(U) KURDISH PARLIAMENT APPROVES KRG UNIFICATION

UNCLAS KIRKUK 000008

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/I
BAGHDAD FOR POL, POLMIL, NCT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ KDP
SUBJECT: (U) KURDISH PARLIAMENT APPROVES KRG UNIFICATION

REF: KIRKUK 0004

(U) SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PROTECT ACCORDINGLY; NOT FOR
INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.


1. (U) SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION: Ambassador Khalilzad attended
the January 21 special session of the Kurdistan National
Assembly (KNA),which unanimously approved reftel agreement on
unification of the two Kurdistan Regional Governments (KRGs).
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (leader of the Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan, PUK, which controls Sulaymaniyah) and KRG President
Masoud Barzani (leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, KDP,
which controls Erbil and Dahuk),signed the agreement after it
was read aloud. Another special session will be called in a
week's time to appoint the Prime Minister. The key ministries
of Interior, Justice, Peshmerga, and Finance are to be merged
progressively within one year. END SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION.


2. (SBU) KNA Speaker Adnan Mufti chaired the special session in
Erbil, which was held in the presence of the US, British,
Chinese, French, and Iranian Ambassadors. Other guests included
former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, Deputy Prime Minister Rosh
Shaways (KDP),Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zeibari (KDP),and
Planning Minister Barham Saleh (PUK). As always, the only flag
in evidence throughout Erbil was that of Iraqi Kurdistan, though
both the Iraqi and Kurdish anthems were played when Presidents
Talabani and Barzani arrived at the KNA.


3. (SBU) No individuals were named for any of the positions to
be filled in the unified KRG, but it was stipulated that both
parties support President Talabani to remain head of state. It
was made clear that the posts of Prime Minister and KNA Speaker
would rotate by the end of 2007, whether or not regional
elections are held by then. While Nechirvan Barzani is still
the choice for Prime Minister, the PUK has not yet decided on
its nominee for Deputy Prime Minister; outgoing KRG-Sulaymaniyah
PM Omar Fattah had appeared to drop out of contention, but is
being mentioned again.


4. (SBU) It was announced that a joint committee of PUK and KDP
would be formed in each province of Kurdistan, and that the
Prime Minister would determine Kurdistan's representation abroad
(now, the two parties often have competing offices).


5. (SBU) Talabani gave a brief speech, in Arabic (as is his
custom, a way of reminding everyone that he is President of all
Iraq). He thanked the Coalition, noted that the Kurds have many
friends now (a reference to the old saying that "the Kurds have
no friend but the mountains"),and stressed that the Kurds are
part of the solution in Iraq, not part of the problem.


6. (SBU) Barzani spoke in Kurdish, recalling that the KDP had
long demanded "democracy for Iraq, then autonomy for Kurdistan."
He said "the time for armed struggle is over," it is now time
to defend the interests of Kurdistan by political and civil
means. He made clear that the interests of Kurdistan encompass
those of all its inhabitants regardless of ethnic or religious
affiliation, not just the Kurds. He called on the political
parties to refrain from interfering with the KRG, pledged
commitment to a free-market economy and equal opportunity, and
called on politicos to choose either government service or
private business (not both),noting the need to strengthen the
people's trust in their government. He called for power-sharing
and transparency because "absolute power corrupts." He affirmed
freedom of expression but insisted that it be practiced within
the law, not by rioting and burning. He apologized to the
victims of past conflict between KDP and PUK, and spoke of the
need to break through the psychological barrier between the two
parties.


7. (SBU) COMMENT: More than anything else, Barzani's frank
words about past conflict and lingering distrust between KDP and
PUK suggest that this is more than window-dressing, but rather a
genuine attempt to open a new chapter in Iraqi Kurdish history,
at a time when the Kurds are thriving and have an
almost-undreamed-of opportunity to help shape an Iraq that is
not inimical to them.

BELL