ARAB LEAGUE TO SEND OBSERVERS TO MONITOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003513

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ EG
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE TO SEND OBSERVERS TO MONITOR
PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS; LOOKING TO ENGAGE IN OTHER WAYS

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).



1. (C) The Arab League (AL) plans to send 70-80 election
observers to Iraq for the January 2009 provincial elections,
according to newly arrived AL Ambassador Hani Al-Khallaf. In
a November 5 meeting with Ambassador Crocker, Al-Khallaf said
that Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has
told him that an invitation for the AL to send observers will
be issued shortly. Al-Khallaf noted that ensuring security
for the observers would be an issue and requested
Embassy/MNF-I assistance. Ambassador Crocker said the
presence of observers from other Arab countries would be
extremely valuable and would complement the presence of those
from the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. He said the U.S. will
encourage UNAMI to organize a meeting very shortly for all
diplomatic missions and organizations that intend to send
election observers in order to begin working on the specific
modalities for coordinating efforts, logistics and security.


2. (C) On the importance of Arab engagement with Iraq more
broadly, Ambassador Crocker congratulated Ambassador Khallaf
for filling a long-standing vacancy (Note: Khallaf's
predecessor, Ambassador Mokhtar Lemani, departed Baghdad in
2007 and, until Khallaf's arrival in August, the Arab League
had been represented in Baghdad only at the Charge level.
End Note.) His arrival -- along with the recent arrivals of
Ambassadors from the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait -- has
sent a positive signal of confidence in the future to Iraqis
and to others throughout the region. Ambassador Crocker said
that the AL and its constituent members could be especially
helpful in encouraging Iraq's myriad ethnic and political
factions to focus on national priorities rather than narrow
agendas. Arab representatives often can be more effective
than others and can offer "brotherly advice." Importantly,
strong Arab engagement can counterbalance Iranian efforts to
influence events in Iraq. Both Ambassadors agreed that the
nature of Iraqi politics, the non-Cabinet relationship
between the Council of Ministers and the Prime Minister, and
other factors present unique challenges in this regard.


3. (C) Finally, Ambassador Khallaf signaled interest in
helping bring those Iraqis currently outside the political
process into it. He argued that there are individuals within
certain groups who are willing to cooperate. We should, he
argued, work to find alternatives for them and suggested
sending some to universities "elsewhere in the free world."
Ambassador Crocker responded that the U.S. could be
supportive if individuals who truly want to cooperate can be
identified and separated from the others. In this context,
Ambassador Crocker noted that the GOI has its own mechanism
-- the Implementation and Follow On Committee for National
Reconciliation (IFCNR) -- and that the AL could look for ways
to assist with its work. In the end, Ambassador Crocker
noted, reconciliation among Iraq's various communities is the
basis of our strategy and essential for Iraq's future peace
and stability.
CROCKER