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
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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
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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
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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