AYAD ALLAWI DISCUSSES RECENT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001922 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ SUBJECT: AYAD ALLAWI DISCUSSES RECENT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS REF: A) BAGHDAD 1186 B) BAGHDAD 1257 Classified By: Political Counselor Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) Summary: Former Prime Minister and Iraqiyya Bloc Leader Ayad Allawi played down rumors of a formal alliance with the Sadrists, Fadila, Iraqi National Dialogue Front (INDF),and Ibrahim Jafari's party in a June 22 meeting with PolCouns, but admitted that Iraqiyya coordinates on some common legislative issues with these parties in the Council of Representatives (CoR). Allawi said Iraqiyya is planning to run candidates in every province during the upcoming provincial elections, but is concerned with overall election supervision and transparency. Allawi was not optimistic about national reconciliation efforts and voiced familiar anti-Maliki comments. He stressed that a political rather than executive solution is needed regarding the disputed boundaries issues in Kirkuk and the Article 140 process. He touted his usual anti-Iranian line in discussing Iran's growing interference in Iraq's internal affairs. End Summary. ALLAWI DENIES ALLIANCE, FORMING HIS OWN COALITION -------------- -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) Allawi immediately played down reports that Iraqiyya has formed a "Salvation Front" with the Sadrists, former Prime Minister Ibrahim Jafari's party, Fadhila, and the INDF. He said this group only coordinates on issues (i.e. Kirkuk) in the CoR, when appropriate. He refused Iraqiyya joining any type of formal front or coalition with those particular groups, primarily because of problems with former Prime Minister Ibrahim Jafari. Outside the CoR, Iraqiyya is in the process of forming an alliance with civil society members, independents, unions (i.e. lawyer, teacher, oil workers),sheikhs, and Sawha tribal members as part of a separate coalition. PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS -------------- ¶3. (S/NF) Discussing provincial elections, Allawi shared that the Iraqiyya List is running in all provinces and is also forming coalitions with other parties. Allawi welcomed international supervision of the elections, noting that election "rigging" and transparency are his key concerns. Deputy Iraqiyya Bloc Leader Adnan Pachachi recently raised these concerns with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in a visit to the United States, he noted. Allawi referenced an "anti-incumbent" and "anti-sectarian" mood right now among the Iraqi people, highlighting his own party's secular base as an alternative. With evident frustration, he said Iran will try to influence the elections by funding various candidates. PM MALIKI AND NATIONAL RECONCILIATION -------------- ¶4. (S/NF) Allawi complained that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is not responding to the demands of the Iraqiyya List (INL),as well as those of the Sadrists and Tawafuq Bloc. Maliki is not accepting suggestions of new ministers from any of the blocs, as well as nominees for Directors General (DG) and Ambassadors. Allawi groused that PM Maliki still "considers him an outlaw," referring to unfair allegations from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) that he has ties with Jund al-Samma (Soldiers of Heaven) (ref A). Allawi said he is trying to build a constructive working relationship with PM Maliki, nevertheless, and sent him copies of his suggestions to the draft hydrocarbons law, which he also shared with the Ministry of Oil and the CoR. ARTICLE 140 AND KIRKUK -------------- ¶5. (S/NF) Regarding Article 140 and the disputed boundaries of Kirkuk, Allawi termed the situation "severe" and called for a political rather than executive (i.e. constitutional) solution. After PolCouns discussed UN efforts to broker a resolution, Allawi agreed that a political dialogue is needed. He noted the disputed boundary issues and election issues with Kirkuk "will not go away." IRAN AND ARAB NEIGHBORS -------------- ¶6. (S/NF) Allawi touted an anti-Iranian line, a theme he often raises in meetings with Emboffs (refs A and B). "Iran is a growing problem for the region," he emphasized. He spoke of his recent travels to Egypt, the UAE, and Lebanon, where he discussed with Arab leaders Iran's growing interference in Iraq's internal affairs. Allawi said BAGHDAD 00001922 002 OF 002 President Jalal Talabani asked him to meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but Allawi said he has little interest in doing so. Allawi stressed there should be no normalization of the Iraq-Iran relationship. CROCKER