PM ADVISOR ON ISTANBUL MINISTERIAL, UNSCR RENEWAL,

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003623

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2037
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: PM ADVISOR ON ISTANBUL MINISTERIAL, UNSCR RENEWAL,
STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP AND LEGISLATION

REF: BAGHDAD 3607

Classified By: Charge d,Affaires Patricia Butenis for Reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d)


1. (S) Summary: Prime Minister,s Chief of Staff Dr. Tariq
Abdullah took on board the necessity that the PM attend the
Istanbul Neighbors, conference and said the PM had not
decided whether to attend, at an October 30 meeting with
Charge and POLMIL Minister-Counselor. Passed a draft letter
on the GOI request to renew United Nations Security Council
resolution, Abdullah raised concerns at the timeframe
required for GOI approval of the letter given the current
political climate but promised to work together to get it
done. CDA pressed for a quick response on the Strategic
Partnership Declaration (SPD) and for progress on key
benchmark legislation. End Summary.


PM Must Attend Istanbul Ministerial;
PM Working Hard on PKK Issue
--------------


2. (C) CDA urged Abdullah that the Prime Minister attend the
Istanbul Neighbors, Conference. Abdullah said the PM is
interested in going, but if President Talabani goes, both do
not need to attend. He highlighted that the GOI hoped the
PKK issue would not take over the conference. Noting FM
Zebari,s opinion that neither the PM nor the President would
attend (septel),CDA said it was absolutely crucial that the
PM be in Istanbul. Abdullah conceded that he did not believe
the PM had made a decision yet.


3. (C) Abdullah also raised the concern that the PM be
treated well. The October 25 delegation complained of
ill-treatment, Abdullah noted; we cannot guarantee a serious
incident would not occur should the PM be treated similarly.
POLMIL Minister-Counselor said the delegation,s willingness
to go to Ankara was very positive; Iraq and Turkey should
work together to solve the problem through diplomacy. It
keeps the temperature down and leads to solutions. CDA said
the U.S. would urge the importance of the PM being treated
with respect.


4. (C) The GOI position against the PKK has been clear from
the beginning, Abdullah said. The PM calls the PKK a
terrorist group, and we have closed PKK offices. The PM is
working hard to help Turkey overcome its problems, he said,
and we are keen to preserve good relations with Turkey.


UNSCR Renewal May Be Harder This Year
--------------


5. (S) CDA passed to Abdullah an updated draft GOI letter to
request renewal of relevant United Nations Security Council
resolutions, noting it was based on what Iraq sent last year.
Abdullah asked if the renewal could be postponed or even
extended one to two months. POLMIL Minister Counselor said
the resolution expires at the end of the year and normally
renewals were for a period of one year. We are starting now
because it was important to get the job done well before the
resolution expires.


6. (S) Abdullah said he was not sure two months would be
enough time to complete the process; two things are new this
year that will make Iraqi approval more complicated:

-- the Sadrists have left the Itelaf coalition and so will be
more difficult to keep on board;

-- the Council of Representatives (COR) has made a decision
that it must approve it by vote.


7. (S) POLMIL Counselor noted the COR may recess at the end
of the year and wondered if "COR approval" could be construed
to mean consultations rather than a floor vote. If the
government were to seek a vote, it would be need to be
confident it had sufficient support in advance. CDA pointed
out that if the resolution is allowed to expire, it would
mean that, without a mandate, MNF-I and the Coalition would
have no legal basis to remain in Iraq.


8. (S) Abdullah reassured that we will work together and get
the request letter completed on time. PM Advisor Rikabi will
likely lead the GOI,s efforts, along with FM Zebari.


Strategic Partnership Declaration Soon
--------------


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9. (S) CDA noted that the White House has given the highest
priority to the Strategic Partnership Declaration (SPD) and
pressed for a response soonest, looking ahead to the likely
Washington visit by the PM mid-month for a signing ceremony.
Abdullah said National Security Advisor Mowafuq Rubaie is
returning soon, and they would respond today or tomorrow.


PM IS PUSHING BENCHMARK LEGISLATION
--------------


10. (C) Asked about progress on key legislation such as
de-Ba,athification and provincial powers, Abdullah responded
that the PM had just held another meeting with Itelaf, where
he reasserted his desire to see progress on these laws.
Abdullah noted that the CoR approved the appointment of two
technocrat ministers today (reftel).
BUTENIS