AMAR AL-HAKIM ON SFA, AHMADINEJAD VISIT, AND

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 000664

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ
SUBJECT: AMAR AL-HAKIM ON SFA, AHMADINEJAD VISIT, AND
LEGISLATION

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



1. (S) Summary: In a March 4 meeting, ISCI heir apparent Amar
al-Hakim expressed support for the concept of a Strategic
Framework Agreement (SFA) as a broad expression of our shared
interests and vision. He said he and his father, ISCI
Chairman Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, frequently talk about the
importance of such an agreement in their public outreach.
Amar defended the veto cast by fellow ISCI official and GOI
Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi of the Provincial Powers Law
as a move to uphold the primacy of the Iraqi constitution.
He asserted that Adel's veto decision was akin to President
Bush's surge policy in that it was criticized at first but
later people came to see its wisdom. The Ambassador urged
rapid resolution of the issue so political momentum can
continue and Iraqis and the world can see progress. Amar
characterized Iranian President Ahmadinejad's visit as a
positive step in Iraq's relations with neighboring states,
and expressed hope that Arab neighbors will follow with
similar high-level visits. Amar complained of alleged
inaccurate and unfair reporting by the USG-funded al-Hurra
media network that he claimed has presented ISCI in a
negative light. End Summary.

SFA/SOFA
--------------


2. (S) The Ambassador and NSC Senior Director McGurk briefed
on the USG vision for upcoming SFA and SOFA negotiations,
noting that the SFA will define our bilateral diplomatic,
economic, political, cultural, and security relations and
that the SOFA is the enabling mechanism for the security
aspect. They emphasized that the USG has concluded a SOFA
with 80 countries and that we would add SOFA elements to
conform to Iraq's unique circumstances. McGurk said the
President had instructed the U.S. negotiating team to
conclude an agreement that would be supported broadly by all
communities in Iraq. He also noted the President's recent
trip to Arab capitals, during which Arab leaders had
expressed to him support for such an agreement. McGurk
acknowledged that misperceptions remain about the agreement
in Tehran and some Iraqi circles, but the U.S. affirms that
the agreement is solely about supporting Iraq, and consistent
with what Tehran claims to be our mutual interests here, such
as supporting the Iraqi government and its security forces.


3. (S) At all times glib and polished, the black-turbaned
Amar replied that Iraq sees the U.S. as a friend and partner
in its democratic experiment, and views the agreement as not
only a security pact but a broader expression of shared
interests. Iraq is fortunate to have a partner with the
strength and technological expertise of the U.S., he
continued, and we must move forward with transparency and a
common vision while keeping in mind regional considerations.
Amar said he and his father, Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, want all
Iraqis to be represented in the agreement process, and they
continue to talk to the Iraqi people about the importance of
the pact in their public outreach. Amar and McGurk agreed
that it is important to conclude the agreement during the
current administration, with Amar noting that new people less
familiar with Iraq might be coming in 2009.


VP Adel's Veto on Provincial Law
--------------


4. (S) The Ambassador raised the matter of Vice President
Adel's PPL veto, stressing the importance of restoring
momentum and a sense of seriousness of purpose as
demonstrated by the CoR's February 13 passage of the PPL and
two other items. He said U.S. opponents of the President's
Iraq policy were exploiting the veto as evidence that the
policy was not succeeding. The Ambassador reminded Amar that
Abdel Aziz al-Hakim had assured the President in a recent
phone conversation that he and Adel would find a solution
that is satisfactory to us. Amar stated that ISCI believes
the Iraqi constitution must be paramount and that government
authority should not be centralized, as stated in the
constitution. ISCI objections to the law were all grounded
in the constitution: since the law by its own terms does not
take effect until after the provincial elections, it is
important to take time to make sure the final law is
constitutionally correct. Amar predicted that Adel's veto
was akin to the President's surge policy in that it was
criticized at first but later people came to see its wisdom.
He said ISCI would work with the CoR leadership to come up
with a correct law. The Ambassador urged rapid resolution so
political momentum can continue and Iraqis and the world can
see progress.

Ahmadinejad Visit, Arab Neighbors

--------------


5. (S) Amar said the visit of Iranian President Ahmadinejad
was a positive step in developing good relations with a
neighboring Muslim state. He noted that Ahmadinejad's public
statements were somewhat moderate considering the source.
Lamenting that Iraq's Sunnis did not participate more
actively in the visit, Amar added that sectarian entrenchment
does not help Iraq and that ISCI seeks dialogue with all
groups to solve Iraq's problems. He hoped Ahmadinejad's
visit would send a message to Iraq's Arab neighbors that they
need to engage more with Iraq. Picking up on this point, the
Ambassador said he would likely visit neighboring Arab
capitals in the coming weeks and deliver the same message.
He spoke of the importance of visits to neighboring states by
people like Amar and VP Adel, noting that his contacts in
Kuwait had been highly impressed by Amar and his message
during Amar's visit to Kuwait last October. The Ambassador
expressed hope that, as a result of the Ahmadinejad visit,
Iran would deal in a positive, constructive manner with
Iraq's government and people, and stop assisting groups that
damage Iraq's stability and security. Amar said Iraqis want
all their neighbors to respect Iraq's sovereignty and not
intervene in Iraq's affairs.

You Censor Al-Hurra, I'll Censor Al-Furat
--------------


6. (S) Amar complained of MNF-I arrest of a senior employee
of the al-Furat broadcasting network, ISCI's media organ.
The Ambassador stated he was aware of the case and that
preliminary reports indicate the employee's involvement in
nefarious activity. Backing off a bit, Amar stated that ISCI
is concerned about the manner and circumstances of the
arrest, adding that ISCI had told the USG repeatedly that it
would deliver its employees for questioning by MNF-I if asked
through proper channels. Echoing complaints made in a
separate meeting by VP Adel (septel),Amar groused about
alleged inaccurate reporting by USG-funded al-Hurra network
that he claimed presented ISCI in a highly negative light.
He said his group "finds it very odd" that a USG-sponsored
news organizations repeatedly disseminates unfavorable
reports about ISCI. The Ambassador stated that while we have
no control over al-Hurra content or editorial views, we do
have an interest in accurate, objective journalism, and he
asked Amar to send us specific instances of perceived
inaccurate or unfair reporting for our review. He noted that
the USG often finds that it has been the subject of
inaccurate and negative reporting by the GOI-funded Iraqqiyah
news network and even by the ISCI-funded al-Furat, but such
is the reality of life. Unfazed, Amar retorted immediately
that the USG should also feel free to send him any instances
of alleged unfair or inaccurate al-Furat reporting, adding
with a wry grin that he is quite willing to intervene
directly with al-Furat's editorial board.
CROCKER