ABDUL AZIZ AL-HAKIM ON IRAN, SADR AGREEMENT, AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003532 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ IR SUBJECT: ABDUL AZIZ AL-HAKIM ON IRAN, SADR AGREEMENT, AND TENSIONS WITH TURKEY REF: BAGHDAD 3375 (SADR-BADR AGREEMENT) Classified By: Ambassador Ryan Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) Chairman Abdul Aziz al-Hakim told the Ambassador on October 22 that an improved security climate has helped Iraqis and their regional neighbors accept "the reality of democracy in Iraq." Back temporarily from cancer treatment in Iran and looking much healthier than the last time we saw him in August, Hakim flagged two issues he claimed were of concern to Iraqi Shia: the "arming" of Sunnis as part of the Concerned Local Citizens (CLC) program, and the "escalation" of U.S.-Iran tension. The Ambassador clarified that we have not provided arms to any CLC, and that we fully coordinate our actions with the Government of Iraq's Follow-up Committee for National Reconciliation (IFCNR). He suggested ISCI participation in the Committee. Hakim characterized his recent mutual non-aggression pact with the Sadrists as "an important agreement" and said he had already seen an improvement in security conditions as a result. He expressed dismay at recent PKK attacks launched from Iraq against Turkish troops, saying the drafters of Iraq's constitution anticipated and tried to prevent such incidents by inserting constitutional language that forbids safe haven to any group that wages war on a neighboring state. Hakim closed the meeting by pressing for release of a detained ISCI/Badr cadre, arguing with apparent indignation that an innocent man had been arrested without just cause and detained without charge (in fact, he was detained after being implicated in an EFP network). End Summary. Facing Reality, Voicing Concerns -------------- ¶2. (C) Hakim said Iraq had made a great deal of progress over the past year, and improvements in security and a general sense of calm were helping Iraqi citizens accept "the reality of democracy in Iraq." His discussions with regional interlocutors convinced him that countries in the region also sensed progress and have also accepted this new reality. Back on a temporary visit from lung cancer treatment in Iran (he will return to Iran October 23 and travel to Houston later this year for follow-up tests) and looking healthier, heavier, and more vigorous than the last time we saw him in August, Hakim stated that he had recently visited Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf and met with four southern provincial governors, all of whom expressed satisfaction that Iraq was making progress. He said the Maliki government was moving forward with broad-based support, noting progress in the oil and electricity sectors, and predicted the GOI would act next week to announce candidates for vacant ministerial positions. Turning to his son and ISCI heir apparent Amar, Hakim noted Amar had made a positive visit to Anbar province over the Eid holiday (a trip that featured a meeting with Sunni Sheikh Ahmed al-Rishawi that garnered significant media play and served to further ISCI's efforts to cast Amar as a national leader). The Ambassador stated that the GOI should take advantage of the improved security environment by making real political progress and moving ahead on key pending legislation and improved public services so that the Iraqi people can see their government is working for their benefit. ¶3. (C) Pausing periodically to hack out a rasping smoker's cough, the black-turbaned and black-cloaked Hakim repeated the same complaint we have heard from virtually every leading Shia politician, Prime Minister Maliki included, that alleged MNF-I "arming" of Sunni security volunteers is causing great concern in the Shia community. The Ambassador clarified that we have not provided even one rifle to Sunnis or Shia security volunteers, and that we are coordinate all CLC formation and operations with the GOI through the Prime Minister's Follow Up Committee for National Reconciliation (IFCNR). Maliki has promised additional resources to increase the committee's effectiveness, and the IFCNR leadership confirms this will be forthcoming. The Ambassador also urged direct ISCI/Badr participation in the IFCNR. He briefed Hakim on a successful CLC and reconciliation project taking place in the mixed Shia-Sunni Baghdad area of Al-Jihad, a project Maliki himself hailed as a model of reconciliation. ¶4. (C) Hakim stated Iraqi Shia are also concerned about an "escalation" in U.S.-Iran tensions for which Iraqis are paying a price. Acknowledging that bilateral problems are reflected in Iraq, the Ambassador noted that much is unclear about Iranian developments and cited the resignation of Ali Larijani as an example. Hakim said he often meets with Iranian officials on an informal basis, and clarified that Larijani resigned as Secretary General of Iran's NSC but retained his NSC member position as Supreme Leader Khamenei's personal representative. BAGHDAD 00003532 002 OF 002 Sadr Agreement, Tension with Turkey -------------- ¶5. (C) Turning to the issue of his October 6 agreement with Moqtada al-Sadr regarding relations between ISCI/Badr and the Sadrist movement, including the Jaysh al-Mehdi (JAM), Hakim said the agreement was important and that he had already seen an improvement in security conditions as a result (reftel). The Ambassador said that indirect fire attacks against the International Zone have stopped and that we don't know if Iran played a part in this or Sadr's freeze order, which we welcome but continue to monitor. In reply to the Ambassador's question of whether the freeze and the agreement signaled a real change in Sadr's outlook, Hakim said late August JAM violence in the holy Shia city of Karbala had prompted both ISCI and the Sadrists to agree to improve the situation. ¶6. (C) Noting that the ISCI-led United Iraqi Alliance parliamentary coalition had played a positive role in drafting a helpful Iraqi parliamentary statement regarding current Iraq-Turkey border tension, the Ambassador stated the current situation there is dangerous. Hakim expressed dismay at recent PKK attacks against Turkish troops, and traced the PKK problem back to the Saddam regime, which allowed such groups to attack from Iraqi soil as a means to increase regime power and leverage. He said the drafters of Iraq's constitution anticipated and tried to prevent such incidents by inserting constitutional language that forbids safe haven to any group that seeks to wage war on a neighboring state. Hakim said Iraq wishes good relations with Turkey and does not want a war. He closed the meeting by pressing for release of a detained ISCI/Badr cadre. Hakim argued with indignation that an innocent man had been arrested without cause or, at the very most, on the basis of false reports provided by his enemies, and detained without charge or investigation. In fact, the individual was detained after being implicated in an EFP network. CROCKER