TRIBAL SHAYKHS ENDORSE PM RECONCILIATION PLAN,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003145 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2016 TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ SUBJECT: TRIBAL SHAYKHS ENDORSE PM RECONCILIATION PLAN, CALL FOR END TO SECTARIAN KILLINGS, DELAY IN FEDERALISM AND REVIEW OF DE-BA'ATHIFICATION REF: BAGHDAD 2654 Classified By: Classified by Acting Political Counselor Michael ¶J. Adler for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Minister of State for National Dialogue Akram Al-Hakim hosted the first of four promised reconciliation conferences (reftel) August 26. Prime Minister Maliki addressed the event, which was attended by over 500 tribal representatives at Baghdad's Babylon Hotel. The attendees endorsed the Prime Minister's national reconciliation plan and called for an end to sectarian violence. In his speech, Maliki stressed the importance of Iraqi tribes in promoting national reconciliation. He also stressed anti-terrorism, noting Iraq is awaiting assistance from other Arab states to help confront this challenge. ¶2. (C) The tribal representatives also issued a 21-point communique which among other things called for disbanding militias, de-Ba'athification review, and a delay in the implementation of federalism. The participants reportedly also agreed to establish four sub-committees to make recommendations on the first two issues as well as rebuilding the armed forces, dialogue with the "resistance" and combating terrorism. ¶3. (C) In an August 27 conversation with Poloff, Former TNA member Shaykh Sami al-Ma'ajoon, head of the National Reconciliation Commission's tribal committee, expressed satisfaction with the representative breadth of shaykhs who had participated in the conference. Ma'ajoon noted that the tribal leaders who attended the event represented all ethnic and religious lines. Iraqiyya CoR member Shaykh Hussein al-Sha'alan told PolFSN that the conference was more ceremonial than substantive. Nonetheless, he said it helped define a path to reconciliation. Sha'alan said there was broad support for: (a) postponing federalism; (b) reviewing de-Ba'athification; and (c) addressing terrorism. Sha'alan said the subcommittees will prepare papers to form the basis of an official recommendation. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: Sha'alan, who did not attend the conference himself (reportedly because he was out of Baghdad),may be correct to characterize the session as heavily ceremonial. Nonetheless, the session could be a sign that the pace of the National Reconciliation Commission's Efforts is picking up. Much will depend upon the direction taken in the 21-point communique (which post is seeking to obtain) and the papers to be drafted by the subcommittees. END COMMENT SPECKHARD