PM CHIEF OF STAFF DISCUSSES THE ARREST WARRANT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002190

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2017
TAGS: IZ PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: PM CHIEF OF STAFF DISCUSSES THE ARREST WARRANT FOR
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE


Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel Speckhard for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: On June 27, DCM Dan Speckhard met with Iraqi
Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Dr. Tariq Abdullah, at the
latter's request to deliver a message from the Prime
Minister. Dr. Tariq relayed that the PM is concerned that
the U.S. might assist Minister of Culture Asad Al-Hashimi
evade his arrest warrant and flee Iraq. DCM assured Dr.
Tariq that the U.S. had no plan to help Minister Al-Hashimi
evade justice. End Summary.


2. (C) Prime Minister Chief of Staff Dr. Tariq Abdullah
explained to DCM that the Prime Minister was concerned about
Adnan Duleimi's (Sunni - Iraqi People's Conference) statement
that the U.S. Embassy would help Minister of Culture As'ad
Al-Hashimi evade his arrest warrant and escape the country.
DCM assured Dr. Tariq that no one in the U.S. was thinking of
helping the Minister of Culture evade justice in Iraq.


3. (C) DCM expressed interest to know how the PM would manage
the political impact of this case. DCM stated that Vice
President Tariq Al-Hashimi had expressed as much anger to the
Ambassador over the way that it had happened, as that it had
happened. DCM explained that as a coalition partner, we do
not presume to be able to judge the merits of the individual
cases, but we are concerned that high level cases are
occurring without sectarian balance. DCM stated that, for
example, General Mahdi is a Shia and is a senior official in
the Ministry of Interior against whom there is much evidence
as well as an arrest warrant, yet he is still free.


4. (C) Dr. Tariq asserted that the two cases are different.
In the case of General Mahdi, the case concerns crimes of
integrity, which have an administrative procedure allowing
Ministers to suspend the proceedings while they conduct their
own independent inquiry. "This is why the General is still
free," said Dr. Tariq. But in the case of Minister of
Culture Asad Al-Hashimi, the case concerns criminal charges
and the warrant was issued by the judicial authorities,
explained Dr. Tariq. "Can the PM suspend the proceedings
against Minister Hashimi in the same manner the Minister of
the Interior suspended proceedings against General Mahdi?"
asked the DCM. "No," answered Dr. Tariq, "the PM cannot
interfere with the judicial authorities."


5. (C) While not wanting to interfere in the judicial and
legal processes, the DCM pressed for the PM to take political
action and reach out in a cross-sectarian manner to discuss
the issue, rather than simply declare from his office that he
can't touch it. "Even your best friends have the impression
that the law is not being applied evenly," said the DCM.


6. (C) Dr. Tariq responded that the Prime Minister does not
distinguish between Shia and Sunni ministers, and the PM will
not intervene on a judicial issue. The PM does not have a
discriminatory viewpoint, emphasized Dr. Tariq. DCM answered
that we have always felt that the PM is "a man of integrity -
honest, not corrupt, and concerned with the fate of all
Iraqis." DCM reminded Dr. Tariq of the repeated messages of
support from the President of the United States. At the same
time, the DCM encouraged the PM to recognize the importance
of managing these incidents in a way that does not inflame
sectarian tensions and undermine the Government.


7. (C) Dr. Tariq admitted that "perhaps the Government has a
problem in the judicial departments, which conceal evidence
in Shia cases, but are prompt to publicize Sunni cases."
"But it is not the PM's doing, and when we identify it, we
try to stop it," assured Dr. Tariq. He welcomed the Embassy
bringing to the attention of the Prime Minister examples of
judicial discrimination, and the Prime Minister would work to
correct them, by moving, replacing, or firing the judges.
DCM closed by saying he would relay the PM's concerns about
Duleimi's statement to the Ambassador and Washington.

CROCKER