Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD459
2006-02-14 15:56:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
JAFARI HOPES TO FORM CABINET WITHIN 30 DAYS
how-toVZCZCXRO6761 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #0459 0451556 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 141556Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2691 RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 000459
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: JAFARI HOPES TO FORM CABINET WITHIN 30 DAYS
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 000459
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: JAFARI HOPES TO FORM CABINET WITHIN 30 DAYS
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari told the Ambassador
in a February 13 meeting that he was humbled by his
re-election by the Shia coalition and hopes to build on
lessons of past mistakes. Jafari said he plans to appoint a
team of negotiators to oversee the government formation
process with the aim of standing up the new cabinet within 30
days. He welcomed the Ambassador's offer of help in training
his staff, better organizing his office, and in developing a
100-day plan. Jafari said he plans to maintain the unity of
the Shia coalition but appeared disinclined to offer a
significant ministerial portfolio to his vanquished
competitor, Adel Abd al-Mahdi. Jafari said Abd al-Mahdi had
presided as Finance Minister at a time of major corruption in
the Allawi government, which made him either complicit or
incompetent.
2. (C) Jafari said he considers the finance and justice
portfolios to be the most important in his cabinet and will
aim to build a government of law, not law-makers. The
constitution established Iraq's legal framework during his
last term, he said, and it now remains for the next
government to put that document into practice. Jafari said
he considers terrorism and the Ba'athist elements that feed
it to be the greatest dangers facing Iraq. He said he looks
forward to a close relationship with the US because Iraq is
still in a "transitional" period, even after the election of
a full-term government.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: JAFARI HOPES TO FORM CABINET WITHIN 30 DAYS
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari told the Ambassador
in a February 13 meeting that he was humbled by his
re-election by the Shia coalition and hopes to build on
lessons of past mistakes. Jafari said he plans to appoint a
team of negotiators to oversee the government formation
process with the aim of standing up the new cabinet within 30
days. He welcomed the Ambassador's offer of help in training
his staff, better organizing his office, and in developing a
100-day plan. Jafari said he plans to maintain the unity of
the Shia coalition but appeared disinclined to offer a
significant ministerial portfolio to his vanquished
competitor, Adel Abd al-Mahdi. Jafari said Abd al-Mahdi had
presided as Finance Minister at a time of major corruption in
the Allawi government, which made him either complicit or
incompetent.
2. (C) Jafari said he considers the finance and justice
portfolios to be the most important in his cabinet and will
aim to build a government of law, not law-makers. The
constitution established Iraq's legal framework during his
last term, he said, and it now remains for the next
government to put that document into practice. Jafari said
he considers terrorism and the Ba'athist elements that feed
it to be the greatest dangers facing Iraq. He said he looks
forward to a close relationship with the US because Iraq is
still in a "transitional" period, even after the election of
a full-term government.
KHALILZAD