COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES UPDATE: ONE-DAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003496 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2016 TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ SUBJECT: COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES UPDATE: ONE-DAY BOYCOTT, TWO WORKING SESSIONS REF: (A) BAGHDAD 03405 (B) BAGHDAD 03457 Classified By: (U) Classified by Political Counselor Margaret Scobey for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) The Council of Representatives (CoR) reconvened September 10 two days after the September 7 session when the CoR leadership agreed to have a first reading of the region formation law. However, despite an early morning agreement September 10 to delay the first reading until September 19 and to name the Constitutional Review Committee that same day, the session was not held after the Sunni Arab blocs, Iraqiyaa, and the Sadrists withdrew from the agreement and boycotted the session, thus preventing a a quorum (reftel A). ¶2. (U) On September 11, the CoR reconvened and completed its legislative agenda after the Speaker limited discussion on the September 10 agreement. The CoR passed a law amending the penal code, and conducted the first reading of a law that would annul CPA Order 15 (Establishment of a Judicial Review Committee) and form a committee to consider appeals from dismissed judges and prosecutors (except those who were dismissed by orders from the De-Ba'athification Commission or the Commission on Public Integrity). In addition, the CoR completed a first reading on a law to annul Revolutionary Command Council decisions 222, 540, and 600 of 1980 to allow relevant experience outside the government to be factored in a government employee's raise, promotion, and retirement. ¶3. (U) On September 12, after hearing the Sadrist statement calling for MNF-I withdrawal (reftel B),the CoR again completed a series of first readings: (a) a law to amend CPA Order 49 (Tax Strategy of 2004) by reinstating a tax exemption for employees of "government offices, socialist and mixed sector companies;" )b) a law to annul RCC decision 49 of 2002 that defined how real estate property was to be registered for Iraqis who had left Iraq and to allow for return of property or compensation; (c) a law for Iraq to join the 1997 Ottawa Landmine Treaty; and (d) a liability law (awaiting copy). The CoR also approved a decision that prevents the Communications and Media Commission from signing new cell phone contracts until a new communications law is passed but allows the Commission to extend the existing contracts for three months or until new legislation is passed. ¶4. (C) COMMENT. Despite having no session on September 10 and having the September 12 session disrupted by the Sadrist call for MNF-I withdrawal, the CoR accomplished most of the items on its agenda for the week (although there was no movement on key legislation). END COMMENT SPECKHARD