SUNNIS NOT DELAYING REFORMS, VP HASHIMI TELLS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002286

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017
TAGS: IZ KDEM PGOV PHUM
SUBJECT: SUNNIS NOT DELAYING REFORMS, VP HASHIMI TELLS
CODEL MCCAIN


Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi told
Senators McCain and Graham that Sunnis are marginalized in
the Iraqi government and are increasingly questioning the
benefits of political participation. Sunnis are now actively
engaged in eliminating al-Qa'ida, yet 95% of detainees in
Iraq are Sunnis, al-Hashimi claimed. Delays in passing
benchmark legislation are not the Sunnis' fault, claimed
al-Hashimi, adding that Sunnis support the Hydrocarbon law
and want local elections as soon as possible. END SUMMARY.


NO BENEFITS OF POLITICAL PARTICATION FOR SUNNIS
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2. (C) Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi told Senators John
McCain and Lindsey Graham on July 3 that Iraq faces a major
political problem. There is no power sharing; the Sunni
political leadership is marginalized, and Sunnis are
increasingly asking what the benefits of political
participation were. The Sunnis are fighting with the
Coalition to eliminate al-Qa'ida and should get some respect
and reward, said al-Hashimi. Yet 95% of detainees in local
detention centers are Sunnis, claimed al-Hashimi.


YES TO HYDROCARBON LAW - MORE TIME FOR REVENUE SHARING LAW
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3. (C) Tawafuq has no problem with the hydrocarbon law, said
al-Hashimi. It was the Kurds who were complicating matters
by insisting that the Revenue Sharing Law be passed
concurrently. The Sunnis need to make sure that the laws
serve the common interests of all Iraqis and cannot be asked
to decide in a matter of days. Ambassador Crocker pushed
back, telling al-Hashimi that the issues are well known and
have been debated for years - the Sunnis cannot say they need
more time for discussion. Tawafuq Planning Minister Ali
Baban was involved in the negotiations for months.
Al-Hashimi responded that Tawafuq always made clear that it
had technical reservations with the bills.


REGIONAL ELECTIONS MUST INCLUDE DISPLACED IRAQIS
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4. (C) Senator McCain told VP al-Hashimi that the Congress
will condemn the Iraqi Government if it does not hold
provincial elections. Senator Graham commented that local
elections would play well in the United States, especially
since the Sunnis boycotted the 2005 elections. VP al-Hashimi
said that the Sunnis want local elections as soon as
possible. He cautioned however, that the electoral law must
account for the four million Iraqis, mostly Sunnis, who were
displaced from their homes, including those living abroad.
Because of the displacements, there was an electorate
imbalance, especially in Baghdad. The displaced Iraqis must
be allowed to participate in the local elections, al-Hashimi
implored.


SUNNIS NOT TO BLAME FOR BENCHMARK DELAYS
--------------


5. (C) VP al-Hashimi rejected suggestions that he set a time
limit on progress in passing the benchmark legislation.
Outlining each of the benchmarks in turn, he asked
rhetorically who was blocking progress:

- De-Ba'athification Law - The committee worked out an
acceptable draft, but the Prime Minister presented an
alternative proposal at the last minute and blocked progress.

- Hydrocarbon framework and Revenue Sharing Laws - The law
was discussed in the Cabinet and Tawafuq Ministers were told
to vote in favor. Then the Kurds demanded linking the law
with passage of revenue sharing legislation, thereby delaying
passage of the oil law.

- Provincial Elections were delayed by the government.

- Constitutional Reform - The committee working on
constitutional reform had reached agreement on most of the
main articles when the Kurds announced that they had changed
their minds and now reject items previously agreed to.


6. (U) CODEL McCain did not have the opportunity to clear
this message.

CROCKER