Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD3371
2006-09-11 02:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
VICE PRESIDENT ABD AL-MEHDI MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR
VZCZCXRO6224 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #3371/01 2540220 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 110220Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6802 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC//NSC// PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0520
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003371
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL UN IZ
SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT ABD AL-MEHDI MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR
FOLLOWING ABD AL-MEHDI'S RETURN FROM USA.
Classified By: Ambassador Khalilzad for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003371
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL UN IZ
SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT ABD AL-MEHDI MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR
FOLLOWING ABD AL-MEHDI'S RETURN FROM USA.
Classified By: Ambassador Khalilzad for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: At a September 8 meeting with the
Ambassador, Vice President Adel Abd Al-Mehdi described his US
visit as useful. He agreed that the GOI needs a "roadmap"
for how to resolve issues such as constitutional review and
de-Baathification. Abd Al-Mehdi expressed support for
Maliki's statement on the Kurdish flag issue, but added that
the Iraqi flag has frequently been modified over the years.
Abd Al-Mehdi assessed Maliki's performance as good but added
that better coordination is needed between the Cabinet and
the Presidency Council. He reported rumors of a Cabinet
reshuffle that may involve the ministries of oil, interior,
health, and transportation. END SUMMARY.
--------------
US Visit "Useful," Future Travels Planned
--------------
2. (C) Abd Al-Mehdi described his US trip as "useful." He
noted that he had had a number of "good meetings" including
with members of Congress. He will soon be leaving Baghdad
again, this time for a trip to Dubai and possibly Bahrain and
Saudi Arabia as well. He said that his upcoming trip is
unrelated to the International Compact.
--------------
UNSCR 1546 RENEWAL
--------------
3. (C) The Ambassador asked him about his statement in the
meeting with the Secretary of Defense that France or Russia
might oppose renewing resolution 1546. Abd Al-Mehdi said
that he had heard from "second sources" that renewing 1546
"will not be as easy as last year." He said the Prime
Minister would discuss the issue of Iraqi support for UNSCR
renewal at a Policy Committee on National Security meeting
later in the day.
--------------
A "Roadmap" for Resolving Issues
--------------
4. (C) The Ambassador said there was a need for a package
deal and timeline for the resolution of the key issues that
divide Iraqis. Abd Al-Mehdi agreed that the Iraqi government
needs a "roadmap" and "gentlemen's agreement" establishing a
procedure for resolving outstanding issues such as
constitutional review and de-Baathification. Abd Al-Mehdi
wants to get this roadmap established as soon as possible.
President Talabani will be traveling to Kurdistan soon and
Abd Al-Mehdi does not believe that the roadmap issue can get
resolved before the president departs. The Ambassador
responded that formulating such a roadmap for resolving
issues is important for stabilizing Iraq and would help
sustain US support for the GOI, and it needed to be done
before the President's trip to Kurdistan and the US.
Ultimately, Abd Al-Mehdi agreed. Regarding the issue of
constitutional review, Abd Al-Mehdi said that those who are
most interested in revising the constitution should at least
request formation of the constitutional review committee. He
specifically identified Speaker Mashhadani and the Tawafuq
party as being among those who should take action.
--------------
The Kurdish Flag Controversy
--------------
5. (C) Regarding the recent controversy over the Iraqi flag
in Kurdistan, Abd Al-Mehdi said what Barzani did was a
mistake and that Maliki was "correct" to say that the Iraqi
flag should be raised over all Iraq. Abd Al-Mehdi added that
on average Iraq has changed its flag every six or seven
years. He briefly reviewed the changes to the Iraqi national
flag that have occurred over the last several decades and
predicted that "of course" there will eventually be an
entirely new Iraqi national flag.
-------------- --------------
Maliki's Performance "Good" But More Coordination Needed
-------------- --------------
6. (C) Maliki's performance is "good" in Abd Al-Mehdi's
estimation, but more coordination is needed between the
Cabinet and the Presidency Council. Abd Al-Mehdi suggested
the possibility of having a presidential representative
attend Cabinet meetings. Abd Al-Mehdi complained that
sometimes he first hears about Cabinet issues in the
newspaper. Regarding rumors of a possible Cabinet shake-up,
BAGHDAD 00003371 002 OF 002
Abd Al-Mehdi said that he had heard "rumors" of changes in
four ministries -- oil, interior, health and transport.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL UN IZ
SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT ABD AL-MEHDI MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR
FOLLOWING ABD AL-MEHDI'S RETURN FROM USA.
Classified By: Ambassador Khalilzad for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: At a September 8 meeting with the
Ambassador, Vice President Adel Abd Al-Mehdi described his US
visit as useful. He agreed that the GOI needs a "roadmap"
for how to resolve issues such as constitutional review and
de-Baathification. Abd Al-Mehdi expressed support for
Maliki's statement on the Kurdish flag issue, but added that
the Iraqi flag has frequently been modified over the years.
Abd Al-Mehdi assessed Maliki's performance as good but added
that better coordination is needed between the Cabinet and
the Presidency Council. He reported rumors of a Cabinet
reshuffle that may involve the ministries of oil, interior,
health, and transportation. END SUMMARY.
--------------
US Visit "Useful," Future Travels Planned
--------------
2. (C) Abd Al-Mehdi described his US trip as "useful." He
noted that he had had a number of "good meetings" including
with members of Congress. He will soon be leaving Baghdad
again, this time for a trip to Dubai and possibly Bahrain and
Saudi Arabia as well. He said that his upcoming trip is
unrelated to the International Compact.
--------------
UNSCR 1546 RENEWAL
--------------
3. (C) The Ambassador asked him about his statement in the
meeting with the Secretary of Defense that France or Russia
might oppose renewing resolution 1546. Abd Al-Mehdi said
that he had heard from "second sources" that renewing 1546
"will not be as easy as last year." He said the Prime
Minister would discuss the issue of Iraqi support for UNSCR
renewal at a Policy Committee on National Security meeting
later in the day.
--------------
A "Roadmap" for Resolving Issues
--------------
4. (C) The Ambassador said there was a need for a package
deal and timeline for the resolution of the key issues that
divide Iraqis. Abd Al-Mehdi agreed that the Iraqi government
needs a "roadmap" and "gentlemen's agreement" establishing a
procedure for resolving outstanding issues such as
constitutional review and de-Baathification. Abd Al-Mehdi
wants to get this roadmap established as soon as possible.
President Talabani will be traveling to Kurdistan soon and
Abd Al-Mehdi does not believe that the roadmap issue can get
resolved before the president departs. The Ambassador
responded that formulating such a roadmap for resolving
issues is important for stabilizing Iraq and would help
sustain US support for the GOI, and it needed to be done
before the President's trip to Kurdistan and the US.
Ultimately, Abd Al-Mehdi agreed. Regarding the issue of
constitutional review, Abd Al-Mehdi said that those who are
most interested in revising the constitution should at least
request formation of the constitutional review committee. He
specifically identified Speaker Mashhadani and the Tawafuq
party as being among those who should take action.
--------------
The Kurdish Flag Controversy
--------------
5. (C) Regarding the recent controversy over the Iraqi flag
in Kurdistan, Abd Al-Mehdi said what Barzani did was a
mistake and that Maliki was "correct" to say that the Iraqi
flag should be raised over all Iraq. Abd Al-Mehdi added that
on average Iraq has changed its flag every six or seven
years. He briefly reviewed the changes to the Iraqi national
flag that have occurred over the last several decades and
predicted that "of course" there will eventually be an
entirely new Iraqi national flag.
-------------- --------------
Maliki's Performance "Good" But More Coordination Needed
-------------- --------------
6. (C) Maliki's performance is "good" in Abd Al-Mehdi's
estimation, but more coordination is needed between the
Cabinet and the Presidency Council. Abd Al-Mehdi suggested
the possibility of having a presidential representative
attend Cabinet meetings. Abd Al-Mehdi complained that
sometimes he first hears about Cabinet issues in the
newspaper. Regarding rumors of a possible Cabinet shake-up,
BAGHDAD 00003371 002 OF 002
Abd Al-Mehdi said that he had heard "rumors" of changes in
four ministries -- oil, interior, health and transport.
KHALILZAD