NINEWA: ASSYRIAN MAYOR SAYS QARA QOSH IS SAFE AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002666 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2018 TAGS: PGOV KIRF PHUM KDEM IZ SUBJECT: NINEWA: ASSYRIAN MAYOR SAYS QARA QOSH IS SAFE AND SHOULD NOT JOIN KRG REF: BAGHDAD 2607 Classified By: Ninewa PRT Leader Alex Laskaris, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) This is a Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) message. Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Summary: Nisan Yousif, the Assyrian Christian mayor of Qara Qosh, in Hamdaniya district, described his town as safe and secure, yet also apathetic about upcoming provincial elections. With regard to the Article 140 process, Yousif expressed a personal preference that Qara Qosh remain part of Ninewa province and not join the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). He said that the people of his town should have the right to determine their own fate through referendum. End Summary. Security -------------- ¶2. (C) On July 28, PRT members met with Nisan Karroumi Yousif, mayor of the predominantly Assyrian Christian town of Qara Qosh, which lies 30 kilometers southeast of Mosul in Hamdaniya District. Yousif, whose office sits in the shadow of three large churches, discussed the local security situation, noting that since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 there have been no significant problems in the town and that the Christian residents have not been targeted. Article 140 -------------- ¶3. (C) With regard to the Article 140 process to resolve disputed internal boundaries, Yousif said that personally he thinks Qara Qosh should remain with Ninewa province. He does not see any material advantage in joining the KRG. Yousif opined that the KRG was only interested in expanding its territory rather than providing improved services to his town. In addition, Yousif said that since Qara Qosh had traditionally been part of Ninewa province, leaving would cause problems with the surrounding areas. Ultimately, Yousif said, that the people of Qara Qosh should be allowed to decide the fate of their town for themselves through a referendum. Voter Registration -------------- ¶4. (C) Yousif said voter registration in Qara Qosh had been slow thus far ) especially among IDPs. According to Yousif, there is confusion among IDPs regarding how to register to vote. (Note: According to Yousif, there are nearly 3,000 IDP families in Qara Qosh, most of whom are Christians from Baghdad, Basra, and Baquba. End note.) Most IDPs are under the impression that when they register as IDPs with the Ministry of Migration, they are also registering to vote, according to Yousif. Yousif went on to say that, in general, the residents of Qara Qosh are apathetic about the voter registration process and provincial elections because the last round had gained them so little in terms of improving their lives. ¶5. (C) Bio Note: Yousif is an Assyrian Christian and native of Qara Qosh. A lawyer by training, Yousif said he was asked to return to Qara Qosh from Baghdad by the local church council shortly after the fall of Saddam Hussein. According to Yousif, he was chosen to serve as mayor by a committee of political parties and community leaders on May 31, 2003. Yousif described himself as an independent. Yousif said he believes that the major problem facing Iraq is factionalism; people think of themselves as part of a sectarian group rather than as Iraqis. ¶6. (C) Comment: Yousif's opinions with regard to Article 140 differ from those of Christians in Bartala, who tell us that they would rather join the KRG. Affiliation with the KRG is the divisive existential issue within Ninewa,s minority communities, and we have found that people of goodwill genuinely differ on this question. End comment. CROCKER