Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10LONDON162
2010-01-25 14:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy London
Cable title:
DEMARCHE RESPONSE: HMG AGREES ELECTORAL LIST BAN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHLO #0162 0251440 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 251440Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4761 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 2794 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3046 RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 0733 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 3571 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0794 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0011 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0651 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 0623 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1504 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1319 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0836 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1536
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000162
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL IQ UK
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: HMG AGREES ELECTORAL LIST BAN
UNHELPFUL, BUT WON'T MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT
REF: A. A. SECSTATE 5980 B. B. BAGHDAD 147 Classified By: Political Counselor Robin Quinville, Reasons 1.4. (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000162
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL IQ UK
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: HMG AGREES ELECTORAL LIST BAN
UNHELPFUL, BUT WON'T MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT
REF: A. A. SECSTATE 5980 B. B. BAGHDAD 147 Classified By: Political Counselor Robin Quinville, Reasons 1.4. (b) and (d). 1. (C/NF) Post delivered the demarche contained in ref A to Michael Aron (DAS-equivalent) and John McKelvey of the Iraq Group at the Foreign Office January 12. Aron, who recently returned from a trip to Iraq, noted he had met Ba,athist politician Mukhlak, who had the most obvious interest in seeing the ban overturned. Iraqi National Accord leader Allawi seemed less concerned, and in fact had backed off an earlier threat to boycott the elections if Mukhlak were banned. According to Aron, the conventional wisdom in Baghdad is that Mukhlak,s candidacy is finished as a consequence, though he brought the situation on himself by being a "loud and proud" Ba,athist until very recently. Aron also asserted HMG believes Ahmed Chalabi is behind the ban, and does not enjoy the enthusiastic support of Prime Minister Maliki (though Maliki would never take a stand against banning Ba,athists). President Talabani, for his part, wrote to the chief justice to ask that appeals of the ban be heard in a timely fashion. As an aside, Talabani told Aron he knew the chief justice well, and knew he would be sympathetic to a fair appeals process. Talabani also issued an order that no action on the ban should be taken until after a decision was made on the appeals, hearings for which were set to begin January 23. The appeals will be concluded in time for those against whom the ban is lifted to participate in the election. 2. (C/NF) On strategy, Aron agreed that this is an important issue, but said the UK is more confident the Iraqis can work it out on their own, with some pushing behind the scenes. The only area of real disagreement is on making statements about the ban publicly. Aron believes the U.S. public approach has been "heavy handed and unhelpful" at times, so while HMG agrees on substance, it will not join us in speaking out publicly. EU Ambassadors met recently in Baghdad and adopted a similar approach. Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX ed_Kingdom SUSMAN
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL IQ UK
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: HMG AGREES ELECTORAL LIST BAN
UNHELPFUL, BUT WON'T MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT
REF: A. A. SECSTATE 5980 B. B. BAGHDAD 147 Classified By: Political Counselor Robin Quinville, Reasons 1.4. (b) and (d). 1. (C/NF) Post delivered the demarche contained in ref A to Michael Aron (DAS-equivalent) and John McKelvey of the Iraq Group at the Foreign Office January 12. Aron, who recently returned from a trip to Iraq, noted he had met Ba,athist politician Mukhlak, who had the most obvious interest in seeing the ban overturned. Iraqi National Accord leader Allawi seemed less concerned, and in fact had backed off an earlier threat to boycott the elections if Mukhlak were banned. According to Aron, the conventional wisdom in Baghdad is that Mukhlak,s candidacy is finished as a consequence, though he brought the situation on himself by being a "loud and proud" Ba,athist until very recently. Aron also asserted HMG believes Ahmed Chalabi is behind the ban, and does not enjoy the enthusiastic support of Prime Minister Maliki (though Maliki would never take a stand against banning Ba,athists). President Talabani, for his part, wrote to the chief justice to ask that appeals of the ban be heard in a timely fashion. As an aside, Talabani told Aron he knew the chief justice well, and knew he would be sympathetic to a fair appeals process. Talabani also issued an order that no action on the ban should be taken until after a decision was made on the appeals, hearings for which were set to begin January 23. The appeals will be concluded in time for those against whom the ban is lifted to participate in the election. 2. (C/NF) On strategy, Aron agreed that this is an important issue, but said the UK is more confident the Iraqis can work it out on their own, with some pushing behind the scenes. The only area of real disagreement is on making statements about the ban publicly. Aron believes the U.S. public approach has been "heavy handed and unhelpful" at times, so while HMG agrees on substance, it will not join us in speaking out publicly. EU Ambassadors met recently in Baghdad and adopted a similar approach. Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX ed_Kingdom SUSMAN