AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON DPM ESSAWI

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000382 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2024 TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON IZ SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON DPM ESSAWI Classified By: Ambassador Ryan J. Crocker for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Deputy Prime Minister Rafi Essawi told the Ambassador that he was working with Osama al-Najafi to defuse lingering election-related tensions in Ninewa Province and help the winning parties in Anbar province form a power-sharing agreement. The DPM plans to travel to the KRG to discuss ways forward in Ninewa with Kurdish leaders. DPM Essawi also noted that the Hewar (Khalaf al Alayan's National Dialogue Council, not the National Front for Dialogue bloc) does not have a "Plan B" in the race for Speaker of the Council of Representatives should IIP not insist on its candidate's right to the job. End summary. ¶2. (C) At his farewell call on Deputy Prime Minister Rafi Essawi, February 12, the Ambassador noted that the recent provincial level elections were a victory for the Iraqi people based on the security around the elections, the way they were conducted, and in the Iraqi people's acceptance of the outcomes. The Ambassador also thanked DPM Essawi for his "huge role" in resolving the tensions in Anbar. Working with Sunni Arab Provinces -------------- ¶3. (C) DPM Essawi said that after the elections, he had invited Ninewa province Al Hadba party leader Osama al-Najaifi to his house and told him that there is a difference between "winning an election and governing." The DPM said that he told Osama: "You have criticized others' governing (in Ninewa) in the past; you need to be prepared for criticism now." DPM Essawi warned that Iraq needs to avoid a situation where "we went from fighting AQI to fighting between Arabs and Kurds (in Ninewa)." "I plan to go to the KRG to meet with them regarding the outcomes of the election and their plans to govern. I advised Osama to bring in a KDP partner to help be a more effective government," he added. ¶4. (C) According to the DPM, the real challenge for these new local governments is budget execution. "The message from these elections is that they (the Provincial Councils) need to function, or they will be replaced. They were elected based on their criticism of those in power for not governing effectively," he said. He added that he had warned Osama that failure for his party to govern effectively on a local level would impact its chances going into the nation-wide elections later this year. ¶5. (C) Regarding Anbar province, DPM Essawi said that he had spoken with Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha (Sahwa),who is considering forming an alliance in the Anbar Provincial Council between the tribes and the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP)/Tawafuq. "I have told them that power-sharing and teamwork is good," he said, "and Tawafuq, Saleh al-Mutlaq (INPG) and Ahmed Abu Risha agree." The DPM said he has advised them to form a "Ramadian alliance" with a distribution of offices "according to their power, according to their seats in the PC." Putting the majority of winners into one group and one administration would avoid differing power blocs playing off one another with the Central Government, as has happened in the past, he added. ¶6. (C) Describing his efforts as "bringing everyone together," DPM Essawi said that the Anbar problem would be take a matter of two to three weeks to resolve. The first issue needing to be decided is the governorship, as current Anbar Governor Ma'amoun "considers himself governor for life!" he added. CoR Speaker Debate: No Plan B -------------- ¶7. (C) The Ambassador encouraged the DPM to help the Sunni Arab parties resolve the continuing problems caused by the Qlack of agreement on who should be the new speaker at the Council of Representatives (CoR). The CoR needs a leadership that is capable of thinking long term as it has a lot of authority, both financial and oversight, but it has not yet developed to the point where it is capable of fully using this authority, he said. ¶8. (C) The DPM agreed that the CoR is "not participating in governance" and that whoever is elected speaker needs to be someone who can build the institution. He noted that "it is difficult for the Parliament to decide things quickly." DPM Essawi said he had asked Hewar (NDC) what their "Plan B" is if the IIP does not insist on its right to have their candidate (currently Ayad Samaraie) selected as speaker. They responded with a list of three to four names. "This was not helpful, it is not a Plan B," he said. At the top of their list was Khalil Jaddu' (NDC),but the Kurds are "very opposed to him." Jaddu' has not been a regular participant the CoR as "he spends too much time in Syria with his second wife," he added. The Minister of Higher Education noted that Jaddu' also, apparently, has serious health problems. "We will miss you, Mr. Ambassador." -------------- ¶9. (C) DPM Essawi expressed deeply felt thanks to the Ambassador for his "service to all Iraqis," saying, "We will miss you, Mr. Ambassador." "The Ambassador has been an excellent friend who never favored one group over another. This has left a deep impression on all Iraqis," he said. CROCKER