SCIRI SIGNALS READINESS TO BE FLEXIBLE ABOUT PM;

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000682

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2026
TAGS: PREL PGOV PNAT IZ
SUBJECT: SCIRI SIGNALS READINESS TO BE FLEXIBLE ABOUT PM;
TALABANI TO CALL LEGISLATURE INTO SESSION WITHIN A WEEK.

REF: A. BAGHDAD 659

B. BAGHDAD 593

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D).


1. (S) SUMMARY: SCIRI Chief of Staff Haitham al-Husseini
advised us March 4 of a party statement expressing commitment
to the UIC 555 nomination of Jafari as PM, but indicating
openness to discussions about who would be the best Prime
Minister. PUK's Barham Salih welcomed the SCIRI statement
and noted Moqtada Sadr's private indication to President
Talabani of a readiness to be flexible about his support for
Jafari. Salih said he had met March 4 with the Iranian
Charge who had urged the Kurds not to interfere in the UIC
555 nomination of Jafari. Talabani announced at a March 4
press conference that the Council of Representatives (CoR)
would hold its first session within one week. END SUMMARY

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SCIRI: OPEN TO DISCUSSION
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2. (C) On March 4, SCIRI Chief of Staff Haitham al-Husseini
told PolOff that SCIRI's Advisory Committee issued a
statement indicating that the Shia Coalition is still
committed to its Prime Minister decision. However, taking
into account the three letters received from outside parties
rejecting Jafari's PM nomination (ref a),SCIRI indicated
that it would be open to discussing who would be the best
Prime Minister. The statement also expressed SCIRI's support
for a "national front" that would support the government and
fight terrorism.


3. (C) An ebullient Minister of Planning Barham Salih (PUK),
was delighted to learn from us March 4 late afternoon about
the SCIRI communique. He highlighted the communique's
reference to SCIRI's willingness to have a serious dialogue
about finding the right prime minister as a sign that their
support for incumbent PM Jafari was not ironclad. He also
stressed the importance of the communique's reference to
SCIRI joining a national front - presumably with other
political parties from outside the List 555 group.


4. (C) Salih and Talabani chief of staff Karadaghi both
confirmed to us March 4 that hardline Shia cleric Moqtada
as-Sadr, had called Talabani to talk about government
formation. Salih said that Sadr (whose support for Jafari
within 555 delivered the latter the Shia Coalition's PM
nomination) hinted that he could be flexible about Jafari.
Salih mused about how Sadr, a fugitive from the law two years
ago, could be so openly a power broker in March 2006. Salih
understood, meanwhile, that Ayatollah Sistani and the Najaf
clerical establishment would push for unity of the List 555
group. He wondered how to take advantage of the animosities
among SCIRI, Sadr and the Najaf clerics to undermine Jafari.
He said the question would be how to find a PM candidate that
all could agree upon, whether a political figure or a
technocrat. Salih (and Karadaghi) told us also that SCIRI
contacts are telling them that the List 555 charter
specifically states that any prime minister nominated by the
bloc must enjoy the support of all the major parties. Thus,
Salih concluded, there is plenty of room to negotiate about
Jafari. With this in mind, he plans to visit Najaf on March

5.


5. (S) Salih said he had met earlier on March 4 with the
Iranian charge and the Iranian culture attache (whom Salih
described as the head of Iranian intel in Baghdad). The
Iranians had urged the Kurds not to interfere in the List 555
nomination of Jafari. Salih concluded that the Iranians were
backing multiple friends in Iraq - a modus operandi he said
they had long played in Kurdistan. Salih commented with real
amusement, however, that the Iranians seemed to understand
they are not fully in control of the PM game now.

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Council of Representative to Sit By March 12
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6. (C) President Talabani announced at a March 4 press
conference that the Council of Representatives (CoR) would
hold its first session within one week. Kamiran Karadaghi,
Presidency Council's Chief of Staff, told PolOff March 4 that
Talabani, Deputy President Adil Abd al-Mahdi, and TNA Speaker
Hajim al-Hasani had discussed this matter earlier in the week
and had agreed that the CoR must sit no later than March 12.
Karadaghi stated that these three would meet again March 5 to
formally decide on a date, and added that the CoR would
probably sit before March 12.

BAGHDAD 00000682 002 OF 002




7. (C) It is still anticipated that the first session will be
ceremonial and will adjourn until the political parties have
agreed on who will occupy the main government positions. The
Kurds have hinted that the National Salvation Front could
theoretically threaten to elect a CoR Speaker as a bluff
aimed at galvanizing government formation negotiations with
the Shia Coalition. March 4 press reports Shahristani saying
that Adnan Pachachi will chair the first session, however it
is unclear whether he misspoke or is unaware that Abd
al-Latif al-Bedri, also from Allawi's party, appears to be
the oldest member (ref B).
SATTERFIELD