AMBASSADOR'S JUNE 28 MEETING WITH IRAQI DEPUTY

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 002172 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2017 TAGS: IZ PGOV PINS PREL SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S JUNE 28 MEETING WITH IRAQI DEPUTY SPEAKER Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: On June 28, the Ambassador met with Sheikh Khalid al-Attiya, First Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives (CoR). Al-Attiya offered thoughts on the CoR and the status of key legislation. Al-Attiya stressed the importance of tailoring counterinsurgency methods to local conditions and implementing reconstruction projects. He stated that security of the population and the delivery of essential services are the most important government objectives. END SUMMARY. Assessment of CoR and Key Legislation -------------- ¶2. (C) Al-Attiya reported that there is still no agreement concerning who will replace Speaker Mahmoud Mashadani and emphasized that any replacement needs Tawafuq's approval. He predicted that despite the recent problems, it would be possible to reach a quorum in upcoming CoR sessions with the help of American pressure. ¶3. (C) Regarding the de-Ba'athification reform law, al-Attiya claimed Chalabi's proposed version represented the views of all parties. (Comment: To our knowledge, Tawafuq does not support it. End Comment.) According to the draft, former Ba'athists below the level of Firqa would be reinstated; former employees of Ba'athist intelligence agencies would be forbidden from working for government institutions; and a court of seven judges would respond to grievances and complaints. ¶4. (C) Al-Attiya said that the CoR would soon draft a proposed elections law. He called the recent conference in Dubai on the hydrocarbons law very helpful, and said that although Tawafuq members are balking on advancing the draft laws, there are no major problems regarding the legislation. Sadr March to Samarra -------------- ¶5. (C) Asked about Sadr's plan for a march to Samarra during the first week of July, al-Attiya called it a bad idea that would lead to more unrest. Al-Attiya would personally tell Sadr not to go through with the march. The Anbar Model in Other Regions -------------- ¶6. (C) The Ambassador asked whether cooperation between MNF and local tribes in Anbar could be replicated elsewhere in Iraq. Al-Attiya said that it was important to tailor strategies to each region and that in general, the tribes were not a major problem for the government. In Diyala, al-Attiya is organizing a conference with local tribes entitled "Declaration of Support for the Government." In the south he said support to tribes should not be public but could include tribal roles in some government intelligence agencies. The Importance of Services Delivery -------------- ¶7. Al-Attiya agreed with the Ambassador that after security, services delivery is the most important government objective. He blamed poor services delivery on insecurity and key ministries being unoccupied for the last two months, but said that progress could be achieved by resolving the Sadr CoR boycott and the Mashadani dispute. ¶8. (C) Al-Attiya also stressed the importance of reconstruction projects in providing employment and increasing public support for the government. He cited the example of Diwaniya, where four large factories, including a tire factory, have stopped operating due to supply and maintenance problems. The Ambassador said he would examine the possibility of supporting the tire factory. CROCKER