Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAGHDAD2937
2008-09-11 12:41:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
SISTANI FEARS PROVINCIAL COUNCIL VALIDITY IN
how-toVZCZCXRO0617 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #2937 2551241 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 111241Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9363 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 002937
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/18
TAGS: PHUM PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: SISTANI FEARS PROVINCIAL COUNCIL VALIDITY IN
JEOPARDY WITHOUT ELECTIONS
Classified By: Senior Advisor Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4(a) and (d)
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 002937
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/18
TAGS: PHUM PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: SISTANI FEARS PROVINCIAL COUNCIL VALIDITY IN
JEOPARDY WITHOUT ELECTIONS
Classified By: Senior Advisor Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4(a) and (d)
1. (S/NF) Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani worries provincial
councils will lack legal standing without new elections by
end 2008, Senior Advisor Gordon Gray learned in a UNAMI
read-out of SRSG De Mistura's September 6 meeting with the
Najaf-based cleric. DSRSG Andrew Gilmour (protect),joined
by the UN interpreter who was present at the Najaf encounter,
told Gray and Deputy Political Counselor on September 10 that
Sistani wanted provincial elections to happen soon and under
an open list system. Sistani did not favor using the 2005
elections law, which stipulated closed party lists, because
that would lead to lower voter turn-out. Gilmour mentioned
that Sistani had probed de Mistura for background on party
positions in Baghdad with respect to the draft provincial
elections law. Gilmour found these apparent holes in
Sistani's knowledge of the Iraqi political landscape
peculiar, since UNAMI otherwise deemed the Ayatollah
well-informed, singling out his grasp of economic and
international affairs in particular.
2. (S/NF) Asked how Sistani viewed his encounters with De
Mistura, the UN interpreter replied that the Grand Ayatollah
clearly anticipated greater UNAMI engagement. Gilmour chimed
in that Sistani seemed to expect UNAMI leadership along the
lines of the 2005 elections, but with the evolution and
deepening of Iraqi capacity, UNAMI's role inevitably had had
to alter. During a meeting three months ago, Sistani had
raised human rights and humanitarian concerns and urged UNAMI
to be more vocal. Gilmour suggested that Sistani's abiding
respect for the first UN envoy, Sergio de Mello, continued to
inform the relationship with UNAMI. He suggested that
Sistani moreover was not immune to the stature accruing to
him from receiving the SRSG in Najaf.
3. (S/NF) With respect to SOFA negotiations, the Grand
Ayatollah reportedly offered no specific remarks but
commented that Iraqi sovereignty must always be respected.
CROCKER
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/18
TAGS: PHUM PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: SISTANI FEARS PROVINCIAL COUNCIL VALIDITY IN
JEOPARDY WITHOUT ELECTIONS
Classified By: Senior Advisor Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4(a) and (d)
1. (S/NF) Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani worries provincial
councils will lack legal standing without new elections by
end 2008, Senior Advisor Gordon Gray learned in a UNAMI
read-out of SRSG De Mistura's September 6 meeting with the
Najaf-based cleric. DSRSG Andrew Gilmour (protect),joined
by the UN interpreter who was present at the Najaf encounter,
told Gray and Deputy Political Counselor on September 10 that
Sistani wanted provincial elections to happen soon and under
an open list system. Sistani did not favor using the 2005
elections law, which stipulated closed party lists, because
that would lead to lower voter turn-out. Gilmour mentioned
that Sistani had probed de Mistura for background on party
positions in Baghdad with respect to the draft provincial
elections law. Gilmour found these apparent holes in
Sistani's knowledge of the Iraqi political landscape
peculiar, since UNAMI otherwise deemed the Ayatollah
well-informed, singling out his grasp of economic and
international affairs in particular.
2. (S/NF) Asked how Sistani viewed his encounters with De
Mistura, the UN interpreter replied that the Grand Ayatollah
clearly anticipated greater UNAMI engagement. Gilmour chimed
in that Sistani seemed to expect UNAMI leadership along the
lines of the 2005 elections, but with the evolution and
deepening of Iraqi capacity, UNAMI's role inevitably had had
to alter. During a meeting three months ago, Sistani had
raised human rights and humanitarian concerns and urged UNAMI
to be more vocal. Gilmour suggested that Sistani's abiding
respect for the first UN envoy, Sergio de Mello, continued to
inform the relationship with UNAMI. He suggested that
Sistani moreover was not immune to the stature accruing to
him from receiving the SRSG in Najaf.
3. (S/NF) With respect to SOFA negotiations, the Grand
Ayatollah reportedly offered no specific remarks but
commented that Iraqi sovereignty must always be respected.
CROCKER