IRAQI MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION DISCUSSES SUNNI

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003026

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION DISCUSSES SUNNI
BOYCOTT

Classified By: Political Counselor Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)


1. (C) Summary: In a meeting with PolOffs on September 8, Abd
Dhiyab al-Ajili said that he has technically resigned from
his duties as Minister of Higher Education as part of the
August 1 Tawafuq bloc withdrawal, but still advises his staff
on ministry issues. He believes Tawafuq's withdrawal was
hasty, but ultimately necessary given the lack of progress on
key issues of concern to Sunnis. He does not see a strong
commitment in the government to national reconciliation and
believes the Maliki government will be forced out. He
criticized the influence of political-religious clerics in
the PM's Office, blaming them for most of Iraq's problems and
bemoaning their interference in his ministry. He was mildly
optimistic about the status of higher education in Iraq, even
though he spends half his time dealing with university
security issues. End summary.

STILL WORKING - UNOFFICIALLY
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2. (C) In a September 8 meeting with PolOffs, former Minister
of Higher Education Abd Dhiyab al-Ajili said that he has
"technically" resigned and does not physically go to the
Ministry since the Tawafuq ministers quit the government on
August 1. He said he continues to be involved in the
ministry's planning efforts and provides advice to his staff
from home. He also continues to visit Iraq's twenty-six
public universities. However, he acknowledged that he no
longer has authority to sign any contracts, and said the PM
(as Acting Minister of Higher Education) has this authority
now. He said he was unable to withdraw his letter of
resignation given the political ramifications, but wanted to
return to his position.


3. (C) When asked whether he supported Tawafuq's withdrawal
from the government, Ajili said that he was present at the
meeting in which the decision had been made, and had
cautioned VP Hashimi and other Tawafuq members to go slow.
Hashimi had also been hesitant, but the majority of the
Tawafuq/IIP members opted for withdrawal to protest the lack
of power-sharing among the major parties, and the GOI's
failure to provide security. In retrospect, he believes
Tawafuq's decision was necessary, and he blames the Ministry
of Interior for the bulk of the problem, saying: "Iraq needs
ministers that think of Iraq and not their own parties."


4. (C) Ajili said that he expects the Maliki Government will
be forced out, in large part because it lacks any real desire
for reconciliation. He blamed many of the problems in the
GOI on political-religious clerics who he claimed were
imposing their views on PM Maliki. He also criticized
Maliki's staff for intervening in ministerial personnel
matters. He said it was impossible for a minister to fire or
change staff at the Director General (DG) or Deputy level,
and sometimes even at lower levels.

IMPACT OF DE-BA'ATHIFICATION AT UNIVERSITIES
--------------


5. (C) When asked about the impact of de-Ba'athification on
Iraq's universities, Ajili said some professors lost their
jobs when CPA Order #1 took effect in 2003. Some thirty
professors have asked for his help in reclaiming pensions and
other forfeited benefits. In summary, however, he said that
the impact of de-Ba'athfication on the universities was "not
a major issue."

BIO NOTE
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6. (C) Although he remains beholden to Tawafuq for nominating
him to his former ministerial post, Ajili considers himself
to be an independent Sunni. A former university professor,
he speaks excellent English. He is optimistic about the
future of Iraq and seems to have a moderate outlook on Iraqi
politics. He has worked in Bahrain and claimed to have a
working relationship with UNESCO. He said he has published
eight books related to higher education.

BUTENIS