VZCZCXRO5059
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3623/01 3050806
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 010806Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4154
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0646

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003623 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2037 
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: PM ADVISOR ON ISTANBUL MINISTERIAL, UNSCR RENEWAL, 
STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP AND LEGISLATION 
 
REF: BAGHDAD 3607 
 
Classified By: Charge d,Affaires Patricia Butenis for Reasons 1.4 (b) a 
nd (d) 
 
¶1. (S) Summary:  Prime Minister,s Chief of Staff Dr. Tariq 
Abdullah took on board the necessity that the PM attend the 
Istanbul Neighbors, conference and said the PM had not 
decided whether to attend, at an October 30 meeting with 
Charge and POLMIL Minister-Counselor.  Passed a draft letter 
on the GOI request to renew United Nations Security Council 
resolution, Abdullah raised concerns at the timeframe 
required for GOI approval of the letter given the current 
political climate but promised to work together to get it 
done.  CDA pressed for a quick response on the Strategic 
Partnership Declaration (SPD) and for progress on key 
benchmark legislation.  End Summary. 
 
 
PM Must Attend Istanbul Ministerial; 
  PM Working Hard on PKK Issue 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) CDA urged Abdullah that the Prime Minister attend the 
Istanbul Neighbors, Conference.  Abdullah said the PM is 
interested in going, but if President Talabani goes, both do 
not need to attend.  He highlighted that the GOI hoped the 
PKK issue would not take over the conference.  Noting FM 
Zebari,s opinion that neither the PM nor the President would 
attend (septel), CDA said it was absolutely crucial that the 
PM be in Istanbul.  Abdullah conceded that he did not believe 
the PM had made a decision yet. 
 
¶3. (C) Abdullah also raised the concern that the PM be 
treated well.  The October 25 delegation complained of 
ill-treatment, Abdullah noted; we cannot guarantee a serious 
incident would not occur should the PM be treated similarly. 
POLMIL Minister-Counselor said the delegation,s willingness 
to go to Ankara was very positive; Iraq and Turkey should 
work together to solve the problem through diplomacy.  It 
keeps the temperature down and leads to solutions.  CDA said 
the U.S. would urge the importance of the PM being treated 
with respect. 
 
¶4. (C)  The GOI position against the PKK has been clear from 
the beginning, Abdullah said.  The PM calls the PKK a 
terrorist group, and we have closed PKK offices.  The PM is 
working hard to help Turkey overcome its problems, he said, 
and we are keen to preserve good relations with Turkey. 
 
 
UNSCR Renewal May Be Harder This Year 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (S) CDA passed to Abdullah an updated draft GOI letter to 
request renewal of relevant United Nations Security Council 
resolutions, noting it was based on what Iraq sent last year. 
 Abdullah asked if the renewal could be postponed or even 
extended one to two months.  POLMIL Minister Counselor said 
the resolution expires at the end of the year and normally 
renewals were for a period of one year.  We are starting now 
because it was important to get the job done well before the 
resolution expires. 
 
¶6. (S) Abdullah said he was not sure two months would be 
enough time to complete the process; two things are new this 
year that will make Iraqi approval more complicated: 
 
-- the Sadrists have left the Itelaf coalition and so will be 
more difficult to keep on board; 
 
-- the Council of Representatives (COR) has made a decision 
that it must approve it by vote. 
 
¶7. (S)  POLMIL Counselor noted the COR may recess at the end 
of the year and wondered if "COR approval" could be construed 
to mean consultations rather than a floor vote.  If the 
government were to seek a vote, it would be need to be 
confident it had sufficient support in advance.  CDA pointed 
out that if the resolution is allowed to expire, it would 
mean that, without a mandate, MNF-I and the Coalition would 
have no legal basis to remain in Iraq. 
 
¶8. (S)  Abdullah reassured that we will work together and get 
the request letter completed on time.  PM Advisor Rikabi will 
likely lead the GOI,s efforts, along with FM Zebari. 
 
 
Strategic Partnership Declaration Soon 
--------------------------------------- 
 
 
BAGHDAD 00003623  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶9. (S) CDA noted that the White House has given the highest 
priority to the Strategic Partnership Declaration  (SPD) and 
pressed for a response soonest, looking ahead to the likely 
Washington visit by the PM mid-month for a signing ceremony. 
Abdullah said National Security Advisor Mowafuq Rubaie is 
returning soon, and they would respond today or tomorrow. 
 
 
PM IS PUSHING BENCHMARK LEGISLATION 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (C) Asked about progress on key legislation such as 
de-Ba,athification and provincial powers, Abdullah responded 
that the PM had just held another meeting with Itelaf, where 
he reasserted his desire to see progress on these laws. 
Abdullah noted that the CoR approved the appointment of two 
technocrat ministers today (reftel). 
BUTENIS