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. BAGHDAD 00004078 002 OF 002 BUTENIS