DCM URGES VP ABDEL MEHDI NOT TO EXCLUDE SUNNIS AND

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 001933 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2017 TAGS: IZ PGOV PINS PREL SUBJECT: DCM URGES VP ABDEL MEHDI NOT TO EXCLUDE SUNNIS AND TO ADVANCE HYDROCARBON LAW REF: BAGHDAD 1896 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel Speckhard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) In a June 10 meeting, the DCM urged Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi not to exclude Sunni moderates from any efforts to re-energize the Iraqi government in the wake of Shi'a and Kurdish concerns over the "Cairo declaration" (reftel). Abdel Mehdi assured the DCM that there was no intention to exclude the Sunnis, specifically the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP). He said that Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (ISCI) and Dawa had met to coordinate their position within the Shi'a coalition but had not yet met with the Kurdish parties. Abdel Mehdi speculated that perhaps the "Cairo declaration" would prove a useful jolt to the political process in Iraq. He believed that it prompted the political leadership to recognize the need to radically improve the performance of the government. He said the US should not worry that the Sunnis will be excluded because "the IIP would make the right choice" despite signing the declaration; even Najaf understood the need for a coalition like the moderate front that included Sunni, Shi'a, and Kurdish parties. ¶2. (C) The DCM also pressed Abdel Mehdi on the hydrocarbons law, urging quick agreement on the law so that it could be forwarded to the Council of Representatives to preserve momentum. Abdel Mehdi said that there was agreement on the outstanding issues but that he had not yet heard back from the Kurds on the GOI's latest proposed language on dealing with surplus revenue. "We will do it," he assured the DCM. CROCKER