(C) SUNNI POLITICAL BLOC (TAWAFUQ) SEEKS EMBASSY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000735 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2023 TAGS: PGOV PREF IZ SUBJECT: (C) SUNNI POLITICAL BLOC (TAWAFUQ) SEEKS EMBASSY MEDIATION IN TALKS WITH PRIME MINISTER Classified By: Political Counselor Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) & ( d) ¶1. (S) On March 8, a senior member of the Iraqi Islamic Party and Tawafuq Bloc, Parliament Member Dr. Alaa al-Mekki, presented poloff with a letter clarifying the bloc's demands in ongoing but stalled negotiations with the Prime Minister's office. In the letter's cover note, Mekki requests Embassy assistance to "help push the negotiations" toward successful conclusion. The text of the letter is at paragraph three. ¶2. (S) Comment. This is the first time the Tawafuq Bloc has chosen to share with us in writing its negotiating demands for a return to the Maliki government, despite numerous requests, and the first written request for USG mediation (a step we assess as inappropriate at this time). We agree with the Bloc's focus on improving the workings of the Executive Council and sharing decision-making on key issues among key leaders. That said, at first glance, the Tawafuq Bloc's demands have continued to shift over time, incorporating an ever-widening set of complicated issues such as the situation in Diyala province, the arrest of Adnan Dulaymi's security detail, and the induction into state security services of Concerned Local Citizens. These demands appear to us as overreach by Tawafuq, a weakened group whose track-record of accomplishments when earlier part of the government is thin. Such expansive demands may explain to some degree the frustration we hear expressed by PMO contacts, who claim that Tawafuq is concerned only with "powers and authorities," rather than shared responsibility for governance. For certain, such complaints from the PMO are self-serving, but not without some merit. In this light, the Embassy will press each side to continue negotiating in order to reach an acceptable middle ground that addresses shared responsibilities, including in the security realm. End comment. ¶3. (SBU) Text of Tawafuq Letter to Embassy: Begin text (unofficial translation by Embassy): Cover note addressed to Embassy Sunni watcher: I hereby send you the areas and the problems from the view of Tawafuq Front where the United States can interfere and help to push the negotiations with the government to more successful situation. With best regards, Dr. Alaa Mekki; August 8, ¶2008. In the name of God, Most Merciful and Compassionate, Urgent Demands: ¶A. Diyala - to remove the Chief of Police. - to reinstate 4,500 policemen and police officers. - to allow members of the popular committees to join the police and army. - to return the displaced persons. - to restore balance to the army and police. ¶B. To arrest the accused Hamid al-Heiss and Ali Hatim. ¶C. Give all members of the awakening councils the opportunity to join the armed forces. ¶D. Participation in governance and decision-making. - pledging in writing to adhere to the Executive Council's work plan document. - to issue the by-laws of the Council of Ministers (i.e., the Cabinet). - to consult with the Vice President on matters relating exclusively to Sunni Arabs (e.g., governorates, interests, jobs, etc),and not to take a decision without consultations with him. ¶E. To participate in the security dossier. - to review the security institutions and to establish the best possible balance in the ministries, departments, and committees. - the security decision-making at all levels should be by joint decision. ¶F. To close the issue of Dr. Adnan al-Dulaymi, his son, and his protective detail. ¶G. To change the commanders of regiments in Hay al-Adel and al-Yarmouk neighborhoods and the brigades in Abu Ghraib and Al-Mahmudiyah. ¶H. To replace the Minister of Defense with someone we select for this position. BAGHDAD 00000735 002 OF 002 End text. CROCKER