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
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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