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.

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Kurds Support a Constitutional Solution
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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.

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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.

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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.

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Turkomen Focus on Security
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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.

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Christians Want Rights Guaranteed for Minorities
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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.

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Kirkuk,s Economy is Improving but it,s Still Neglected
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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