COR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE IN INFANCY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003435 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ SUBJECT: COR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE IN INFANCY STAGES, SUPPORT NEEDED FROM GOI LEADERSHIP REF: A. 2006 BAGHDAD 4613 Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Robert Waller for reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) Summary. The Council of Representatives (CoR) National Reconciliation Committee, established by CoR order on July 30, 2007, is comprised of twelve members drawn from each of the sects (Sunni, Shia, Kurd, and Christian),and Chaired by Sheikh Wathab Shakir al-Dulaimi. It meets bi-weekly, but has no budget. The committee's recent activities include inviting ministers, tribal members (i.e. Anbar Awakening Council),and other Iraqi officials to address ways to improve national reconciliation efforts. In a meeting with PolOff on October 11, committee member Yondam Kanna (Rafidyn/Assyrian Christian) said the committee needs: more support from the 3 1 leadership; increased representation from Iraqiyya and independents; sharper focus on proposals discussed in the national reconciliation conference (December 2006); and linkage with the USG. While he perceives PM Maliki's Implementation and Follow-up Committee for National Reconciliation (IFCNR) committee as ineffective, he said the CoR committee is open to meeting with the IFCNR to discuss ways to coordinate efforts. End summary. COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE AND OVERALL LEADERSHIP -------------- -- ¶2. (S/NF) The CoR National Reconciliation Committee was established by CoR order on July 30, 2007 and is comprised of Kurds, Shia, Sunni, and Christians. The list follows below: -Sheikh Wathab Shakir Muhmud al-Dulaimi (Independent Sunni/Tawafuq, Baghdad) (Chair) -Melhan Omran Musa Almgoter (UIA, Independent Shia, Diwayniyah/Baghdad) -Qais Sa'ad Hassan al-Ameri (UIA, Independent Shia, Najaf) -Abd al-Bari Muhammad Faris Zebari (KAL/PUK, Kurd, Ninewa/Dohuk) -Ala Tahsin Habib Talabani (KAL/PUK, Kurd, Suleimaniyah) -Sheikh Khairallah Karim Kadhim al-Basri (Iraqiyya, Shia, Basrah/Baghdad) -Fawzi Akram Samin Tarzi (UIA, Sadrist/Turkmen, Salah ad-Din) -Abd al-Karim Abd al-Sahib Muhammad al-Nakeeb (UIA/SCIRI, Shia, Babil/Baghdad) -Kamila Ibrahim Ahmad Badi (KDP, Sunni/Kurd, Dohuk/Baghdad) -Harith Muhi al-Din Abid al-Ubaidi (Tawafuq/Independent, Baghdad) -Judge Wa'el Abd al-Latif al-Fadel, Iraqiyya (Shia/Independent, Basrah) -Yonadam Kana (Rafidayn/Assyrian Democrat/Christian, Anbar/Baghdad) ¶3. (S/NF) Kanna called the committee an "independent commission," although its rules and procedures indicate it is part of the CoR. The committee includes cross-representation from the parties and sects as well as geographical diversity, although half its membership is Shia. According to Kanna, the committee works in "a dark room in the basement" of the CoR, meets bi-weekly, and has no budget. For now, individual members are absorbing costs/expenses related to the business of the committee. ¶4. (S/NF) Regarding the strength of Sheikh Wathab's leadership as Chair, Kanna said the Sheikh was selected because of his contacts among the various tribes. He added Sheikh Wathab has a good reputation as a businessman and is not a religious extremist. When asked whether Sheikh Wathab is an effective leader, Kanna said he is "not bad" but noted he does not hold the "national stature" to be a unifying leader. More importantly, however, Sheikh Wathab was acceptable to both CoR Speaker Mahmoud Mashadani and Deputy Speaker Khalid Attiyah. RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE -------------- ¶5. (S/NF) Kanna said the committee recently invited representatives from the Anbar Awakening Council to speak to the committee regarding its tribal reconciliation efforts. The committee is also reaching out to other tribes and emerging "Awakening Councils" in other provinces. The committee recently invited Minister of Trade Abd al-Sudani to discuss ways to improve the Public Distribution System (PDS) and service delivery of supplies to all of the provinces. Kanna also noted Muhammad Shahwani, the Chief of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS),recently briefed the committee. (Note: Other than these activities, the committee appears to lack a clear focus on specific priorities. End note) BAGHDAD 00003435 002 OF 002 CHALLENGES/NEEDS OF THE COMMITTEE -------------- ¶6. (S/N) According to Kanna, the committee needs more support in principle from the 3 1 leadership, and he asked for USG support in this regard. He also mentioned the committee needs to focus on proposals discussed in the national reconciliation conference in December 2006 (ref A). Next, he recommended the committee increase representation from Iraqiyya and other independents. He would also like to see a secretariat for the committee established and a small budget SIPDIS for its operations. He sees a USG link as important, and suggested it might be helpful to have a liaison from the US Embassy to the committee. RELATIONSHIP WITH MALIKI'S COMMITTEE -------------- ¶7. (S/NF) Kanna called the IFCNR committee "ineffective" and said it has "no credibility," noting that the IFCNR is comprised of political appointees, all of whom are under PM Maliki's control. He said IFCNR leaders Dr. Bassima al-Sa'edi and Dr. Safaa al-Sheikh are perceived as being too sectarian, but said that the two have suggested that the IFCNR and the CoR committee coordinate their efforts, an idea which Sheikh Wathab is entertaining. CROCKER