INFLUENTIAL SUNNI ARAB SHEIK HOSTS PRT AT HIS HOME

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000594 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR KDEM IZ SUBJECT: INFLUENTIAL SUNNI ARAB SHEIK HOSTS PRT AT HIS HOME OUTSIDE KIRKUK Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor John Fox for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) This is a PRT Kirkuk reporting cable. ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: At his country home on 24 February, Sheikh Abdullah Sami al-Assi hosted a diwan attended by the PRT and Sunni Arab tribal sheikhs and notables in the area. Among the main questions and concerns raised by the assembled Arabs were the future status of Kirkuk province, detentions, response to the drought in the immediate area, and development of the educational and health sectors. The Arabs present were pleased that US Government reps were willing to listen to their concerns. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On 24 February PRT Team Leader, Deputy Leader, IPAO, and representatives from UNAMI and Coalition Forces (CF) forces in the area visited the home of Sheikh Abdullah Sami al-Assi for a meeting with Sunni Arab tribal and social leaders from all over Kirkuk province. The home, a traditional Arab residence with a large meeting hall and courtyard, is located NE of Al-Taly,aa village, in the Rashad Sub-District of Kirkuk province. ¶3. (C) Sheikh Abdullah Sami is a Kirkuk Provincial Council (KPC) member and also a Sheikh of the Al-Assi tribe, part of the Al-Obeidi tribal confederation. While he is Sunni Arab, he has traditionally reached out to other ethnicities and helped broker deals between the different blocks on the KPC. He is widely liked by members of all blocs on the KPC and is seen as a moderate who is always willing to compromise. KPC Chairman Rizgar Ali (Kurd, PUK) will often choose Sheikh Abdullah to be a representative of the Arabs for visiting delegations. ¶4. (SBU) Attendees opened by asking about the transition to a new brigade, pleading for taking Arab sentiment into account when discussing the future of Kirkuk, complaining of the slowness of integrating Sahwaa members into the ISF, and expressing worry about the effects of the drought and a lack of educational and health services in Arab regions, specifically Daquq district. ¶5. (C) Sheikh Abdullah himself raised the issue of detentions. He referred to his role in a previous agreement to bring detainees held in Sulamaniyah back to the province, and said that he was worried that people were being kept in secret prisons, most likely in the KRG. While he had no problem with detentions in US facilities, he was worried that some were being held iQQo the DG for water. Development questions were also referred to the appropriate DG. ¶9. (SBU) In his closing remarks, Sheikh Abdullah Sami stated that the diwan had been worthwhile, and had been a good BAGHDAD 00000594 002 OF 002 chance for the PRT to meet the &social leaders8 of the area. He also stated that his close relationship with the PRT leader helped to make him a better leader for the area, and enhanced his status. ¶10. (C) COMMENT. This meeting allowed Sheikh Abdullah to exhibit his importance to local notables, and the USG, CF, and UNAMI to demonstrate concern about problems in the province. The meeting also helped strengthen relations with the Sunni Arab community. END COMMENT. BUTENIS