THE AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON ACTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000375

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ
SUBJECT: THE AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON ACTING
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ATTIYA

Classified by Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) Summary: During the Ambassdor's farewell call at the
Iraqi parliament, acting speaker Khalid Attiya expressed
pleasure over the success of the provincial elections,
regretted the continuing impasse over the parliamentary
speakership, but predicted progress on the budget, the
principal pending legislative item. Attiya observed that the
provincial elections had resonated at the national level and
thought the campaign for the late 2009 national elections had
"already started." End summary.


2. (C) Attiya expressed pleasure with the outcome of the
January 31 provincial elections, declaring them a "big
victory for the Iraqi people." Attiya regretted the
continuing impasse of the speakership in the parliament, but
"that's democracy," he mused. (Competing factions have been
deadlocked in efforts to choose a new Speaker since Mahmoud
Mashhadani was removed December 23 - septels). Attiya
expressed confidence "someone acceptable to all" would be
found in the near future.


3. (C) The Ambassador expressed concern that the speakership
vacancy was delaying parliamentary action on the GOI's
budget. Attiya expected parliament to act swiftly after the
speakership question is resolved. The controversial quota of
oil revenue provided to the autonomous Kurdish region,
currently set at 17 % of total petroleum revenues, "has been
resolved," Attiya asserted, implying that the 17% figure may
be adjusted following the results of a national census
planned for October.


4. (C) Responding to the Ambassador's question, Attiya opined
that the results of the January 31 provincial elections were
likely to have an impact on the balance of political
coalitions at the national level. Prime Minister Maliki's
State of Law list had made major gains, he continued, noting
that in provinces such as Basra, its 38% share of the vote
could translate into 50% or more of the seats in the
provincial council. With the results of the provincial
elections, "the campaign for the national elections (due in
late 2009) has already begun," Attiya underlined.


5. (C) Attiya asked whether the Obama administration was
likely to adjust the current timetable for withdrawal of U.S.
forces. The Ambassador underlined that the President was
well aware of the progress achieved in Iraq and would not
take any steps that might jeopardize it. Attiya expressed
satisfaction, observing that Iraqis were now finally
beginning to feel the progress achieved in recent years.


6. (C) "Iraq is back, internally and externally," the
Ambassador observed, praising the GOI's constructive role at
the recent Arab League Economic Summit in Kuwait. However,
not all governments in the region are pleased by Iraq's
democratic progress, the Ambassador added. Attiya agreed:
Iraq's experience will influence the whole region, he
asserted.


7. (C) Looking to the future, Attiya hoped the coming period
would be a time of rededication to implementing fully Iraq's
constitution. The near total absence of central government
representation within the Kurdistan Regional Government was
unnatural, he opined. Regions and Federalism should be able
to coexist. In any case, we know we cannot impose solutions,
they must be achieved through joint action and agreement, he
concluded.

CROCKER