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

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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