MALIKI ON USG-IRAQI BILATERAL AGREEMENTS, BASRAH

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004078

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2017
TAGS: IZ MARR MCAP MOPS PGOV PINS PNAT PTER
SUBJECT: MALIKI ON USG-IRAQI BILATERAL AGREEMENTS, BASRAH
SECURITY, PENDING LEGISLATION, AND CONTROLLING JAM SPECIAL
GROUPS

Classified By: Charge d' Affaires Patricia Butenis for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)


1. (S) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Maliki told the USCENTCOM
Commander, Admiral Fallon, that he was pleased with the
recently signed Declaration of Principles and blamed
negotiating delays on deliberations required by the Council
of Representatives (CoR). Concerning the transition of Basrah
to Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC),Maliki said it would be
ready by December 16, but he feared some continued violence
due to criminal, not political, elements. He similarly
described Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM) Special Groups as criminals
who only understood force. He said he intended to track down
and arrest them. He described the Justice and Accountability
Law and the 2008 Budget Authorization as ready for passage in
the CoR. He said prospects for passage of the hydrocarbon
and provincial powers laws were more problematic and blamed
Kurdish representatives for their delay. END SUMMARY.

Declaration of Principles
--------------


2. (S) During a December 10 meeting with USCENTCOM Commander
Fallon and Charge d'Affaires Butenis, Prime Minister Maliki
expressed satisfaction that the recently signed Declaration
of Principles (DoP) represented a clear roadmap for the long
term security relationship between the U.S. and Iraq. Maliki
said he was aware of the consternation within the U.S.
Embassy and in Washington about the perceived slowness of
negotiations prior to the signing, but he blamed much of the
delay on the extensive deliberations required by the Council
of Representatives (CoR). He added that the CoR would have to
be consulted during future negotiations concerning bilateral
security agreements. Maliki acknowledged that some
neighboring governments did not look favorably upon the
Declaration, but said he was working hard to convince them
they had nothing to fear from this U.S.-Iraqi relationship.
He also thanked Admiral Fallon for promoting a better
understanding about the Declaration during his recent travels
within the region.

Basrah PIC
--------------


3. (S) In response to a query from Admiral Fallon, PM Maliki
assessed Basrah as ready for Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC)
on December 16. He based this view on the recent
stabilization of the relationship between the Provincial
Governor and the central government and a public commitment
by local warring tribes to resolve their differences within
the rule of law. Maliki expressed concern, however, that
criminal elements would soon replace political groups as the
main security issue in the province. He said this type of
people only understood force which is why he intended to
maintain the deployed Iraqi Special Forces units at Basrah
airport.

Fighting JAM Special Groups
--------------


4. (S). Maliki also referred to the Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM)
special groups (SG) as common criminals who would be pursued
and prosecuted. He noted a positive new development, however;
moderate Sadrists were now renouncing the SG and providing
valuable intelligence about their criminal actions and
subsequent whereabouts. Maliki reiterated that the government
would judge JAM members by their respect for the rule of law
and not by their stated affiliations.

Legislation Delays
--------------


5. (S). Concerning pending legislation before the Council of
Representatives (CoR),Maliki said that all preliminary work
was complete on the Justice and Accountability Law
("De-Baathification Law") and next year's budget
authorization. All that was left, he said, was the vote
itself which he expected upon the CoR's return from its
December recess. He said that the hydrocarbon and provincial
powers laws would be more problematic; he blamed Kurdish
representatives for the delay. He added that the regional
Kurdish government's signing of oil contracts as particularly
unhelpful, especially since the Kurdish leadership had
previously agreed to sign no more contracts until after
passage of this national-level legislation. Maliki noted that
he had warned the Kurdish representatives that the GOI would
nullify any contract provisions which fell outside the law.

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BUTENIS