PM MALIKI DISCUSSES THE COR, IRAN AND SYRIA, AND

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 000267

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ IR SA
SUBJECT: PM MALIKI DISCUSSES THE COR, IRAN AND SYRIA, AND
THE SADRISTS

REF: BAGHDAD 00229

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad per 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (S) SUMMARY: In a meeting with the Ambassador on January
23, Prime Minister Maliki said he would deliver a speech to
the Council of Representatives (CoR) on January 25
encouraging the members to reduce or delay their recess.
(Note: The CoR voted on January 23 to extend their sessions
until February 10. End note.) He also planned to explain
the broad outlines of the new Baghdad Security Plan (BSP) in
his speech. In response to the Ambassador's questions about
Iran and Syria, the Prime Minister said he believes Tehran
and Damascus are interested in a dialogue with Washington.
He added the GOI supports the United States having a
political dialogue with Iran and Syria if these two states
want to be helpful. Finally, Maliki said the Sadrists are
cooperating, noting that they ended their boycott from the
government without conditions, and said MNF-I should be
cooperative with the Sadrists in return. END SUMMARY.

-------------- --------------
Helicopter Shootings Represent Dangerous Development
-------------- --------------


2. (S) The Ambassador began by informing the Prime Minister
of preliminary reports that an American civilian helicopter
used for transporting personnel was shot down that morning,
January 23, near the Ministry of Health, killing four of its
passengers. The Ambassador said another helicopter used for
civilian transport was shot with small arms fire this
morning, resulting in the death of one of its passengers.
The Prime Minister commented that hitting helicopters was a
dangerous development. The Ambassador said MNF-I had not yet
determined where the attackers were when they shot the
helicopter near the Ministry of Health. (Note: The
helicopters were provided air support to Embassy personnel
attending a meeting at the Ministry of Municipalities and
Public Works. End note.) He said we should move quickly
into the area and capture the attackers before they leave.

--------------
PM Agrees to Give "Tough" Speech to CoR
--------------


3. (S) The Ambassador said he discussed yesterday with CoR
Speaker Mashhadani the possibility of the Prime Minister
delivering a speech to the CoR on January 24. Maliki replied
that he intended to admonish the CoR for stopping the
government's work, but the CoR leadership asked him to
postpone his speech because the CoR is planning on discussing
the budget on the 24th. Maliki also planned on explaining
the BSP to the CoR, but his military advisers said to wait to
talk about the plan until just before operations start.
Maliki said he spoke with Itilaf leader Abdulaziz al-Hakim
about the lack of quorum and was pleased Hakim actually came
to the CoR yesterday in response.


4. (S) The Ambassador said that if the Prime Minister asked
the CoR to reduce or delay its recess, the CoR might respond
favorably. The Ambassador stressed that these are
extraordinary circumstances and the Iraqi security forces are
making huge sacrifices to secure Baghdad. If the CoR delayed
or reduced its recess, the Ambassador continued, it would
show the CoR doing its part and send a message that Iraqi
leaders, not just the Prime Minister, are taking their
responsibilities seriously.


5. (S) The Prime Minister agreed with the Ambassador. Maliki
said he would deliver such a speech at Thursday's session of
the CoR, saying "they will turn against me because I am going
to be so tough." Maliki expressed frustration at the
absentee CoR members, saying they make 20 million dinar per
month (approximately US $5,000) and do not show up. He
commented that if many of the members ran on their own, they
would not even get 100 votes.


6. (S) The Ambassador suggested that the PM could explain the
broad themes, rather than operational details, of the BSP to
the CoR. Maliki agreed and said he would emphasize that all
lawbreakers will be targeted regardless of their sect or
ethnicity, there will be no safe havens for terrorists, and
there will be no political intervention in the plan.

--------------
Details of Talabani's Trip to Syria
--------------


7. (S) The Ambassador said he spoke with President Jalal
Talabani about Talabani's recent trip to Syria. The
Ambassador relayed that Talabani said IRGC-Quds Force
Commander Qassem Suleimani came to see him while he was in


Syria (reftel).

--------------
Maliki's Analysis of Iran and Syria
--------------


8. (S) The Iranians and the Syrians are interested in
starting a dialogue with the United States. Maliki said the
GOI supports the United States having a political dialogue
with Iran and Syria if they want to cooperate, even though
nothing might come of the dialogue. He said it would reflect
positively on Iraq.


9. (S) Maliki said the Syrians recently hosted an Iraqi
Ba'ath Party conference with some 500 attendees. He said the
Syrians claimed they were trying to leverage the split in the
Iraqi Bath Party between leaders Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri and
Mohammed Yunis al-Ahmed and encourage Ba'athists to join the
political process. Maliki opined that there also is internal
pressure in Syria for the Syrian government to do something
with the large number of Iraqis living there.


10. (S) Maliki concluded that dialogues between the United
States and Iran and Syria will solve part of the problem, but
the rest is the Iraqis' responsibility. The Ambassador
agreed, saying that Iraq has the lead on regional engagement
and the United States is in a supporting role. Maliki said
Iran and Syria signed an agreement yesterday to hold a
regional foreign ministers meeting in Baghdad in support of
the GOI. He mused that Iranian and Syrian support might send
a sign to the Arabs that the meeting was arranged by Iran and
Syria and hoped for Egyptian and Saudi Arabian support as
well.

--------------
PM: Sadrists Are Being Cooperative
--------------


11. (S) The Ambassador updated the Prime Minister on the
dialogue between Coalition and Sadr City authorities, saying
it was going well. The Prime Minister stated he spoke with
Sadrists that morning and expressed satisfaction with their
recent political moves. Maliki said not only did the Sadrist
CoR members return to work without conditions, they accepted
Maliki's conditions that they support the BSP by opening
roads and doors for the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police to do
their inspections. Maliki said the Sadrists did not object
to arresting criminal suspects but were worried about random
arrests. He assured the Sadrists that only suspects would be
arrested and told the Ambassador that more security forces
should be stationed in Sadr City so the residents cannot say
they need weapons for protection. Maliki said that since the
Sadrists are cooperating, it is important for MNF-I to
cooperate with them.


12. (S) Maliki said the Sadrists appeared on television
pledging their support for the BSP. He said the GOI is
having a positive dialogue with the Sunni insurgent groups
Jaysh al-Islami and Ansar al-Sunna, and said it would be
helpful if the Sunni side also publicly announced their
support for the BSP.
KHALILZAD