VP HASHIMI TO CODEL MARSHALL: WE ARE STRUGGLING,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000931 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ SUBJECT: VP HASHIMI TO CODEL MARSHALL: WE ARE STRUGGLING, BE PATIENT, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN Classified By: Political Counselor Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: VP Tariq al-Hashimi told CODEL Marshall (Jim Marshall, D-GA; Christopher Shays, R-CT; Ted Poe, R-TX; and Patrick Henry, R-NC) on March 22 Tawafuq did not participate in PM Maliki's National Reconciliation Conference (Tuesday, March 18) because "he did not receive an official notification on time." He noted the progress of the Anbar Awakening Council in transforming security in the Anbar province, but blamed PM Maliki and his staff for not doing more to support this effort. VP Hashimi's comments to the CODEL regarding the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) reflected his confusion regarding the intent of the agreements, and may be a signal that he is being shut out by other GOI leaders on this issue. Hashimi noted the ongoing problems with sectarianism, but offered no solution to resolve these differences. End summary. SUNNI BOYCOTT OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION CONFERENCE -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) VP Hashimi was extremely defensive when pressed by Rep. Jim Marshall regarding the Sunni boycott of the National Reconciliation Conference on Tuesday, March 19. He said, "Other blocs boycotted too." He added he did not receive official notification of the conference on time, claiming he learned about it from the television first. He told the CODEL the PMO is not genuinely interested in resolving differences, and highlighted the three Anfal capital sentences as an area where the PM and Presidency Council are in dispute. Marshall pressed back on VP Hashimi for all the political blocs to make a concerted effort towards national reconciliation. "If Iraq cannot reconcile, it will not fair well," said Rep. Marshall. He continued to assert that time is running out for the GOI leadership to reconcile their differences. AWAKENING COUNCILS -------------- ¶3. (C) CODEL Marshall and VP Hashimi talked about the success of the Anbar Awakening Council as an "historical initiative" that has successfully fought back against al-Qaeda. Hashimi noted that people in Anbar have changed their mentality since last year. However, Hashimi expressed concern that the Awakening program will collapse if not properly funded by the GOI and PM Maliki. Hashimi accused PM Maliki of only funding 10% of the Awakening Councils, leaving 100,000 members un-subsidized. He blamed these obstacles on Dr. Bassima al-Sa'edi, the head of the Implementation and Follow-up Committee for National Reconciliation (IFCNR). VP HASHIMI ON SOFA AND SFA -------------- ¶4. (C) Responding to questions regarding the SOFA and SFA, VP Hashimi said, "Tell me the bottom line before we start negotiations," after at first forgetting the name of the agreements. When Hashimi expressed concern regarding Iraq losing its sovereignty over the agreements, Rep. Marshall pressed back that the intent is to strengthen, not weaken, Iraqi's sovereignty. SECTARIANISM -------------- ¶5. (C) VP Hashimi told CODEL Marshall "I am for all Iraqis," even though he said there is still significant sectarianism in Iraq. He claimed his connection to the Shia community, however, is becoming bigger. He said it is not acceptable that all military and armed forces are essentially controlled by the Ministry of Interior, which he called "Shia Pro-Islamist." Regarding resolving sectarian differences, Hashimi said, "We are struggling, be patient, we are doing everything we can." ¶6. (SBU) CODEL Marshall did not have an opportunity to clear this cable before departing. CROCKER