S E C R E T BAGHDAD 004241

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KJUS IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI PM AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS CONTROVERSIAL
CONFERENCE FOR IRAQ,S SUNNIS

REF: A. BAGHDAD 04111


B. ANKARA 06372

C. BURGER-BLAHA TELCON (NOV 10)

D. 05 DOHA 324

E. 05 DOHA 337

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) SUMMARY: Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki raised with the
Ambassador concerns about a planned conference for Iraqi
Sunnis hosted by Qatar-based NGO Global Anti-Aggression
Campaign scheduled to occur in Turkey November 15-16. The PM
expressed concern that Conference organizers consider both
Shi'a and Coalition Forces "occupiers" in Iraq and said that
if the conference went forward he might reconsider his
planned November 16 trip to Turkey (ref A). Sunni VP Tariq
Al-Hashimi and other Iraqi Sunni leaders confirmed the
planned conference without indicating its sectarian agenda.
Ambassador informed PM Maliki November 11 that according to
Embassy Ankara, the conference is "postponed indefinitely"
(ref C). END SUMMARY.

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PRESS REPORTS MENTION A CONFERENCE
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2. (S) The PM told the Ambassador November 4 of a media
report that Turkey would host a conference for Iraqi Sunnis,
including members of the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP) and Sunni
groups who do not support the GOI. The Sunnis who would
attend this conference, the PM stated, are the ones who
support the notion that Iraq is currently occupied by two
forces: MNF-I and the Shi'a. The PM expressed deep concern
and said that if Turkey hosts this conference he might cancel
a planned trip to Turkey on November 16. He asked the
Ambassador to verify whether the conference would occur.

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THE VICE PRESIDENT CONFIRMS THE CONFERENCE
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3. (S) The Ambassador raised the conference with Sunni Vice
President Tariq Al-Hashimi on November 5. Al-Hashimi
characterized the conference as an international gathering of
Sunnis in Istanbul sponsored by a Qatari NGO, the "Global
Anti-Aggression Campaign." (Note: According to Embassy Doha,
Dr. Abdel Rahman bin Omair al-Noaimi heads the Global
Anti-Aggression Campaign. Refs D and E document a similar
conference hosted by this NGO in 2005. End Note.) The theme
of the conference will be "Sunnis Standing Together to Resist
Oppression". Several IIP party officials were slated to give
lectures highlighting the negative effects that sectarian
violence was having on the Sunni community in Iraq.
Al-Hashimi said he planned to meet with officials from this
NGO during his November 6-16 trip to Qatar.


4. (S) Iraqi Council of Representatives (CoR) member Ala'a
Makki (IIP) sent a letter to the Ambassador November 6
explaining that the conference intended "to highlight and
document the tragedy of the Sunni community in Iraq." The
conference, Makki's letter states, is "not official" and IIP
participation "comes in support of the political process" in
Iraq. Makki included a conference program which outlined
topics to be discussed:

- An update on events in Iraq over the past two years
(focusing on the Sunni experience)
- Iraq's suffering under two occupations
- Territorial interferences and their dangerous intentions
- Human rights and rising oppression
- Role of media in helping the Sunni community in Iraq
- The future of Iraq's Sunni community and how this impacts
the region.


5. (S) In a November 10 phone call, Embassy Ankara informed
Deputy PolCouns that the conference has been "postponed
indefinitely." The Ambassador conveyed this message to the
PM in a November 11 meeting. Embassy Baghdad greatly
appreciates Embassy Ankara's efforts. We appreciate Embassy
Doha's efforts to look into the "Global Anti-Aggression
Campaign" and its organizer.
Speckhard