VICE PRESIDENT ABD AL-MEHDI MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR

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