SULAYMANIYAH GOVERNOR AND KURDISTAN TOILERS PARTY RESPOND TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KIRKUK 000116 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - ADDED (SBU) PARA MARKINGS SENSITIVE SIPDIS BAGHDAD FOR ECON, POL, NCT, IRMO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KCOR ENRG IZ SUBJECT: SULAYMANIYAH GOVERNOR AND KURDISTAN TOILERS PARTY RESPOND TO GOVT FORMATION KIRKUK 00000116 001.4 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In separate meetings on May 24, Sulaymaniyah Governor Dana and leaders of the Kurdistan Toiler's Party (KTP) shared with IPAO their reactions to the formation of the newly formed governments in Erbil and Baghdad. Sulaymaniyah Governor Dana said it would be difficult for Prime Minister Maliki to separate himself from his Shia Arab nationalism despite his best intentions. Dana remained skeptical of the national and regional governments' ability to work together successfully on KRG issues, but viewed a unified KRG as a step forward. The Kurdistan Toiler's Party also welcomed the formations, though chastised the U.S. for not broadening support to opposition parties, fighting corruption, and ensuring freedom of the press. End Summary. Governor: Unified KRG Should Clarify Provincial Role -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Sulaymaniyah Governor Dana said he hoped the unified KRG would bring clarity to the role of the provincial government, particularly in regards to the budget. He described a catch-22 where if he communicated directly with either Baghdad or the KRG he lost assistance from the other party. ¶3. (SBU) Dana reiterated a request for the U.S. to establish a PRT in the province to facilitate communication with provincial officials and provide technical advisors for social, economic and political development. Dana was frustrated by what he perceived as a decreased interaction with the U.S. at a time when more was needed. Maliki - A Good Friend, But an Arab Nonetheless -------------- --- ¶4. (SBU) Dana said he had become friends with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki during his eight years working in Syria. He believed Maliki would do a good job; however, his actions would be heavily influenced by his identity as an Arab Shia. ¶5. (SBU) Ethnicity-based nationalism, he said, was a major problem in Iraq. He cited recent contracts signed by the Ministry of Oil in Baghdad for refineries in the Kurdistan Region and said he lacked confidence they would materialize. He summed up Baghdad's attitude towards development projects in the KRG as "If it takes one day to do it, they will spend eight months." Kurdistan Toiler's Party - Formation a Step Forward -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) General Secretary for the Kurdistan Toiler's Party (KTP) Qadir Aziz said he was optimistic about the formation of the national government and felt federalism was the best option at this stage for Iraq. He said the Iraqi constitution enshrined federalism and set the Kurds on the path towards self-determination. Aziz noted that Montenegro's recent vote to separate from Serbia was a harbinger for the Kurdistan Region. ¶7. (SBU) Aziz said that the formation of both the KRG and the Iraqi national governments were positive steps because Iraq faces a number of security and economic problems that had been on hold until the government was resolved. He said it was a turning point and hoped the national government would stick to the program outlined by Maliki and abide by the constitution. However he added that the Kurds still did not trust the Iraqi government and did not expect problems like terrorism or the conflict between the Sunni and Shia to be resolved easily. ¶8. (SBU) Aziz said the Iraqi constitution needed to be amended to ensured total rights to the Kurds in traditionally sensitive areas such as Article 58 and the development of natural resources in the Kurdistan Region. He hoped Kurdish leaders in Baghdad could solidify the position of the Kurds to create a stronger front against those in Baghdad who chose not to recognize parts of the constitution that benefited the KRG. KTP Response to KRG Formation -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Aziz said that the KRG unification was a great step towards strengthening their political position in Iraq. He said it was very important for the Kurds to have a unified voice and KDP and PUK infighting only weakened the KRG. ¶10. (SBU) Aziz said the U.S. was losing credibility in the region because of favoritism towards the PUK and KDP, and a perceived tolerance of corruption and the government abuse of press freedoms. He said there were many democratic and liberal forces in Iraq, however, they lacked U.S. support and were finding it KIRKUK 00000116 002.3 OF 002 difficult to survive. Ask for U.S. Help on Corruption, Freedom of Press -------------- -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Aziz asked for U.S. pressure on the KRG to provide budget transparency, political freedom for opposition parties and freedom of the press; and to create an Integrity Committee to fight corruption in government. He offered to work with the U.S. to sponsor an anti-corruption conference in the KRG. ¶12. (SBU) PARTY BIO: KTP was established in 1985 as an opposition party to the Ba'athist Regime. In the 2005 elections, they won one seat in the Kurdistan National Assembly and one in the Iraqi National Assembly. Comment: -------------- ¶13. (SBU) Governor Dana's frustration with regional politics and a lack of U.S. presence in Sulaymaniyah stems from the ongoing competition between the regional capitals. In fact, Sulaymaniyah is an excellent starting point for encouraging U.S. private investment in Iraq and would benefit from pressure to develop the banking and investment laws. The KTP's assessment of the KRG's 'real politik' appears accurate and reflects a growing frustration with PUK/KDP abuse of power, particularly pertaining to freedom of the press. An anti-corruption conference or round-table is a great idea for the region and deserves consideration. End Comment. BIGUS