DEMARCHE: IRAQI LEADERS AGREEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 120608 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2017 TAGS: PREL TU IZ AL XF SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: IRAQI LEADERS AGREEMENT REF: BAGHDAD 2877 Classified By: NEA DAS LAWRENCE BUTLER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Addressee posts, please see paragraph 3. BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶2. (C) At the conclusion of their meeting Sunday night, August 26, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, his two deputies Adel abd al-Mahdi and Tareq al-Hashimi, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani issued a communique announcing agreement on drafts of key legislation and mechanisms for shared decision making. While the leaders, agreement is unlikely to bring the Sunni Arab bloc back into government in the near-term, Sunni VP al-Hashimi was party to the agreement and stood with the other four stating that he remained an active member of the executive branch of government and joined fully in the agreement reached by the five. Al-Hashimi,s stance will expose him to criticism from his constituents. Verbal statements from Arab states and especially Iraq,s Sunni neighbors welcoming the outcome of the leaders, meeting will provide him useful political cover. ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶3. (U) Addressee posts are asked to approach host government officials at the earliest opportunity and highest appropriate level to request verbal public statements of support and appreciation for this newest Iraqi initiative. Both President Bush and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq have already made positive statements. In making their approach, addressee posts may wish to consider the following themes: -- The USG welcomes the recent agreement reached by Iraqi leaders on drafts of key legislation and mechanisms for shared decision making. VP Tariq al-Hashimi was party to the agreement, showing courage on his part, and he told the press that he remained an active member of the executive branch of government. -- Political reconciliation is an essential component of a peaceful, stable, and democratic Iraq. This agreement represents an important step in these leaders, commitment to work together for the benefit of all Iraqis and we will continue to support them in their efforts. -- We strongly encourage immediate public expressions of support for the leaders on their recent efforts. This is particularly significant for Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP) leader VP Tareq al-Hashimi who may face tough criticism. -- This latest cross-sectarian Iraqi agreement is a small but positive step. We must publicly support it if we want forward momentum to continue. REPORTING DEADLINE/POINT OF CONTACT -------------- ¶4. (U) Post should report results of efforts by cable before August 31. Please contact NEA/I/POL Deputy Director Michele Siders at (202) 647-7227 or via email for any necessary further background information or argumentation to meet our objectives. The President's statement is posted on www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/08/2007 0827-1.html RICE