RRT ERBIL: LETTER FROM KRG PRESIDENT BARZANI TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000138 SIPDIS FOR NEA-I-POL E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR IZ SUBJECT: RRT ERBIL: LETTER FROM KRG PRESIDENT BARZANI TO PRESIDENT OBAMA Classified By: PRT Team Leader Lucy Tamlyn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) This is an Erbil Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) cable. ¶1. (SBU) RRT Erbil received the following letter from Kurdish Regional Government President Masoud Barzani for transmission to President Obama. Hard copy will be sent via courier service to NEA-I-POL. ¶2. (C)Begin text: President Barack Obama The White House Washington, D.C. United States of America Salahaddin Kurdistan Region, Iraq 12 January 2009 Dear President Obama, On behalf of the people of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and myself, I would like to once again wish you a Happy New Year and warmly congratulate you on becoming the President of the United States of America. I am writing this letter to you, Mr. President, to briefly outline the policy of the Kurdistan Region on several important issues in Iraq. The people of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq suffered immensely under the former Iraqi regimes. In 1980s, more than 180,000 Kurds disappeared (in italics) or were killed by the former regime of Saddam Hussein. Thousands of our villages were razed to the ground. Our people faced a well-documented genocide and this has been recognized by the Iraqi parliament, the Iraqi presidency and the Supreme Iraq Criminal Tribunal. In the new Iraq, we will do all we can to ensure that our people never again face such suffering. The political process in Iraq is moving forward and there have been many other positive developments in Iraq since ¶2003. Despite this, however, Iraq still faces many formidable challenges. Terrorism, sectarian violence, regional interference in Iraq and attempts to abandon the Iraqi Constitution are all sources of concern. We in the Kurdistan Region will always be part of the solution to these problems. We in the Kurdistan Region will be unwavering in our support for the democratic process in Iraq. We will remain part of the political process of an Iraq that is committed to democracy. We will resist any attempts to derail Iraq,s progress, to return to the dictatorship and authoritarianism of the past. We firmly believe that federalism is good for Iraq. Federalism will strengthen democracy and will help improve security in Iraq. We fully support the recent agreements signed between the United States and Iraq. We believe the agreements are in the interests of all the people of Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region and the United States. We believe that Iraq needs rapid economic development. Iraq,s economy is mainly dependent on its oil. Unfortunately, the federal government,s handling of the oil sector has not been promising so far. In order to rebuild and develop Iraqi infrastructure and economy, Iraq, oil production and exports must be increased. We in the Kurdistan Region can play a role. We have signed several oil contracts to increase oil production and exports. These contracts are in the interest of the people of Iraq. As a result of lack of clear oil policies from the federal government, the country is facing many economic challenges. Regarding the so called "disputed areas" (in italics, in original) including the status of Kirkuk, we believe that the Iraqi Constitution, through Article 140, has set out a clear roadmap for the peaceful resolution of the status of these areas. The status of these areas should be decided by a popular referendum. As an integral part of Iraq, we in the Qpopular referendum. As an integral part of Iraq, we in the Kurdistan Region will provide peace and security in these areas. These areas have suffered a lot of violence and terrorism due to a lack of security. We will ensure that they enjoy the same levels of peace, security and democracy that now exist in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. BAGHDAD 00000138 002 OF 002 Iraq is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. We believe in the rights of all ethnic and religious communities in the Kurdistan Region including those of Turkomens, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Muslims, Christians, Yezidis and others. The identity of every religious and ethnic community is respected in our Region. In fact, in the past few years, many members of these communities have fled violence and terrorism in other parts of Iraq to seek protection and refuge in the Kurdistan Region. In our draft constitution for the Kurdistan Region, we have ensured that religious, political and cultural rights of all ethnic and religious minorities in the Kurdistan Region are guaranteed. I seek your support, Mr. President, for our policies. We believe that our policies are in the interests of all the people of Iraq. Finally, Mr. President, I look forward to continued strong relations between the United States and Iraq ) including the Kurdistan Region. We consider ourselves allies of the United States and this alliance will only benefit security and stability in Iraq and in the wider Middle East. With warmest personal regards, Yours very sincerely, (Signed) Masoud Barzani President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq End text. CROCKER