PM TELLS AMBASSADOR THAT IRAQ WANTS STRONG RELATIONSHIP

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001248 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2029 TAGS: IZ PGOV PREL SUBJECT: PM TELLS AMBASSADOR THAT IRAQ WANTS STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH OBAMA ADMINISTRATION Classified by Ambassador Christopher R. Hill for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: In Ambassador Hill's initial official meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the PM stressed Iraq's desire to develop a strong strategic relationship with the Obama Administration, and to focus on implementing the Security and Strategic Framework Agreements. Maliki complained that many Iraqi politicians participate in government but act in opposition rather than as partners. He said this current political arrangement, in which positions are carefully allocated along ethnic and sectarian lines, was adversely affecting Iraq's interests and would be changed following national elections. The PM asked for U.S. support to remove Iraq from application of UN sanctions; the Ambassador replied by emphasizing that Iraq could help its own case if it took steps to improve its relations with Kuwait. Maliki also complained that Saudi Arabia continued to have "misconceptions" that the Iraqi government acts in a sectarian manner. Maliki said the GOI would participate in the UN's process to address disputed borders with the Kurds, but asked the U.S. to help the parties reach a just and fair solution. Finally, the PM expressed support for an early election date, stressing that the Iraqi Supreme Court had ruled that the election should take place on November 15. End Summary. Commitment to U.S.-Iraq Relationship -------------- ¶2. (S) Prime Minister Maliki began by welcoming the Ambassador to Iraq and noting that the Iraq dossier was difficult and would require careful attention. Maliki said his government wanted a good relationship with the Obama Administration, and that we should focus on implementing the Security Agreement (SA) and Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA). Maliki stressed that Iraq needs support and "understanding" from the U.S. for the challenges it faces. In particular, the PM said that while progress has been made on combating terrorism and militias, Iraq needs continuing intelligence support and that this was more important than additional equipment. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador assured the PM that as the U.S. military withdraws, U.S. interest in Iraq will remain strong. He stressed his desire for a strengthened economic and commercial relationship between Iraq and the U.S. Maliki agreed with this sentiment. He recalled his visit to the United Kingdom for an investment conference and said he hoped that a similar U.S.-Iraq investment conference could be arranged, either in Baghdad or Washington, noting that he had raised this possibility with President Obama. Shortcomings in Iraq's Current Political Arrangement -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) The PM acknowledged that the government has been criticized for failing to provide services and improving the economy. However, he stressed the challenges he faces in managing relations with other Iraqi political players. The problem, he noted, is that individuals who are supposed to be partners in government do not act in a constructive manner. Instead, they act as an opposition. He told the Ambassador that he would likely hear criticism (of the PM) and opposition from Iraqi politicians. This problem, said Maliki, is magnified in Parliament, and it is "having a negative effect on Iraq's interests." ¶5. (C) Maliki noted that the current political arrangement is based on a "special understanding" in which positions are allocated based on sectarian and ethnic considerations. This is not in line with the constitution, and after the upcoming Parliamentary elections, Maliki Qconstitution, and after the upcoming Parliamentary elections, Maliki said that they would do away with these special arrangements: the majority would rule and the others would go into opposition. His government was acting in a non-sectarian manner, but much of the Iraqi political scene is divided along sectarian and ethnic lines. In the upcoming election, Maliki predicted, this would change. ¶6. (C) The PM urged the Ambassador to see as many different people as he could. He asked that they have a regular weekly meeting as an opportunity to "discuss all the issues." Maliki Visit to Washington -------------- ¶7. (C) Maliki said he would like to visit Washington soon to see President Obama. He said he had wanted to do so for some time, but had been waiting for the Ambassador to be confirmed. When the Ambassador noted that he would be in Washington next week, the PM asked him to convey the GOI's desire to have a strong strategic relationship with the U.S. Maliki added that despite the noise from Iraq's "opposition," all of Iraq's political leaders want a strong relationship with the U.S Regional Relations -------------- ¶8. (C) The Ambassador noted that a rocket had been fired at the Embassy compound this week, that he could see from the shell where it had come from (most likely Iran),and that perhaps this was a welcome message. The PM told the Ambassador he was lucky it was only one shell -- at one point they had experienced 730 shells in the Green Zone in one month. Maliki also said that he knows where the rockets are coming from, BAGHDAD 00001248 002 OF 002 noting that these are "gifts from our friends to the east and west." He said this was a message to the U.S. and Iraq and that it underlined the need for us to remain partners. Maliki noted the Obama administration policy of dialogue, and said Iraq would work on its problems with both Syria and Iran. ¶9. (C) Regarding Iraq's relations with its neighbors, the PM said that most of the regional problems are related, specifically mentioning Syria, the Palestinian issue, Kuwait, and Iran. He said that solving the Palestinian problem would contribute to resolving other problems in the region. ¶10. (C) Maliki recalled that he had asked President Obama for assistance in getting UN sanctions against Iraq lifted. The Ambassador said the U.S. is committed to assisting IraqQs development, but pressed Maliki to take steps to improve Iraq's relations with Kuwait. Maliki replied that Iraq wants good relations with Kuwait and respects Kuwait's sovereignty. However, he stressed that Iraq would continue to need American assistance to find a solution to the sanctions issue. ¶11. (C) The PM said that relations with Saudi Arabia were more difficult, as the Saudis still "do not recognize Iraq." He recalled that his first trip as PM had been to Saudi Arabia and that he had conveyed his desire for good relations. Maliki said that the Saudis still have misconceptions that Iraq's government is sectarian, even though it has "proven" that it does not deal with issues along sectarian lines and has gone after militias and terrorists regardless of their sect. He contrasted the Saudis with Iran, which had opposed the U.S. presence from the beginning but had opened an embassy in Baghdad and engaged the GOI. ¶12. (C) On Turkey, Maliki said he would send an envoy to Ankara to ask about Muqtada al-Sadr's recent visit. He said he was perplexed by that event, and said Turkey had not notified the GOI ahead of time about this visit. However, Maliki stressed that relations with Turkey were good and that the GOI "cherishes" this relationship. National Election -------------- ¶13. (C) The Ambassador stressed that successful and timely Iraqi elections would be a high priority for the U.S. and are in Iraqis own interest. Maliki agreed, and commented that the Supreme Court had said elections should take place on November 15. Arab-Kurd Relations -------------- ¶14. (C) The Ambassador briefed the PM on his visit to the Kurdistan Region (KRG) and meeting with KRG President Massoud Barzani, including their discussion of the UN process relating to Disputed Internal Boundaries (DIBs). Maliki said that the GOI would participate in the UN process on DIBs, but said Iraq needs help from the U.S. to reach a just and fair solution. The PM emphasized the difficulty of this issue, noting that the "situation could explode." Educational Exchange -------------- ¶15. (C) The Ambassador concluded by raising our planned student educational exchange, in which Iraq's Minister of Education wants to prohibit female high school students from taking part in travel to the U.S. The Ambassador stressed that this was a non-starter for the U.S. and that discrimination against female students is unacceptable. The PM acknowledged the problem but was noncommittal, noting that this would be dealt with by the SFA's Educational and Cultural Committee. BUTENIS