AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES DEBAATHIFICATION REFORM,

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001191 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2017 TAGS: PGOV PINR IR IZ SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES DEBAATHIFICATION REFORM, SCIRI STRATEGIC DIALOGUE WITH VP ABDEL MEHDI Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) Summary: Ambassador paid an introductory call on Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) VP Adel Abdel Mehdi April 2, who had just returned from several weeks outside Iraq, including a visit to Washington where he met with President Bush. The VP described his meeting as "tremendous," saying he felt from President Bush a true sense of friendship and partnership with Iraq. Ambassador and VP reviewed the progress of the Baghdad Security Plan, previewed the difficult work still ahead; both reaffirmed their commitment to work together for the benefit of Iraq's future. The VP promised to name SCIRI representatives to the economic, political and security committees to begin work on the U.S.- SCIRI Strategic Dialogue. Abdel Mehdi expressed his own as well as SCIRI Chairman Abdulaziz al-Hakim's enthusiasm for the initiative, but implied that the issue of MNF-I SCIRI/Badr detainees remained extremely contentious to the SCIRI side. End summary. -------------- Oval Office Meeting -------------- ¶2. (C) VP Abdel Mehdi described his March 15 oval office meeting as "tremendous" and "productive," saying he felt from President Bush a true sense of friendship and partnership. The VP said their discussion covered "most issues" and that he was very encouraged by the Administration's commitment to the Iraqi people. He also characterized the sense of optimism in the U.S. on Iraq, including media, as much improved since his last visit in June 2006. -------------- -------------- Synchronizing Timetables for Political Benchmarks -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Abdel Mehdi shared his impression that the Baghdad Security Plan (BSP) was demonstrating gains and that the Iraqi people feel a sense of improved security on the ground. Ambassador agreed that the BSP is showing encouraging signs but said that much work remained to be done to establish lasting security; he emphasized that as the President works to maximize U.S. support for Iraq and the Iraqi people, demonstrating GOI progress on essential political issues such as hydrocarbon and debaathification reform legislation will be key. ¶4. (C) Ambassador acknowledge that there are two timetables for political benchmarks -- a U.S. one propelled in part by domestic politics, and an Iraqi one conditioned on Iraqi realities. While there is no obvious or necessary link between the two, he told the VP, one of our challenges is to better synchronize these timetables. Abdel Mehdi assured Ambassador that the GOI is cognizant of and working toward achieving "American benchmarks," however, he added, Iraqis also have their own priorities, specifically mentioning Article 140 on Kirkuk, and security issues. -------------- VP: The Hydrocarbons Law Will Pass -------------- ¶5. (C) Abdel Mehdi spoke of positive movement on the draft hydrocarbons law, saying the cabinet, which represents all the sectarian interests, had already reached general consensus on the issue and had prepared a paper on hydrocarbon revenues. "Once the issue of how to manage revenue is resolved, I think it will pass," said the VP, but did not allude to when. -------------- Debaathification Reform -------------- ¶6. (C) Along with hydrocarbons legislation, Ambassador said he planned to engage closely with Iraqi interlocutors on the draft debaathification reform law signed by PM Maliki and President Talabani March 26. The VP explained that although he had been out of the country when the draft was signed, he had been deeply involved in the debate and "exchange of projects and we had progressed on this issue." The VP said he spoke with Maliki while out of the country and that "we agreed on the main issues." At the moment, Abdel Mehdi continued, "there is a big discussion on this issue and a better understanding of past mistakes." He criticized Chalabi and the current debaathification commission for launching a counter attack on the latest agreement between the PM and President. SCIRI had already agreed to one of the draft laws, the VP said, adding that the UIA Shia coalition will hold discussions on the new draft in the next few days. (Comment: In previous meetings covering the details of BAGHDAD 00001191 002 OF 002 debaathification reform, Abdel Mehdi has indicated that selling a reform law to the Shia will not be an easy task. End comment.) -------------- -------------- Ready to form Strategic Dialogue Joint Committees... -------------- -------------- ¶7. (S) Abdel Mehdi said he returned from Washington with the impression that for the first time the concept of a U.S.-SCIRI strategic dialogue had become "institutionalized." Such an idea "is historical for SCIRI and for Iraq and we look forward to this relationship," said the VP, adding that SCIRI can play a key role in clarifying Shia goals, visions, and expectations for the future of Iraq -- "SCIRI can move this project forward for the interest of Iraq." Ambassador agreed, saying the key purpose for this initiative must be for the future of Iraq and not the interests of any particular community -- only through the broader security of the state can the communities within be secure. Noting the agreement to set up three strategic dialogue joint committees on Security, Economic, and Political issues, Ambassador said the Embassy has named representatives to each -- as soon as you select your interlocutors we will begin work, he told Abdel Mehdi. The VP promised to name the SCIRI participants in ten days. -------------- But...What About Our Detainees -------------- ¶8. (S) Predictably raising the contentious issue of SCIRI/BADR MNF-I detainees, the VP said that SCIRI Chairman al-Hakim was very enthusiastic about the strategic dialogue, "but we still have 200 prisoners. Either they are guilty, or they should be released." Abdel Mehdi repeated the SCIRI line on MNF-I arrests and detention: if you have evidence, share it; if you suspect someone of nefarious activity, come discuss their case with us as we will not accept actions against our guidelines by our members. SCIRI has no hidden agenda, continued the VP, we will always be frank with you, we are transparent, along with our desire to build stronger relations with the U.S., we do not deny our good relations with Iran. Without drawing a red line, the VP stated "we cannot have a real partnership while this is happening." Noting that he and the VP had grappled with this same issue during his 2003 CPA tenure, Ambassador agreed that the issue of SCIRI/BADR detainees was a troubling long-standing issue. CROCKER