BARZANI ANNOUNCES KDP/PUK EFFORT TO RESOLVE LEGISLATIVE DEADLOCK, DISCUSSES KRG EFFORTS TO END PKK CRISIS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 003733

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER ECON TU IZ
SUBJECT: BARZANI ANNOUNCES KDP/PUK EFFORT TO RESOLVE LEGISLATIVE DEADLOCK, DISCUSSES KRG EFFORTS TO END PKK CRISIS

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

This is an Erbil Regional Reconstruction Team message.


1. (C) SUMMARY: KRG President Masoud Barzani told the
Ambassador November 8 that he and President Talabani would
meet to review and find a solution to end the current
deadlock on pending GOI legislation. He proposed a national
reconciliation conference in Kurdistan to move the political
process forward and ensure the opening provided by the
improved security situation is not wasted. Barzani said he
supported the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Partnership Agreement
(SPA),and would help as necessary to ensure the agreement
proceeds as planned. The Ambassador outlined the three stage
process to end the PKK crisis, and emphasized the need for
the KRG to take concrete steps that produce a decline in PKK
activities. Barzani expressed concern that Iran would give
asylum to ousted PKK fighters, and create a new front to
destabilize Iraq. He said the KRG will participate in future
negotiations if Turkey shows respect to future delegations,
and that steps have already been taken to shut down PKK
operations. END SUMMARY.

U.S. commitment to Iraq is long-term. . . .
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2. (C) The Ambassador thanked President Barzani for his quiet
management of the Turkish hostage release, which respected
Turkish sensitivities. He said he is working with Prime
Minister Maliki on a declaration that will build on the
August communiqu, and hopes the draft will be circulated in
the coming days. The declaration is based on broad
principles, with details on security, economic and political
to be negotiated over the coming year, and will demonstrate
long-term U.S. commitment to Iraq. Ambassador noted he
expects the UN Security Council Resolution on Iraq will
routinely roll-over before the end of the year, with the
understanding that this will be the last Chapter Seven
resolution for Iraq, which will be replaced by the U.S. Iraq
Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA).

. . . But political progress required
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3. (C) The Ambassador noted the frustrating lack of progress
on pending legislation, noting that more than two months
after the five leaders agreed on a draft de-Baathification
law, it still has not been sent to the CoR. The Ambassador
emphasized that President Barzani has always been supportive,
and asked him to do anything to push the legislation forward.
The Ambassador said good progress has been made on the
security front by working together, but the lack of visible
progress on the political front is undermining national
reconciliation. Under Secretary Jeffery echoed the
Ambassador's concern about the political process in Iraq,
saying NOW is the moment to show political unity and
agreement on key legislation. The Under Secretary said
passage of the hydrocarbon legislation would send a powerful
signal to the world that Iraq's leadership is willing to
manage resources in a responsible way.


4. (C) Barzani responded that he would strongly support the
proposed U.S.-Iraq Strategic Partnership Agreement, and that
he had even been involved in preparing the groundwork for the
agreement. He said during his last visit to Baghdad he
focused on pending legislation, including the hydrocarbons
and de-Baathification laws, and that he was "amazed" the
legislation is still pending. He said he is fed up with
reaching agreements with various parties in Baghdad, who then
decide agreements must be re-negotiated. He said he cannot
see a solution as long as GOI power is in the hands of
radical Islamists who don't believe in democracy or
co-existence. Prime Minister Maliki is losing track,
shifting to become "a dictator" and marginalizing others.
Barzani gave as an example the Arab tribes in Ninewa, who
approached the KRG to tackle their problems with terrorists,
and had sent a delegation to Baghdad to request assistance.
However, the Prime Minister had done nothing, as he was
concerned it would disrupt the Shia-Sunni balance. Barzani
concluded that the national reconciliation situation in
Baghdad had reached a "dead-end."

Barzani and Talabani to discuss national reconciliation
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5. (C) Barzani said he would like to be seen as part of the solution, and agreed that the lack of progress on the political front will have a negative impact on the improved security front. While he had no concrete solutions NOW to propose on national reconciliation, he and President Talabani will meet, after Talabani returns in two weeks, to discuss the situation and find a solution to end the dead-lock. He is prepared to invite all parties to Kurdistan to discuss national reconciliation. The Ambassador responded that he was glad to hear about the meeting with Talabani. He said the power exists in a democracy to work with others to make changes and to move the political process forward.

Three Stage Process to End PKK Crisis
--------------


6. (S) The Ambassador congratulated the GOI for its
performance on the PKK crisis. He said that putting the
focus on the crisis as one between Turkey and Iraq, not
between Turkey and the Kurdistan Region, helped calm the
situation, and active Kurdish participation in the GOI
ensured the effort's success. However, the crisis remains
serious and we must ensure that the PKK's presence in Iraq
over the next five years will be different from the last five
years, when they consolidated and strengthened their presence
in Iraq. He said that the U.S. understands the PKK is not
the KRG's friend, but they are on Iraqi territory and there
is an urgent necessity to take effective steps against them.
He said the establishment of an operations center, under
Prime Minister Nechirvan's direction, the recent, more
balanced statements from the KRG, and the low-key release of
the Turkish hostages are helpful gestures that indicate
Kurdish intent to tackle the PKK problem.


7. (S) The Ambassador outlined a three-stage process to
ensure a long term solution to the PKK problem. The first,
and most critical phase to prevent disaster, is to establish
controls to eliminate PKK supply routes, end the movement of
PKK members, close PKK-affiliated political offices, trace
and stop PKK financial flows, and increase surveillance and
control at the Erbil and Sulimaniyah airports so that known
PKK members cannot enter easily. He told Barzani he expects
arrests will be made, and there will be a decline in PKK
activities. The second stage would involve broader bilateral
and trilateral collaboration, which would include increased
KRG representation in U.S., Turkey, and Iraq trilateral
efforts. The third stage would be to work towards a
permanent political solution.


8. (C) President Barzani responded that neither the KDP nor
the PUK had ever been allied with the PKK, and between 1992
and 2000 they had lost over 5,000 people to PKK violence,
with 800 people maimed. He compared the PKK to Pol Pot, and
said that the PKK cannot be allowed to have the upper hand in
the community. Laughing, he noted that the Kurdistan
Democratic Solutions party offices had been closed in
Sulimaniyah, Dohuk, and Erbil, yet they remained open in
Mosul and Kirkuk, as they operate under the Iraqi High
Electoral Commission sanction.


9. (S) He said he failed to understand Turkey's alarming
stance. Prior to the regime change in Baghdad, Iraqi Kurdish
leaders were received at the highest level in Turkey, but
now, even though the KRG is a legal entity enshrined in the
Iraqi Constitution, the GOT calls the KRG illegal. He also
noted that the daily statements by Turkish officials on the
Article 140 process and Kirkuk and the personalized attacks
indicate Turkish involvement in Iraq's internal affairs.
President Barzani said that the KRG needs guarantees from
Turkey that their real aim is not the Kurdistan Region in
Iraq, with the PKK serving as a pretext. In addition, the
KRG would participate in negotiations, but not if Turkey
embarrasses Iraqi delegations. He said they also have public
opinion, not only Turkey, and they are not accustomed to
being threatened with thousands of troops. He noted that
Saddam Hussein had half a million troops and chemical
weapons, and that they did not bow to him. They also won't
bow to Turkey.

Possible new Iranian front if PKK chased out
--------------


10. (S) President Barzani noted also that if the PKK is
chased out of northern Iraq, Iran will open their gates to
the PKK and encourage alliances with Ansar al Sunna and
increase their support for terrorist activities. Barzani
said that we risk the possibility of opening up a major new
front, and given that Iran is killing American soldiers, do
we want them to gain a foothold in the KRG? The Ambassador
agreed that dealing with Iran is important, but would have to
be dealt with in the second phase of resolving the PKK
crisis. He also noted it would not be in the Kurds' interest
for Iran's new consulate in Erbil to be staffed with Quds
officers. Barzani countered that the KRG had warned the
Iranians about posting Quds force officers and said the U.S.
is welcome to arrest any Quds officers operating in the KRG.

Comment
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11. (C) President Barzani showed strong support for the
Strategic Partnership Agreement, and offered to help as
necessary to ensure its success. And although he is clearly
very pessimistic about Prime Minister Maliki,s capabilities
as a democratic leader, Barzani claims he,s committed to
national reconciliation. On the PKK, he bristled at the
threats and personal attacks that have emanated from Turkish
press and officials. He emphasized the need for Turkey to
engage respectfully with Kurdish leaders in order to
successfully shut down the PKK. End Comment.
CROCKER