SUNNI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE HAS MALIKI'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000095 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2017 TAGS: PGOV PTER ECON IZ SUBJECT: SUNNI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE HAS MALIKI'S SUPPORT Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel V. Speckhard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The Deputy Chief of Mission discussed the new security and economic plan with Deputy Prime Minister Salam Al-Zubai (Sunni - Tawafuq) on January 10. Dr. Al-Zubai said that the new strategy was a step in the right direction, and that he had the full confidence of Prime Minister al-Maliki to be the lead Iraqi official on services issues within the overall plan for Baghdad. The DCM described assistance available to help Dr. Al-Zubai tracking implementation of projects, and invited him to use the Joint Reconstruction Operation Center (JROC) as his own instrument to synchronize services projects with the security effort in Baghdad. Al-Zubai agreed to convene a joint Iraqi-U.S. working group the following day and to visit the JROC. End Summary. -------------- "I am supported by the PM" -------------- ¶2. (C) In a meeting with the DCM, the Director of the National Coordination Team (NCT) and Emboffs, the Deputy Prime Minister for Services emphasized his support from the Prime Minister. "He has said that I am in charge of services in the country, and I am also the Deputy Chair of the Ministerial Committee for Security". (Note: The PM's Chief of Staff, Dr. Tariq Abdullah, also told the DCM during a January 7 meeting that the Dr. Al-Zubai, a Sunni, was the lead on services in the context of the Baghdad security plan, and that he should be the first point of contact on this issue. Dr. Tariq stressed the Prime Minister's desire to ensure that Al-Zubai had serious work to accomplish in the context of the Baghdad security plan, and asked that we not perceive DPM Barham Salih as the lead on this component. End Note.) Dr. Al-Zubai noted that the United States deserved more credit for the reconstruction work it has already done. It is better to work with the United States on reconstruction and development, he said, than with 'other nations.' ¶3. (C) The DCM said that the JROC was a fully functioning operation s center for reconstruction to track projects, and invited Dr. Al-Zubai to visit the facility and use it. Dr. Al-Zubai welcomed this invitation, and suggested that they set up a working group to handle services projects related to the new security plan. He said he had engineers and consultants on his staff ready to do this work. Post is arranging Dr. Al-Zubai's visit to the JROC for January 11. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) Dr. Al-Zubai's statement about feeling supported by the Prime Minister is very unusual. Senior Sunni politicians have rarely, if ever, made similar statements to Embassy officials. It likely reflects the Prime Minister's desire to build cross-sectarian support and demonstrate his impartiality. Al-Zubai repeated his desire to work with the United States several times in the conversation. We will work closely with Dr. Al-Zubai in his capacity as the GOI's lead on services in the context of the new security and economic effort in Baghdad. The PM has told the Ambassador that Barham Salih will remain the leading GOI interlocutor on the economic elements of the joint economic transition plan, while Al-Zubai leads on services in the Baghdad Security Plan. KHALILZAD