KRG VIEWS ON SOFA, MALIKI, KIRKUK, MOSLAWI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 003511

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM PTER MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: KRG VIEWS ON SOFA, MALIKI, KIRKUK, MOSLAWI
CHRISTIANS, PKK, AND PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA

Classified By: Deputy PolCouns John Fox: Reasons 1.4 (b and d)


1. (C) Summary: In a November 5 meeting, KRG Prime Minister
Nechirvan Barzani was critical of PM Maliki's "double game"
on the SOFA but believes Iraqi leaders will eventually sign
it. He told how KRG President Masoud Barzani disappointed
his Iranian hosts on his most recent visit to Tehran by
praising the agreement on live Iranian TV. Nechirvan said
there is little trust between Kurds and Arabs in Iraq, and
especially between Maliki and Masoud, which will make more
difficult both efforts to devise a compromise solution on
Kirkuk and plans to integrate Peshmerga and Iraqi Army (IA)
units. Nechirvan denied charges by some politicians that the
Kurds are responsible for attacks on Christians in Mosul, and
said the KRG will try to do a better job combating such
allegations. He said the KRG wants a broad relationship with
Turkey, not just talks on PKK. Masoud Barzani is scheduled
to return to Iraq November 11, the same day a delegation from
Turkish intelligence will arrive in Erbil. Nechirvan
welcomed the election of President-elect Obama, arguing that
Senator McCain would have continued the Administration's
policy of supporting a strong central government in Baghdad.
End summary.


2. (SBU) Senior Advisor for Northern Iraq Affairs Tom
Krajeski and Poloff traveled to Erbil November 4-5. Joined
by PRT Coordinator Lucy Tamlyn, they met with Prime Minister
Nechirvan Barzani of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG)
November 5 for a review of current issues. A separate event
on press freedom will be reported septel.

Resisting Iranian Pressure on the SOFA, Expecting Eventual
Agreement
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3. (C) Consistent with other KRG statements, Nechirvan
described the draft SOFA as "an honorable agreement, good for
Iraq," which in his view is better than the U.S. agreement
with South Korea or any other SOFA he knew of. He told the
story of KRG President Masoud Barzani's recent visit to Iran,
during which the Iranians sand-bagged Masoud with a live
press conference shortly after his arrival. Their
expectation was that Masoud would be asked about the SOFA and
would demur in advance of his official meetings in Tehran.
To the contrary, Masoud gave a hearty endorsement of the
SOFA, all of which was broadcast live to the consternation of
Iranian officials. In response, Iran cancelled a planned
Masoud meeting with Supreme Leader Khamenei, to which the
Kurds responded by cancelling a visit to Ayatollah Khomeini's
grave.


4. (C) Nechirvan was critical of PM Maliki's "double game"
throughout the SOFA negotiations, but he believes GOI leaders
will "in the end" sign on. Iraqi politicians realize, he
said, that Iraq is not strong enough militarily to do without
U.S. help. They also worry that failure to extend the UNSCR
or otherwise protect Iraqi financial assets from being
attached would be a disaster. He said the Iraqi Mission in
Rome can't open bank accounts for fear of having them seized
so must pay for everything in cash.

Solution for Kirkuk Made More Difficult by Lack of Trust
Between Kurds and Arabs
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5. (C) Compromise on Kirkuk will be essential, Nechirvan
said, so that "all feel like they have won." He said the KRG
would cooperate fully with the Article 23 committee
established in the Provincial Elections Law to help determine
Kirkuk's status since it is in the KRG's interest, but
highlighted the need for a consensus outcome. S/A Krajeski
flagged reports that land contracts to Arab farmers in Kirkuk
are being cancelled and advised that such actions, even if
implemented according to legal procedures, raise tensions and
should be put on hold. Nechirvan did not address the
specific issue (it is not clear whether he was aware of it),
but responded by saying that solutions to political disputes
are made more difficult by the lack of trust between Kurds
and Arabs. Kurds believe Arab Iraqis want to postpone
resolution of disputes until Baghdad is sufficiently strong
that they can disregard Kurdish claims, he said. "We could
postpone for three to six months, but we don't believe their
intention is to solve problems."

More Complaints about Baghdad
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6. (C) Nechirvan described the movement of Iraqi Army troops
into Khanaqin, that was uncoordinated with local Peshmerga
units, as "an alarm bell." After he encouraged Masoud to

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call PM Maliki and try to defuse the situation, Maliki would
not accept his calls. Nechirvan said his office had been
handling the communication back and forth and that he
declined to pass to Masoud a disrespectful message from
Maliki summoning Masoud to Baghdad. (Nechirvan said that if
he had passed on the message to Masoud, Masoud would have
just sent more Peshmerga to Diyala, which would have enflamed
the situation.) Nechirvan expressed regret that Khanaqin was
not handled better. The KRG is not opposed to having
Peshmerga units replaced with IA units, he said, but "we will
not accept being treated like that."

Defining Kurdish Loyalty in the ISF and to Iraq
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7. (C) In contrast to his criticism of GOI actions in
Khaneqin, Nechirvan praised the November 4-5 coordination
meetings involving MNF/I officials and LTG Riyad regarding
the ongoing operations in Mosul. S/A Krajeski said that, as
ISF competence increases, integration with Peshmerga should
proceed so that the army, including the officer corps,
represents all of Iraq. It is important that Kurdish
officers at least say they are loyal to Iraq. Nechirvan
responded with a long assessment of Kurdish feelings toward
Iraq. "We have a long way to go. Kurds and Arabs are
different nations, who have a tragic history of living
together. It's impossible for Kurds to be loyal (to Baghdad)
now. We have to try to build (that loyalty),but it can't be
achieved overnight or by slogans. You must understand. Not
this generation, but maybe the next." As he has in past
meetings, Nechirvan accused Maliki of seeking to reduce
Kurdish power ("cut us down to size") as he has done with
Sunni (AQI) and Shi'a (Sadrist) rivals.

Denying Kurdish Responsibility for Attacks on Christians in
Mosul
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8. (C) S/A Krajeski asked about recent attacks on Christians
in Mosul and the allegations that Kurdish officials were
involved. He noted the damage being done to the KRG's
reputation and called on KRG officials to work with the UN on
this. Nechirvan denied KRG involvement, saying "we are not
responsible" and "it is not in our interest to do such a
thing." He admitted that the KRG is losing the public
diplomacy battle and said he had prepared an article
rebutting the charges that will appear in the press over the
next day or so. He accused Maliki of seeking to politicize
the issue in order to raise tension. He said the KRG serves
as a safe haven for Christians and has provided humanitarian
assistance. In response to charges that Kurds perpetrated
the attacks, Nechirvan said that some ethnic Kurds are
members of terrorist groups like Ansar al-Islam and Ansar
al-Sunna and these persons might be involved. He said that
if the perpetrators of the attacks succeed in driving
Christians from Mosul, the Kurds will be the next target.

Kurds want Broad Relationship with Turkey, Not Just Talks on
PKK
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9. (C) Reviewing KRG contact with the Turkish government,
Nechirvan said there will be a visit to Erbil of a delegation
from Turkish Intelligence (MTI) November 11. While the
recent four-hour meeting between Masoud and Turkish envoy
Ozcelik was "very good," the Turks "misunderstand the
situation" if they think the KRG can turn the PKK on and off.
Ozcelik appears to think that KRG hospitals treat PKK
fighters, KRG trucks transport their weapons, and the KRG
provides assistance, according to Nechirvan. "None of these
things are true." Nechirvan said the Kurds had proposed
enhanced intelligence exchanges with Turkey but will not
engage the PKK militarily. S/A Krajeski said Ozcelik is
under pressure himself to show that these talks result in
increased counter-terrorism cooperation, which is in all of
our interests. Nechirvan responded by saying that KRG
officials understand the pressures of Turkish electoral
politics in favor of immediate results, but the Turks should
not talk to the KRG only about the PKK -- "that is not the
way to treat" Masoud.


10. (C) The KRG and Turkey need to build up trust, he said.
The Turkish media has decreased its attacks on Masoud, which
has been helpful. On the other hand, he said, Iran has been
providing the Turks with misinformation regarding KRG support
for the PKK, while establishing its own contacts with the
PKK. Nechirvan said that Masoud believes there must be a
political solution to the PKK, which includes actions by
Turkey to encourage PKK fighters to lay down their arms and
go home. The KRG would be willing to host political meetings

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if that would be useful. (Comment: Nechirvan added, in what
appeared to be a joke, that the KRG would even be willing to
tell the Iraqi Army where to find the PKK if they think they
are ready to fight the PKK, which clearly he thinks they are
not. End comment.)

KRG Trip to Washington, and the Offer to Host U.S. Troops
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11. (C) Masoud's visit to Washington received "a very warm
reception," according to Nechirvan. The KRG saw the trip as
an opportunity to say farewell and thank you to President
Bush. It also was an opportunity to "talk about new ideas"
with Washington officials, including exploring "different
views" with State on SOFA, the hydrocarbons law, and
Erbil-Baghdad relations. Nechirvan said that the Arab media
vigorously attacking Masoud for extending an offer to host
U.S. troops if SOFA negotiations fail, taking Masoud's
remarks out of context. Nechirvan said he would be
contacting journalists to clarify the remarks.

U.S. Election
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12. (C) S/A Krajeski asked Nechirvan for a reaction to the
U.S. election. After acknowledging that many Kurds hoped
McCain would win because they are grateful that the Bush
administration toppled Saddam, Nechirvan said he preferred
Obama, in part because he expected that McCain would continue
current U.S. policy of supporting a strong central government
in Baghdad. He also said he expects a decline in Iranian
hostility toward Iraq in an Obama administration.

Masoud's Whereabouts
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13. (C) According to Nechirvan, Masoud was in Paris November
5 and planned to go to Vienna after that for a routine
medical check-up. (Masoud has sought annual medical care in
Vienna since an unsuccessful assassination attempt against
him by Iraqi intelligence in 1979.) Masoud is scheduled to
return to Erbil November 11. Nechirvan, DPM Barham Salih,
and chief advisor Rosch Shaways will all travel to Baghdad in
advance of the 11th, which will help determine whether Masoud
stops in Baghdad before proceeding up north.


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