TRAIN IRAQIS IN IRAQ, NOT ABROAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001295 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PINR IZ SUBJECT: TRAIN IRAQIS IN IRAQ, NOT ABROAD Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. ¶2. (C) For the second time since its latest legislative term began just a month ago, Iraq,s Council of Representatives (CoR) is in danger of not being able to muster a quorum in order to take care of important legislative business. The reason? More than thirty Iraqi parliamentarians are off attending a reconciliation conference in Helsinki when they should be working on the nuts and bolts of reconciliation here in Baghdad. (A previous jaunt earlier this year took a number of other key legislators to Tokyo for a similarly well-intended conference.) ¶3. (C) Post requests that the Department consider sending demarche instructions to all Coalition Partner and EU capitals to make two points. First, much as we and the GOI appreciate training opportunities for GOI officials and efforts to promote national reconciliation, as a matter of principle such efforts should be conducted in Iraq. The efflux of Iraqi leaders for training or conferences sends the wrong message to an Iraqi public that already feels alienated from the country,s political elite. For those states concerned about security, Post can help locate secure venues in Iraq as needed for worthy programs. Second, we should urge that under no circumstances should states host or support programs that pull members of the CoR away from Baghdad while the CoR is in session, or ministers away from their ministries. Iraqi lawmakers are needed in Iraq -- a point that the international community should reinforce at every opportunity. Post itself is reinforcing this principle by not allowing USG funding to send Iraqi lawmakers and other key officials for training out of the country while the CoR is in session. CROCKER