Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAGHDAD905
2007-03-14 12:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
SUNNI VP HASHIMI PLANNING FOR HIS FIRST OFFICIAL
how-toVZCZCXRO5003 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #0905 0731225 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141225Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0190 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000905
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IR IZ
SUBJECT: SUNNI VP HASHIMI PLANNING FOR HIS FIRST OFFICIAL
VISIT TO IRAN
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel Speckhard per 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000905
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IR IZ
SUBJECT: SUNNI VP HASHIMI PLANNING FOR HIS FIRST OFFICIAL
VISIT TO IRAN
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel Speckhard per 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi
discussed with the Ambassador on March 9 his upcoming
official visit to Tehran. In preparation for his departure
on March 11, Hashimi asked for the Ambassador's input on what
to raise with his Iranian interlocutors. The Ambassador and
Hashimi also briefly discussed the latest news on a reformed
de-Ba'athification law and the Constitutional Review
Committee (CRC). Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP) Deputy Secretary
General Ayad Samarraie also attended the meeting. END
SUMMARY.
--------------
Samarraie Says PM Needs to Consult More
--------------
2. (C) Before turning to discussion of the visit, Samarraie
said the IIP would support the PM, but the PM needs to
discuss issues with the IIP and share policy-making
responsibilities. Samarraie characterized Maliki as having
sectarian behavior and said the PM often makes "wrong"
decisions. He noted that when the PM discussed the Baghdad
Security Plan with the IIP, the IIP supported the plan and
refrained from criticizing it, even when many IIP members'
houses were searched. He said that part of the problem is
that many of the PM's advisers have negative impressions of
the IIP. Samarraie concluded that the IIP would not support
the PM without cooperation from him.
--------------
First Official Visit to Iran
--------------
3. (C) Hashimi said he would be leaving on March 11 for his
first official visit to Iran and asked the Ambassador for
advice on what he would like Hashimi to discuss with his
interlocutors. The Ambassador said Washington is not opposed
to Iraq having political and economic ties to Iran. However,
the Ambassador continued, Iran is sending weapons and
supplies to support Jaysh al-Mahdi, the Badr Organization,
some smaller Shia groups, and some Sunni groups in western
Iraq, and the United States wants Iran to stop this support.
He said Washington also would like to see Iran control its
border and remove its Quds Force officers from its embassies
and consulates in Iraq.
4. (C) Hashimi noted the Ambassador's points and said he is
going to ask the Iranians about their policy on being a safe
haven for Iraqi militia leaders. He asked for Washington's
position on the Mujahideen al-Khalq (MEK). The Ambassador
replied that the MEK is an issue between Iraq and Iran,
although the U.S. would prefer to see its members resettled
elsewhere. Hashimi thought the Iranians would raise the
issue of their kidnapped diplomat. The Ambassador assured
the VP that the U.S. had nothing to do with the kidnapping.
-------------- --------------
Update on the De-Ba'athification Law, Constitutional Review
-------------- --------------
5. (C) Hashimi said he met with the IIP's lawyer and point
person for de-Ba'athification, Salim al-Jabbouri, earlier in
the day, and they had a few changes to make to the proposed
draft of the de-Ba'athification law. Hashimi said he would
meet with VP Mehdi the next day to continue working on the
law. The Ambassador said the PM had said he would support
the law that the Presidency Council agreed upon. Hashimi
noted that they still needed to work out how to make law 81,
which dealt with the property of former government officials,
consistent with the new de-Ba'athification law.
6. (C) Samarraie, who is one of two deputy chairmen of the
CRC, said Itilaf and Tawafuq are much closer on many issues
after the CRC's UN-sponsored travels in February. (Note:
Salim al-Jabbouri, another member of the CRC, told Poloffs
the same thing on March 7.) Samarraie said he thought the
major point of contention on the committee is going to be
about Article 140, which lays out how to determine the future
status of Kirkuk and other disputed territories through a
normalization process, census, and referendum. The
Ambassador suggested that the United Nations should get
involved, and Samarraie replied that the Iraqis probably
would seek U.S. help on this issue in the future.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IR IZ
SUBJECT: SUNNI VP HASHIMI PLANNING FOR HIS FIRST OFFICIAL
VISIT TO IRAN
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel Speckhard per 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi
discussed with the Ambassador on March 9 his upcoming
official visit to Tehran. In preparation for his departure
on March 11, Hashimi asked for the Ambassador's input on what
to raise with his Iranian interlocutors. The Ambassador and
Hashimi also briefly discussed the latest news on a reformed
de-Ba'athification law and the Constitutional Review
Committee (CRC). Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP) Deputy Secretary
General Ayad Samarraie also attended the meeting. END
SUMMARY.
--------------
Samarraie Says PM Needs to Consult More
--------------
2. (C) Before turning to discussion of the visit, Samarraie
said the IIP would support the PM, but the PM needs to
discuss issues with the IIP and share policy-making
responsibilities. Samarraie characterized Maliki as having
sectarian behavior and said the PM often makes "wrong"
decisions. He noted that when the PM discussed the Baghdad
Security Plan with the IIP, the IIP supported the plan and
refrained from criticizing it, even when many IIP members'
houses were searched. He said that part of the problem is
that many of the PM's advisers have negative impressions of
the IIP. Samarraie concluded that the IIP would not support
the PM without cooperation from him.
--------------
First Official Visit to Iran
--------------
3. (C) Hashimi said he would be leaving on March 11 for his
first official visit to Iran and asked the Ambassador for
advice on what he would like Hashimi to discuss with his
interlocutors. The Ambassador said Washington is not opposed
to Iraq having political and economic ties to Iran. However,
the Ambassador continued, Iran is sending weapons and
supplies to support Jaysh al-Mahdi, the Badr Organization,
some smaller Shia groups, and some Sunni groups in western
Iraq, and the United States wants Iran to stop this support.
He said Washington also would like to see Iran control its
border and remove its Quds Force officers from its embassies
and consulates in Iraq.
4. (C) Hashimi noted the Ambassador's points and said he is
going to ask the Iranians about their policy on being a safe
haven for Iraqi militia leaders. He asked for Washington's
position on the Mujahideen al-Khalq (MEK). The Ambassador
replied that the MEK is an issue between Iraq and Iran,
although the U.S. would prefer to see its members resettled
elsewhere. Hashimi thought the Iranians would raise the
issue of their kidnapped diplomat. The Ambassador assured
the VP that the U.S. had nothing to do with the kidnapping.
-------------- --------------
Update on the De-Ba'athification Law, Constitutional Review
-------------- --------------
5. (C) Hashimi said he met with the IIP's lawyer and point
person for de-Ba'athification, Salim al-Jabbouri, earlier in
the day, and they had a few changes to make to the proposed
draft of the de-Ba'athification law. Hashimi said he would
meet with VP Mehdi the next day to continue working on the
law. The Ambassador said the PM had said he would support
the law that the Presidency Council agreed upon. Hashimi
noted that they still needed to work out how to make law 81,
which dealt with the property of former government officials,
consistent with the new de-Ba'athification law.
6. (C) Samarraie, who is one of two deputy chairmen of the
CRC, said Itilaf and Tawafuq are much closer on many issues
after the CRC's UN-sponsored travels in February. (Note:
Salim al-Jabbouri, another member of the CRC, told Poloffs
the same thing on March 7.) Samarraie said he thought the
major point of contention on the committee is going to be
about Article 140, which lays out how to determine the future
status of Kirkuk and other disputed territories through a
normalization process, census, and referendum. The
Ambassador suggested that the United Nations should get
involved, and Samarraie replied that the Iraqis probably
would seek U.S. help on this issue in the future.
SPECKHARD