KIRKUK: DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE HEARS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003269 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM IZ SUBJECT: KIRKUK: DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE HEARS ELECTIONS LAW SUPPORT FROM KIRKUK PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MEMBERS Classified By: PRT Leader Howard Keegan; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) THIS IS A PRT KIRKUK REPORTING CABLE. ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During Deputy Secretary Negroponte's October 4 visit to Kirkuk, local political leaders expressed support for the provincial elections law and denounced the removal of Article 50 that contained quotas for minority representation. They also demonstrated support for the committee that will be formed under Article 24 to make recommendations on the Kirkuk issue. Kurdish representatives qualified their support for the elections law by stating it must comply with the constitution, a reference to the Article 140 process to resolve disputed territories. Arab representatives expressed support for special status for Kirkuk. The Turkomen seek a framework where their security can be better guaranteed. All Iraqi participants agreed that Kirkuk is a "neglected" province that needs a larger budget and more projects. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, accompanied by Ambassador Crocker, Senior Advisor Krajeski and other USG officials, traveled to Kirkuk on October 4 to meet Kirkuk province,s Governor, Provincial Council (PC) Chairman, and representatives from each of the blocs on the Kirkuk PC. Deputy Secretary Negroponte praised the members of the Kirkuk PC for meeting together productively -- alluding to recently resolved boycotts by the Arab and Turkomen blocs. Ambassador Crocker encouraged Kirkuk,s leaders to work together on a solution for the province, stating that Kirkuk,s problems were not created overnight and they will not be solved overnight. The U.S. delegation emphasized the goal of establishing a democratic, federal, and unified Iraq. Both Deputy Secretary Negroponte and Ambassador Crocker asked the provincial leaders for their thoughts on how the improved security situation in the province is affecting economic development. -------------- Kurds Support a Constitutional Solution -------------- ¶3. (C) Kirkuk Governor Abdulrahman Mustafa, a Kurdish independent, stated that despite political differences between ethnicities, disagreements in Kirkuk have not led to violence. He called the description of Kirkuk as a "powder keg" patently false. Commenting on the passage of the Iraqi provincial elections law, Governor Mustafa called it "an important step for reconciliation." He did express disappointment that Article 50 of the elections law was deleted, stating: "minorities have a right to be represented." The Governor reinforced the Kurdish stance that the Iraqi constitution is capable of solving any problems related to Kirkuk. ¶4. (C) PC Chairman Rizgar Ali stated that the issue of Kirkuk should be solved legally through the Iraqi constitution. He asked the U.S. delegation to help prevent "non-Iraqis" from intervening in Iraqi affairs, presumably a reference to Ankara. Rizgar commented that the Iraqi government is not strong right now, describing it as "administrative chaos." In asking for U.S. assistance and partnership, Rizgar claimed that there are people working in the Iraqi government who do not want a strong Iraq. ¶5. (C) Mohammed Kamal of the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) and Ahmed Askari of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) represented the Kirkuk Brotherhood List (KBL),the Kurdish bloc on the Kirkuk PC. Both expressed support for the recently passed provincial elections law, and decried the removal of Article 50. Mohammed Kamal additionally voiced his support for the committee to be established under Article 24, saying the KBL will cooperate with the committee as long as it operates within the constitution. Ahmed Askari focused his attention on security, calling Kirkuk a secure city. He said that any introduction of additional troops into the city will "lead to disaster and will ignite discord between the ethnicities." Mohammed Kamal used Khanaqin as an example of what could happen if troops are introduced. -------------- Arabs Support Elections Law and Hope for Special Status -------------- ¶6. (C) Sheik Abdullah Sami al-Assi and Mohammed Khalil (both Arab Gathering List) represented the Arab bloc of the Kirkuk PC. Both Arab leaders expressed support for the provincial elections law and the committee to be established under Article 24. Mohammed Khalil stated that the Arabs will cooperate with the committee in all aspects of its work. BAGHDAD 00003269 002 OF 002 Sheik Abdullah said the Arabs believe Kirkuk must have a "special status" where the rights of all people are guaranteed. Mohammed Khalil expressed rhetorical agreement with the KBL on the need to abide by the constitution. He clarified this, however, by saying the Arabs support all articles without selection (presumably a reference to articles setting out central government powers) and commenting that the constitution is not perfect and may still be amended. -------------- Turkomen Focus on Security -------------- ¶7. (C) Hassan Toran and Zhala Nefitchi of the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) represented the Turkomen bloc of the Kirkuk PC. Both Turkomen representatives expressed support for the provincial elections law, and denounced the removal of Article 50. Hassan Toran stated that the Turkomen will cooperate with the committee to be established under Article 24, especially regarding joint administration and review of voter registration. Both Hassan and Zhala expressed concern over security issues in the province. Hassan Toran said that "Kirkuk is not a powder keg, but it isn,t rosy." He also called for the removal of "non-licensed security" in Kirkuk and stated that the leadership and makeup of security forces in the province needs to reflect joint administration. Zhala said that the reason security is better in the province is because the people have a history of social relations, in addition to the presence of Coalition Forces. -------------- Christians Want Rights Guaranteed for Minorities -------------- ¶8. (C) Sylvana Bouya, a member of the KBL, is the lone Chaldo-Assyrian Christian representative on the Kirkuk PC. Sylvana expressed support for the new provincial elections law. She stated that she was surprised and dismayed that Article 50 was deleted. Sylvana said that the rights of minorities must be guaranteed, and the Christians must not be marginalized. -------------- Kirkuk,s Economy is Improving but it,s Still Neglected -------------- ¶9. (C) In response to questions from Deputy Secretary Negroponte and Ambassador Crocker, only Governor Mustafa directly commented on how improving security is affecting Kirkuk,s economy. The Governor said economic activity improved this year but the increase was "not great," and is mostly limited to restoring infrastructure that was destroyed. Governor Mustafa also cited unemployment, saying Kirkuk needs increased investment to help create jobs. Mustafa, along with other PC members, referred to Kirkuk as a "neglected province" economically. All blocs asked for U.S. Government assistance in securing a larger budget from the GOI and help obtaining projects. ¶10. (C) DepSec staff has cleared this cable. CROCKER