VP ADEL AND ISCI CHAIR HAKIM: WE'LL TRY TO BROKER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002358 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR IZ IR SUBJECT: VP ADEL AND ISCI CHAIR HAKIM: WE'LL TRY TO BROKER ELECTION LAW DEAL REF: BAGHDAD 2315 (COMPROMISE ON ELECTIONS LAW) Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi told the Ambassador on July 24 that he and President Talabani had vetoed the recently-passed Provincial Election Law and that ISCI would work with the Kurdish Alliance and other CoR blocs to find a solution to the Kirkuk election issue. He said this effort will depend on three factors: unity within the Sunni camp with IIP in the lead; UIA unity, with ISCI placating Shia Turkomen concerns and urging Kurdish compromise; and isolation of Sadrists and others intent on playing a "confusing and disruptive" role. Negotiations have already resumed between the UIA and the Kurdish Alliance on the basis of their previous draft law which has since been modified to include suggestions offered by VP Tareq al-Hashemi, but Adel said UNAMI's draft language could also be acceptable. Stressing the importance of resolving the issue so that Iraq can move to important elections and maintain political momentum, the Ambassador urged Adel to reach out to CoR Speaker Mashadani and Sunni troublemaker Saleh al-Mutlaq. The meeting was joined by ailing ISCI Chair Abdul Aziz al-Hakim. Looking frail and speaking in a quavering voice, Hakim affirmed that ISCI would help resolve the Election Law impasse. He noted he had recently visited the Tikrit area (a visit unimaginable only a few months ago) to console the Sunni Governor of Salahaddin Province on the death of his son. Back from a third round of chemotherapy treatment in Tehran, Hakim said Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei had told him Tehran fully supports the Iraqi Government. End Summary. Election Law: Major Blocs Must Stand Up To "Extremists" -------------- ¶2. (C) Adel disclosed that he and Talabani had vetoed the Kirkuk-related article of the recently-passed Provincial Elections Law ("a shocking article that tries to take the place of Article 140"). He said fellow VP Hashemi had told him he agreed with the veto but saw no need to join. Stating that the major CoR blocs must now stand together against "extremists" and opportunists in order to remedy the bill, he identified three factors as vital to this effort: unity within the Sunni camp, best achieved through IIP leadership; UIA unity, with ISCI placating Shia Turkomen concerns and urging Kurdish compromise; and isolation of groups intent on playing a "confusing and disruptive" role such as the Sadrists and Dawa legislators loyal to former PM Jaffari. Adel said that negotiations have already resumed between the UIA and the Kurdish Alliance on the basis of their previous draft law which has since been modified to include suggestions offered by VP Hashemi, but he indicated that draft language proposed by UNAMI could also be acceptable. Rejecting claims by some Shia elements that ISCI is blindly loyal to the Kurds, Adel claimed that ISCI is "indifferent" to the Kirkuk election issue and will endeavor to broker an agreement acceptable to Kurds, Arabs, and Turkomen. ¶3. (C) Stressing the importance of timely provincial elections and the continuity of Iraq's reconciliation momentum, the Ambassador urged ISCI to continue its efforts to find common ground between blocs. He and Pol MinCouns suggested that IIP may be hesitant to take the lead in delivering the Sunni camp, and suggested that ISCI lobby Saleh al-Mutlaq and CoR Speaker Mashadani to play a constructive role in finding a solution acceptable to all major parties. Adel said ISCI was willing to talk to both, adding he had heard that Mutlaq loudly proclaimed to be a Ba'athist while casting his vote during the tumultuous June 22 CoR session that produced the Election Law. The Ambassador also encouraged ISCI to urge the Kurds to demonstrate flexibility as negotiations proceed. Adel said he and President Talabani had agreed to try to calm their respective groups and that Masood Barzani was set to arrive in Baghdad on July 25. When leaving the meeting, the Ambassador had a brief conversation with senior ISCI CoR member Jalaladdin al-Saghir, who had just returned from a full day of Election Law discussions with UIA and Kurdish representatives. Saghir remarked that talks were progressing well and that the UIA and Kurds both have a positive view of UNAMI's proposed language. Ailing Hakim on Domestic and Regional Travel -------------- ¶4. (C) The meeting was held at the ISCI compound, and ISCI Chair Abdul Aziz al-Hakim joined the meeting. Back from a third round of chemotherapy treatment in Tehran, Hakim looked frail and in a slightly quavering voice said that ISCI had already done a lot of work to deliver a compromise on the BAGHDAD 00002358 002 OF 002 Election Law and would continue to work toward this end. Pausing occasionally to cough loudly or hack phlegm into a wadded tissue, Hakim recounted his recent visit to the Tikrit area to console the Sunni Governor of Salah ad-Din Province on the death of his son (we note this sort of visit would have been unthinkable only a few months ago due to sectarian hostility). The ISCI leader recounted how he and his team had driven to Tikrit and called on the Governor at his home. There, Hakim met many notables from Salah ad-Din with whom he reportedly had a lively conversation. Hakim said it was so friendly that the Tikrit shaykhs insisted the ISCI leader stay for lunch. After lunch, Hakim recounted, he visited al-Aouja (where Saddam is buried). Vice President Adel raised an eyebrow and asked Hakim if he had called on Saddam's family too. Hakim brushed this off with a quick "no" but observed that he had met prominent families in al-Aouja as well and again had had good discussions. The Ambassador told Hakim that such visits were excellent ways of building confidence between the communities and praised Hakim's initiative. ¶5. (C) Hakim divulged that his son Amar, the current de facto day-to-day ISCI supremo, was now traveling to Egypt and Syria. The Ambassador expressed appreciation for these visits, noting that he had heard that Amar made a very favorable impression during a recent trip to Kuwait. Hakim said he had met Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei prior to leaving Iran, and was told that Tehran fully supports Iraq's government and people. Hakim avoided a direct reply to the Ambassador's question about Iran's current view on assistance to Iraqi militias. After the Ambassador briefed on his recent visit to Sadr City, where he saw encouraging signs of economic recovery that must now be enhanced by more GOI resources, Hakim responded that Iraqis are tired of conflict and now simply want to have normal lives. CROCKER