DPM SHAWAYS DISCUSSES ARAB-KURD, REGIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000269 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2020 TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL IZ SUBJECT: DPM SHAWAYS DISCUSSES ARAB-KURD, REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND PRESIDENCY COUNCIL ISSUES WITH A/S FELTMAN REF: BAGHDAD 234 Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gary A. Grappo for Reason s 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting on January 24, DPM Rosch Shaways told A/S Feltman that Arab-Kurd dialogue remains ongoing despite a realization on both sides that little progress will be made on resolving big issues before national elections. Shaways expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Combined Security Mechanisms (CSMs) in northern Iraq, but lamented that the United States was not taking a more active role in "commanding" the combined checkpoints and patrols. The DPM highlighted the replacement of DFI as an issue where Iraq needed assistance to help itself reintegrate into the world community. Shaways also expressed his opinion that the de-Ba'athification controversy would require a judicial decision and that the Presidency Council should continue in its current form, with three persons representing Iraq's major communities and veto authority over legislation. END SUMMARY. -------------- ARAB-KURD DIALOGUE STILL OPEN -------------- ¶2. (C) In his meeting with A/S Feltman, DPM Shaways said the dialogue on Arab-Kurd issues under the rubric of the UNAMI-led High-Level Task Force (HLTF) continued despite the fact that the HTLF had not yet met in 2010 and that all parties realized "no major steps" would be taken before the elections. It was important for the HLTF to "show continuity" by continuing to meet to discuss "modest Confidence Building Measures (CBMs)," he said. Shaways thought that there would be more opportunities for progress after the elections, but that work with UNAMI remained ongoing. Shaways said the HLTF suggested remedies for some disputed internal boundary (DIBs) areas, but that no response had been received from the GOI. He added that the mission of the Committee had been changed from one focusing on DIBs negotiations to one of confidence building measures. Asked about the possibility of an increase in Arab-Kurd tensions in the run-up to the elections, the DPM said extremists could try to create problems, but expressed confidence in the combined checkpoints and patrols. He lamented the fact that the U.S. military was not taking a greater role in "commanding" checkpoints and patrols in the Combined Security Areas (CSAs). Shaways said that UNAMI's reports on the DIBs areas were controversial, but had helped ease the situation in the north by clarifying the scope of the problems that needed to be addressed. -------------- -------------- ASSISTING IRAQI REINTEGRATION INTO WORLD COMMUNITY -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) A/S Feltman outlined the progress that had been made at the diplomatic Joint Coordinating Council (JCC) meeting held earlier in the day (reftel) and described United States efforts to encourage regional neighbors to reestablish diplomatic ties with the GOI. Shaways was thankful for American efforts and stressed that as the new head of the economic JCC, he was particularly concerned with finding a replacement mechanism for the DFI program, which requires annual re-authorization by the UNSC, as well as a solution for ensuring that Iraqi assets in the U.S. retain immunity from law suits. A/S Feltman reiterated that the United States shared exactly the same goals and was optimistic that the JCC process would help to find the solutions to those very issues. -------------- DE-BA'ATHIFICATION CONTROVERSY Q -------------- ¶4. (C) Shaways commented that there was a legitimate debate on the legitimacy of the Accountability and Justice Commission (AJC) and its authority to disqualify candidates from the election. However, Shaways thought the issue would have to be settled in the judiciary and that the approximately 500 disqualified candidates would have to appeal to that decision to the Cassation Chamber. A/S Feltman stated that the United States was fully supportive of Article 7 of the Iraqi Constitution prohibiting Ba'athists from political office and reiterated Vice President Biden's comments that the United States had no desire to see a return of Ba'athists to power in Iraq. At the same time, A/S Feltman stressed the fact that the vetting process needed to be seen as transparent and credible. -------------- FUTURE OF THE PRESIDENCY COUNCIL -------------- ¶5. (C) Shaways said he thought that the Presidency Council, as currently composed with three persons representing Sunnis, Shias and Kurds each holding veto authority, was a stabilizing force in Iraqi politics. The DPM thought that the current structure of the Council should be maintained, but that it would probably require a Constitutional amendment to do so. However, he thought that the prospects for such an amendment were low, mostly due to the fact that political factions were upset with VP Hashimi's use of the veto, in particular on the election law. Shaways commented that it was dangerous for one person alone to have a veto in Iraq and that there were some preliminary discussions on how a Federation Council might be structured to replace the Presidency Council in 2014. (COMMENT: Shaway's view on a single president with veto authority is similar to those expressed by others across the Kurdish political spectrum. END COMMENT.) ¶6. (U) This cable was cleared by the Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman. HILL