SPEAKER PELOSI'S MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER MALIKI

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 001255 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2029 TAGS: PREL PGOV OVIP ECON IZ SUBJECT: SPEAKER PELOSI'S MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER MALIKI REF: BAGHDAD 441 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Patricia Butenis for reasons 1.4 (b) a nd (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (S) During a May 10 meeting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Prime Minister Maliki stressed that security in Iraq has improved significantly but emphasized the need to continue strong intelligence cooperation to help Iraq combat terrorism. Maliki said Iraq wants a close bilateral relationship with the United States based on implementation of the Strategic Framework Agreement, and cited a specific desire for cooperation on education, economics, trade and science. Maliki said the Iraqi government is committed to implementing the Status of Forces Agreement, and said he would support an early withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. The PM also asked for U.S. support to end UN sanctions against Iraq, and expressed his commitment to resolving American claims against the former regime. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, accompanied by Representative Rush Holt and Charge d'Affaires Butenis, met May 10, 2009 with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The Speaker began by expressing optimism over recent improvements in Iraq, and noted that Congress is working on a supplemental budget to fund U.S. operations in Iraq. The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the Speaker's visit, stressing U.S.-Iraqi success in combating terrorism, and his desire for a strong bilateral relationship. Enhancing the Bilateral Relationship -------------- ¶3. (S) Maliki said improvements in Iraq are sustainable and will not return to where they were before. He stressed that the security situation is much better although there are some isolated incidents. The PM said that Iraq no longer needs arms and aircraft. Instead, it needs intelligence information and cooperation from the U.S., and needs to build its own intelligence capacity. ¶4. (C) Regarding bilateral relations, Maliki said that this should be developed based on implementation of the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) and specifically cited the need for cooperation on education, economics, trade, and science. Maliki also asked for support in ending sanctions so that Iraq can focus on its development. Economic Development -------------- ¶5. (C) With an improved security situation and greater stability, Maliki said the Iraqi government (GOI) wants to focus attention on attracting companies, particularly oil and gas companies, to invest and develop the energy sector. Iraq needs to do this, he said, to satisfy its basic needs and bring prosperity to the Iraqi people. ¶6. (C) Responding to Rep. Holt's question on whether Iraq was ready for oil companies to operate in the absence of an agreement on revenue allocations, Maliki said that any contracts with international oil firms would be based on existing laws, which are sufficient. He noted that a bidding round was underway and would conclude next month. Maliki added that the constitution stipulates that oil and gas reserves are owned by the Iraqi people. (Note: Article 111 of the Iraqi Constitution states that "Oil and gas are owned by all the people of Iraq in all the regions and governorates." Article 112 requires the national government, producing governorates, and regional governments to collaborate regarding management of oil and gas wealth and fair distribution of revenues. End Note). SOFA, Corruption, and Cooperation -------------- ¶7. (S) Speaker Pelosi noted several concerns among members of Congress and the American people. First, Americans are QCongress and the American people. First, Americans are watching closely to ensure that the SOFA is implemented and that U.S. troops withdraw from Iraq in a cooperative manner between the USG and GOI. Second, the GOI needs to make a consistent effort to combat corruption. She drew attention to numerous reports issued by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR),and said that a failure to seriously address corruption hurts U.S. efforts to promote investment and provide support. Third, the U.S. wants to continue cooperation to combat terrorism and support intelligence cooperation. BAGHDAD 00001255 002 OF 003 ¶8. (S) Maliki noted his agreement with the Speaker's comments on the SOFA, stressing that he would support an early withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. He again stressed that Iraq needs to focus on developing its security and intelligence services to destroy al-Qa'ida and "lawless elements." Al-Qa'ida, he said, used to control large areas in Iraq. Now it is able to operate in limited areas and is on the run. Responding to a question from Rep. Holt, Maliki said that "sporadic" violence is coming from "remnants of the former regime and opponents of democracy," but that incidents were limited and would not affect Iraq's stability. However, he said that Iraq needs help to identify these elements, and needs U.S. expertise to enhance Iraqi services' capabilities. ¶9. (C) Concerning corruption, the PM said he had met with SIGIR and that he recognized this concern. However, he said that corruption has subsided, and that some of the criticisms made by SIGIR reflect the past, when security and politics were chaotic. Now, however, Maliki said that the situation has improved. Iraq, he said, is willing to cooperate to fight corruption. (Note: SIGIR met in March 2009 with the PM, Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, Deputy Prime Minister Rafi al-Issawi, and the President of Iraq's Board of Supreme Audit (BSA). PM Maliki referred to corruption at that time as "white terrorism," and the other Iraqi leaders each confirmed that corruption remains one the most pressing problems facing Iraq today. (reftel)). Elections & Disputed Internal Boundaries -------------- ¶10. (C) Responding to Rep. Holt's question regarding elections, PM Maliki said that Kurdish regional elections would take place in July and that national elections should take place by the end of the year. Maliki noted that the date was undecided for national elections, and that it would either be November 15 or January 31. ¶11. (C) On the UN process relating to Disputed Internal Boundaries (DIBs),Maliki said that he was ready to have a dialogue with the Kurds and that efforts began last week. He said UN efforts have been helpful in promoting KRG-GOI dialogue, but that this issue was an "internal family affair" with no need for international involvement. Claims & Sanctions -------------- ¶12. (C) Maliki noted that the U.S. and Iraq have established a joint committee to deal with claims from U.S. citizens. He said the GOI wants to find a solution, and underlined Iraq's desire to cooperate. He noted that Iraq is willing to set aside funds to settle claims but needs USG assistance to protect its assets. ¶13. (C) Regarding U.S. claims against Iraqi assets, Speaker Pelosi stressed the need for Iraq to address the American claims. The PM replied that Iraq has a team meeting with its U.S. counterparts and wants to resolve the issue. The U.S.-Libya experience, he said, could provide a good model. However, he noted that some claims are real and some are not. For example, Maliki said that there are claims against Iraq for 9/11 and the Oklahoma City bombing, which had nothing to do with Iraq. Therefore, Maliki stressed the need for protection of Iraqi assets while they work on settling claims. (Note: The bilateral negotiations Maliki referenced are scheduled to occur in Washington in early June and will be led by Acting Legal Advisor Joan Donoghue and Maliki's legal advisor Dr. Fadel Kadhum. Talks leading up to these negotiations have stressed Iraq's need to confront these claims and have focused on the benefits of government-to-government resolution, which would allow Iraq Qgovernment-to-government resolution, which would allow Iraq to avoid direct claimant settlements. End Note). ¶14. (C) Maliki also noted that the GOI needs U.S. help in dealing with UN sanctions relating to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. He said the GOI is willing to talk to the Kuwaitis but that it is very hard to address some of the core issues, including property stolen by the Iraqi Army during the occupation and missing persons. Maliki also complained about the 5% of Iraqi oil revenue that goes to Kuwait. Visit to Washington -------------- ¶15. (C) At the conclusion of the meeting, as Speaker Pelosi was preparing to depart, PM Maliki mentioned that he wishes to visit Washington soon, and noted that he had conveyed this request to the Ambassador (septel). ¶16. (SBU) CODEL Pelosi did not have the opportunity to clear this message. BAGHDAD 00001255 003 OF 003 BUTENIS