PRESIDENT TALABANI REPORTS ON POSSIBLE CHANGES TO

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003926

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV FR IR IZ
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT TALABANI REPORTS ON POSSIBLE CHANGES TO
COR LEADERSHIP, TRIPS TO IRAN AND FRANCE

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel Speckhard for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d)


1. (S) SUMMARY: In a meeting on October 16, President
Talabani informed the Ambassador that the Presidency
Council (PC) - Talabani, Sunni Arab Vice President Tarik
al-Hashimi, and Shia Vice President Adil Abd al-Mahdi - had
met that day and agreed to bring their respective parties
together to work toward improving Baghdad security,
approval of a timetable for key political issues, national
reconciliation, and bringing together moderates from all
the parties. In addition, Talabani reported that the PC
had agreed that the entire leadership of the Council of
Representatives - starting with Speaker Mahmud al-Mashadani
- had to removed, preferably after Ramadan. When asked
whether the Presidency Council (PC) had replacement
candidates
selected in advance, Talabani admitted that they hadn't, but
insisted that even Mashadani's own party had abandoned him
and
agreed to the switch. Talabani also informed the
Ambassador about his upcoming trips to Iran and France.
END SUMMARY.

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Presidency Council in Agreement on Key Issues
--------------


2. (S) In a meeting on October 16, President Talabani
informed the Ambassador that the Presidency Council (PC) -
Talabani, Sunni Arab Vice President Tarik al-Hashimi, and
Shia Vice President Adil Abd al-Mahdi - had met that day
and agreed to bring their respective parties together to
work toward improving Baghdad security, national
reconciliation, and bringing together moderates from all
the parties. (NOTE: In a subsequent meeting with
Vice-President Cheney's National Security Advisor, Talabani
reported that he had tasked al-Hashimi and Abd al-Mahdi to
present two papers on their proposals on how to improve
cross-sectarian cooperation and how to improve Baghdad's
security. See septel. END NOTE). In addition, Talabani
reported that the PC had agreed that the entire leadership of
the Council of Representatives - starting with Speaker
Mahmud al-Mashadani - had to removed, preferably after
Ramadan. When asked whether the PC had replacement
candidates selected in advance, Talabani admitted that they
had not, but insisted that even Mashadani's own party had
abandoned him and agreed to the switch.

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Press Statement Released on Timeline for 8 Key Issues
-------------- --------------


3. (C) In response to the Ambassador's query, Talabani
stated that he had released a press statement (see below)
on the status of the Timeline, but it had been published
without firm dates pending the approval of all the
political blocs in the Iraqi Government. According to
Talabani, Maliki told him that he had also extracted a
promise from Sadrist leader Moqtada al-Sadr to disarm his
militia, the Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM),and Maliki intended to
travel to Najaf on October 18 to make a public
announcement. Begin text of Timeline Press Release:

The Presidency Council Discusses the Security Situation
Within the Framework of the Political Timetable

October 16, 2006

The Presidency Council held a meeting in the residence of
the President of the Republic Jalal al-Talabani on October
16, 2006. The council members discussed the security
situations, the latest political developments, and the
procedures taken to complete the implementation of Baghdad
Security Plan and assessing its previous stages. The
Presidency Council also reviewed the reconciliation steps
and the necessity of supporting the efforts exerted to
achieve the national unity and harmony among the components
of the Iraqi people.

The council members also discussed all proposals and ideas
of containing the sectarian and political tensions in the
country, indicating the importance of the understandings
reached within the framework of the Political Council of
the National Security.


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It is worth noting that the Political Council has approved
a political timetable of which some items were endorsed.
The following are its most important items:

-- To agree to a political timetable (Finished)

-- To form the committee of amending the constitution
(Finished)

-- To approve the Law of the Executive Procedures of
Forming the Regions (Finished)

-- To approve the Investment Law (Finished)

-- To approve the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq

-- To approve the Governorates Elections Law and specifying
its date

-- To approve the Petroleum Law

-- To approve the De-Bathification Law

-- To approve the Law of the Powers of the Governorates'
Councils

-- To approve the Law of the Flag, Emblem, and the National
Anthem

-- To approve the CPA Order No 91 regarding the armed
forces and the militias in Iraq

-- Discussing the general amnesty, militias, and other
armed formations

2007
-- The committee of amending the Constitution shall end its
works

February
-- Forming the independent commissions in accordance with
the Constitution

March
-- A referendum on the constitutional amendments (if it is
necessary). End Text.

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Visits to Tehran, Paris
--------------


4. (S) Talabani informed the Ambassador that he had
accepted an invitation to visit Tehran at the end of
October for a short visit, just after a visit to Paris to
meet with President Chirac. According to Talabani,
the French Ambassador to Baghdad extended the invitation,
stating that "France has something to offer Iraq."
SPECKHARD