KRG PRESIDENCY COUNCIL'S REP ON ARTICLE 140: WE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003909

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER IZ
SUBJECT: KRG PRESIDENCY COUNCIL'S REP ON ARTICLE 140: WE
WANT UN INVOLVEMENT

REF: A. BAGHDAD 3828

B. BAGHDAD 3682 (EXDIS) AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Classified By Deputy Polcouns Greg D'Elia for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d).

This is an Erbil Regional Reconstruction Team message.


1. (C) In a November 26 meeting with RRTOffs, Kadir Aziz, KRG
Presidency Council Representative for Article 140 and
Toiler's Party Secretary General, and Sahd Emin, KRG Minister
of Region for Parliament Affairs, expressed strong interest
in the United Nations assuming a role in the Article 140
process. Specifically, Aziz said the UN should engage in
defining the district boundaries and provide technical
assistance for the referendum. Aziz said he had spoken with
incoming SRSG Staffan di Mistura and encouraged him to
determine the UN role in Article 140 by year's end. He added
that the GOI must ask the UN for assistance with Article 140,
and underscored that the Iraqi constitution provides for the
UN to assume a role if the Presidency Council cannot agree on
a way forward.


2. (C) Aziz also asked the U.S. to pressure PM Maliki to
complete the Article 140 process. He said the U.S. must not
simply stand aside and let events run their course. He was
concerned that if the situation was not resolved quickly, the
GOI will fail to demonstrate the political will to resolve
disputes over Kirkuk, and Iraqi unity may crumble.


3. (C) Aziz called PM Maliki an "obstacle" to the Article 140
process, and said he did not trust the PM to support the work
of the High Committee on Article 140. He noted the Kurdish
population was not satisfied, and lacked confidence in the
abilities of the Iraqi government, the PUK, and the KDP to
deliver the referendum. Aziz said he believed the Kurdish
population would accept an extension of the Article 140
committee work, if the extension is perceived as technical,
and not political. Aziz agreed with RRTOffs on the
importance of preparing the Kurdish population for the
inevitable delay in the process.


4. (C) Comment: Aziz's push for UN involvement may be in
part the result of the Kurdish feeling that Maliki's
government cannot be trusted to implement Article 140. The
UN seems increasingly perceived by the Kurds as the viable
last resort to resolve, peacefully, the Kirkuk question.
Aziz agreement on the importance of preparing the Kurdish
population for an "extension" of the Article 140 process is a
step in the right direction. We will continue our push to
have KRG officials announce an Article 140 extension. End
Comment.
BUTENIS