KIRKUK: SIXTH ANNUAL ARAB CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000706

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SUBJECT: KIRKUK: SIXTH ANNUAL ARAB CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON
ARTICLE 23 AND NEED FOR ARAB UNITY

THIS IS A PRT KIRKUK REPORTING CABLE.

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1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During the sixth annual Arab Conference in
Kirkuk, held March 14, speakers addressed the need for Arab
unity, and progress on Article 23, Article 140 and detainees.
The conference was notable for the unity of its speakers in
calling for support of the Article 23 process and the
renunciation of violence as a means of effecting political
change. The participants did not offer any specific
flexibility on disputes most important to the Kurds, but they
also mostly avoided antagonizing the situation. Settling the
most important issues in Kirkuk will be challenging, but this
conference at least did not make it more difficult. END
SUMMARY.

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THE PARTICIPANTS ) DRAWN FROM A WIDE SWATH OF THE ARABS OF
THE PROVINCE, PLUS A FEW TURKMEN AND KURDS
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2. (SBU) The sixth Annual Arab Conference in Kirkuk, held on
March 14, drew a crowd of over 200, including tribal sheikhs,
academics, and professionals from throughout the province.
The main theme of the conference was Article 23 of the
Provincial Election Law. Ahmed Obeidi hosted the event, to
which over 500 people were invited, including Kurds and
Turkmen. The most notable Arabs at the conference included
the following: Arab Unity Bloc Chairman Sheikh Hussein Ali
Salih (aka Abu Saddam); Deputy Governor Rakan Saeed
al-Juboori; Provincial Council (PC) Member Sheikh Abdullah
Sami Al-Assi; PC Member Mohammed Khalil; and Council of
Representatives and Article 23 Committee member Omar
al-Juboori. (NOTE: Members of Moqtada al-Sadr's party
refused to enter the conference center due to the presence of
a USG representative.) The only prominent Turkomen in
attendance was Kirkuk City Council Chairman Munir Burhan
al-Qafily, and the only prominent Kurd was the chief of the
National Security Council for Kirkuk, Nozad Barzinji, a
member of the KDP.

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SPEAKERS CALL IN UNISON FOR SUPPORT FOR ARTICLE 23 PROCESS
AND REJECTION OF VIOLENCE
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3. (SBU) Ahmed Obeidi declared that the conference would
focus on Article 23; he and every other speaker voiced
support for its implementation. Obeidi noted that the
responsibility to support the Article 23 Committee belongs to
members of every tribe and ethnic group, a sentiment echoed
by Deputy Governor Rakan. Omar Jaboori spoke extensively on
the importance of Article 23 and the need for those present
to support it. He sought assistance from Arab intellectuals,
sheikhs and tribal members in providing evidence to be used
to support the Committee's recommendations.


4. (SBU) Abu Saddam called for an end to violence and
exhorted those gathered to permit no further delays in the
implementation of Article 23. Abdullah Sami pleaded to
reject extremism and to refrain from inflammatory commentary.
Mohammed Khalil said the approaching deadline for the
Article 23 Committee's recommendations made support by those
present all the more important.

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CALLS FOR INTERETHNIC DIALOGUE BUT REPEATED REFERENCE TO
OBSTACLES CREATED BY THAT "OTHER GROUP" ) THE KURDS
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5. (SBU) Obeidi expressed the need for inter-ethnic dialogue
on Article 23 and other issues. The Deputy Governor
concurred, saying intra-ethnic discussion alone was
insufficient. He added that the Arabs are "open to dialogue,
but it depends on the other side." He alluded to alleged
Kurdish abuses by saying "things happen in the province that
QKurdish abuses by saying "things happen in the province that
are against the Constitution."


6. (SBU) Omar Juboori emphasized the intransigence of the
Kurds, saying that "some sides" have power now and are
finding it hard to cede their positions. By "obstructing"
the Article 23 process in this way, they may stop provincial
elections in Kirkuk from occurring. In addition, while
discussing the demographic aspect of Article 23 regarding the
review of voter registries, he said that "some seek to change
the ethnic identity of the province."


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7. (SBU) Abu Saddam alluded to the need for dialogue by
saying that the Kurds must come to realize how dangerous this
period is since "greedy neighbors" (i.e., Iran and Turkey)
would like to intrude into Kirkuk's affairs. He added how
the Kirkuki Arabs previously had declined offers of (armed)
help from Ramadi and Mosul against the Kurds. He added that
the interest of both the Arabs and Turkmen must be taken into
account if there was to be any lasting resolution to the key
issues.


8. (SBU) His focus was mostly, however, on the failure of the
Kurds to live up to the past promises. Foremost among these
was the December 2, 2007 agreement. He then recounted how
the impasse on that agreement eventually led to the enactment
of Article 23. The next promise allegedly broken was
President Talabani's agreement in December 2008 to implement
power-sharing within a month. Finally, he mentioned a
committee, which Massoud Barzani established during a meeting
with the Kirkuk Arabs in Erbil, which was to resolve issues
with the Arabs and which Abu Saddam said had achieved
nothing. In light of these examples, he believed the true
intention of the Kurds was to delay. He also cited
kidnappings, disappearances and land trespasses by the Kurds
since 2003.


9. (SBU) Mohammed Khalil echoed Abu Saddam's opinions on the
December 2, 2007 agreement, noting that had it been
implemented, Article 23 would not have been necessary and
provincial elections could have taken place already in
Kirkuk. He also raised the Kurds' resistance to transferring
the PC Chairmanship to the Turkomen as outlined in a letter
from the Article 23 Committee to the PC.

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THE NEED TO SET ASIDE TRIBAL ORIENTATION AND PARTICIPATE IN
THE POLITICAL PROCESS
--------------


10. (SBU) All the speakers addressed the need to put aside
tribal allegiances and partake in the political process. The
Deputy Governor noted that the improved security in the
province allowed greater participation in the political
process and exhorted those present to become involved. He
reminded them of how past Arab boycotts had only resulted in
the domination of provincial governmental institutions by
"other groups" (the Kurds). Omar Jaboori was encouraged to
see the healthy turn-out for the conference, calling it a
sign of increased political activism of the Arabs of the
province. Abu Saddam, Khalil, Sami and Omar Juboori all
called for the Arabs to put aside their tribal differences
and unite. Sami added that any discord among them would be
exploited by the "other side."

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OTHER ISSUES ) ARTICLE 140 AND DETAINEES
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11. (SBU) Speakers also were united in their opposition to
Kirkuk joining the KRG, with ONE explicitly stating that
Article 140 had expired. Abu Saddam mentioned in passing the
need to eliminate corruption and the protection of the rights
of minorities such as the Christians. The issue of detainees
was mentioned repeatedly, including by Sami who sought the
release of innocent detainees by the "occupation" forces
while avoiding releasing those against whom charges should be
brought. Speakers also demanded a release of those detained
by the Kurdish security forces and an accounting for those
who "disappeared" after being taken by such forces. Ahmed
Obeidi closed the conference by soliciting input in writing
regarding the issues which had been discussed.


12. (SBU) COMMENT. The calls for a united front supporting
Article 23 and rejecting violence were encouraging. While
QArticle 23 and rejecting violence were encouraging. While
those present did not reveal any concessions they might
eventually be willing to trade with the Kurds in
negotiations, they also mostly resisted rhetoric that would
make such compromises more difficult. End Comment.
BUTENIS