Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAGHDAD2172
2007-07-01 11:37:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR'S JUNE 28 MEETING WITH IRAQI DEPUTY

Tags:  IZ PGOV PINS PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0387
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #2172 1821137
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 011137Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1982
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
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).

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