COR SPEAKER MAHMOUD MASHADANI: NO IRAQI SHOULD BE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001337

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: COR SPEAKER MAHMOUD MASHADANI: NO IRAQI SHOULD BE
A CARD IN ANYONE'S HAND


Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: On April 26, Council of Representatives (CoR)
Speaker Mashadani told the Ambassador that diplomatic
representation from Saudi Arabia is needed to bolster Arab
relations with Iraq and counteract Iran's growing influence.
Regarding the Sadrists, Mashadani shared with the Ambassador
that a parliamentary delegation, to include Sadrists, will
meet soon with the Executive Council to work towards a
resolution of the current conflict. He also conveyed that PM
Maliki and the Tawafuq bloc are making progress in
negotiating Tawafuq's return and specific ministerial
positions. Regarding the elections law, Mashadani agreed
that the version approved by the Council of Ministers (CoM)
would be the working draft. As for the hydrocarbons law,
Mashadani said he asked the Cabinet to give him a copy of its
working draft, and indicated he might not share it with Oil
and Gas Committee Chair Ali Belu (KAL),who he accused of
taking orders from KRG leaders Massoud and Nechirvan Barzani.
End summary.

IRAQ'S NEIGHBORS: SAUDI PRESENCE WANTED
--------------


2. (C) The Ambassador and Mashadani discussed Kuwait's
Neighbor's Conference (April 20-21) and the importance of
strengthening Saudi-Iraqi relations. Mashadani told the
Ambassador Iraq needs Saudi Arabia's presence to counteract
Iran's influence. The Ambassador encouraged Mashadani and
other Iraqis to establish contacts with the Saudis. In
response, Mashadani mentioned that one of his friends is part
of the "Saudi Shura," a consultative council, and would be
helpful. Mashadani declared: "Saudi should have a good
strong relationship with us." He added that the Saudis
should maintain good relations with Tawafuq bloc leader Adnan
Duleimi. Mashadani observed unhappily that the European
Union has a stronger presence in Iraq than other Arab
countries. "Arabs should not be absent from Iraq," he
lamented.

THE SADRISTS AND IRAN: A BOMB READY TO EXPLODE
-------------- --


3. (C) Mashadani told the Ambassador the Sadrists do not have
a clear agenda and complained that they had "burned down my
home," referring to one of his houses outside of the
International Zone. He called the Sadrist movement a "bomb
ready to explode," particularly if the "siege" in Sadr City
continues. Mashadani then expressed ire regarding the
Sadrist Trend's ties with Iran and militia groups such as
Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM). "No Iraqi should be a card in anyone's
hands," he stressed. Instead, all Iraqis should stand
against extremists and JAM. Mashadani then told the
Ambassador a delegation from the CoR of various bloc members,
to include Sadrists, will meet with the Executive Council to
negotiate a peaceful solution to the current conflict.

TAWAFUQ'S RETURN
--------------


4. (C) Regarding Tawafuq's return to the GOI, Mashadani
shared with the Ambassador that there is progress, but
conflict remains in negotiating the names of Tawafuq's
ministers to the cabinet. He also mentioned there is
dissension within Tawafuq regarding these decisions. "The
GOI is weak," he said, stressing the need for a united
government. He called for PM Maliki to sack his weak
ministers, highlighting the Minister of Defense Abdul Qadir
as an example, and reshuffle the cabinet. He predicted the
Sadrist bloc, Fadila, and Hewar would not rejoin the GOI and
would instead leave it "splintered." Mashadani, his mind
evidently wandering, then made some rambling comments about
the CoR needing to prepare a "shadow government" in the event
the current government coalition collapses.

ELECTIONS AND HYDROCARBONS LEGISLATION
--------------


5. (C) Mashadani and the Ambassador discussed the status of
the elections law in the CoR and its importance to Iraq's
long-term progress. When asked about the various drafts
floating about, Mashadani replied that he is focused on a
united agenda, not a divided one. He said the CoR would wait
for the CoM version (which was subsequently delivered to the
CoR on April 28). He confirmed that the CoM version would
become the CoR's working draft. "I always look for a
baseline from the executive branch," he stressed.


6. (C) Regarding hydrocarbons legislation, Mashadani said he
asked the GOI to send him the February 2007 draft, but
claimed the GOI had not yet sent it to him. He also added he
doesn't want to "leave it in the hands" of the CoR's Oil and

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Gas Committee Chair Ali Belu (KAL),who he blamed for
delaying the legislation. "He's taking orders from the
North," Mashadani claimed, referring to the Barzanis. In
response, the Ambassador shared with Mashadani that he
visited both KRG PM Nechirvan and President Massoud Barzani
in Irbil April 25-26, and that they may visit Baghdad soon
for a new round of talks on the hydrocarbons legislation.
BUTENIS