political process defined by negotiation, not militias. Shareef underscored that the KIU is Islamic in its adherence to Islamic tenets of social peace and tolerance, not because it wishes to impose conservative Islamic norms on Iraqi society as a whole. Shareef also raised security as a primary concern in Ninewa. He believes Coalition forces should 'clean out' insurgents now operating in Mosul. End Summary. -------------- KIU FOR NONVIOLENCE AND DIALOGUE -------------- ¶2. (C) After thanking PRT Leader Knight for receiving him and the KIU spokesman, Shareef proudly observed that his party is the only Kurdish party that has no militia. The KIU does not endorse violence for political ends, but instead promotes democratic institutions established through free and fair elections. Shareef repeatedly stressed that dialogue, not armed confrontation, is the key to resolving Iraq's problems. Shareef underscored that his party has good relations with the KDP and PUK, as well as other political groups in Ninewa and throughout Iraq. ¶3. (C) Shareef explained to the Team Leader at length that the KIU is not a fundamentalist Islamic party that seeks to impose its beliefs on others. It is Islamic in the sense that expects its members to observe basic Islamic principles of respect for others and pursuit of social peace. The KIU supports a united Iraq, and does not endorse an independent Kurdistan nor KRG expansion into Ninewa. -------------- COALITION FORCES SHOULD CLEAR OUT TERRORISTS -------------- ¶4. (C) Shareef believes that Coalition forces have not adequately dealt with insurgents in Mosul. He believes an operation similar to those undertaken in Anbar and Fallujah is also necessary for Mosul. He added that it was a mistake not to detain all senior Ba'athists in 2003, since they are leaders in groups now causing problems in Mosul. Once such an operation is completed, it would be possible and desirable to hand over sole responsibility for Mosul's security to Iraqi forces. -------------- COME SEE US IN ERBIL -------------- ¶5. (C) In response to the Team Leader's query, Shareef was vague about the KIU's economic and political agenda for Ninewa. He noted that the KIU has not occupied its new Mosul office, and parenthetically asked if U.S. assistance was available to assist with funding a protective detail for that facility. Team Leader Knight responded that no funds exist to support security at such facilities, although some Public Diplomacy and USAID programs can provide training opportunities that the KIU would find useful. As the meeting closed, Shareef invited Team Leader Knight to visit the KIU office in Erbil at an early occasion, where he could meet more KIU leadership and acquire a broader understanding of the KIU agenda. -------------- COMMENT BAGHDAD 00002968 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶6. (C) It is encouraging that Shareef echoed positive sentiments regarding the democratic process earlier expressed by Ninewa IIP Director Dr. Mohammed Shakir at our 1 August meeting (reftel A). However, the KIU does not have a functioning office in Mosul, and now operates in Ninewa out of its Dahuk office. Although there is one KIU member on Ninewa's Provincial Council (reftel B),Shareef appears to be presenting a commuter's view of Ninewa and Mosul city. He was unable to discuss economic or security issues in Ninewa in depth or detail, and his recommendation that Coalition forces undertake a major operation in Mosul has not been made to Ninewa's PRT Leader by any other political party or government officials. End Comment. ¶7. (C) Bio note: Shareef indicated that he has received a bachelor's degree in soil science, but, because he is engaged in politics, he is now pursuing a distance-education degree in political science from the University of International Relations in London (NFI). He said the school's instruction is provided in Arabic. KHALILZAD