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O 011917Z FEB 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE

S E C R E T STATE 010037 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2020 
TAGS: OVIP CLINTON HILLARY IZ PREL PGOV EPET
SUBJECT: (U) Secretary Clinton's January 26, 2010 conversation 
with Kurdistan Regional Government President (KRG) Masoud 
Barzani 
 
¶1.      Classified By: by A/S Jeffrey Feltman Reasons: 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
¶2.      (U) January 26, 2010; 1600; Washington, D.C., USA. 
 
¶3.      (C) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
The Secretary 
NEA PDAS Ronald Schlicher 
PA A/S P.J. Crowley 
US EMB Senior Advisor Alan Misenheimer 
S/CIEA David Goldwyn 
S Jake Sullivan 
NEA Senior Advisor Elissa Slotkin 
Ahmed Ferhadi (USG Interpreter) 
Andrew Kim (NEA Notetaker) 
 
IRAQ 
Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani 
Ambassador Samir Sumaidaie 
Special Envoy Nechirvan Barzani 
Fuad Hussein 
Minister Ashti Hawrami 
Minister Falah Bakir (Interpreter) 
Chairman Herish Muharam 
Qubad Talabani (Notetaker) 
 
 
¶4.      (S/NF) SUMMARY:  Secretary Clinton and KRG President 
Masoud Barzani discussed during their January 26 meeting the 
strong relationship between the United States and the KRG and 
agreed on the importance of promoting and fostering national 
unity in Iraq, especially during the upcoming elections and 
the subsequent government formation process.  President 
Barzani acknowledged the U.S. support and sacrifice for Iraq, 
and expressed hope that the U.S. military withdrawal would not 
decrease U.S. attention to Iraq.  Secretary Clinton also 
reaffirmed U.S. long-term support for the Kurds and the Iraqi 
Constitution.  On Article 140, the Secretary stated that the 
United States supported a referendum ratifying a political 
agreement among stakeholders.  Barzani assured the Secretary 
of the KRG's commitment to a democratic Iraq and reiterated 
his view of Article 140 as a mechanism to "let the people 
decide" regarding the status of Kirkuk.  On hydrocarbons 
legislation, he stated that the Kurds are not the problem and 
expressed his desire that the KRG share of oil revenue go into 
a separate account to prevent manipulation by Baghdad.  The 
Secretary congratulated the Iraqis on passing the budget and 
encouraged them to work with the central government on the 
national anti-corruption strategy.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
DISPUTED INTERNAL BOUNDARIES AND KIRKUK REFERENDUM 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶5.      (S/NF) The Secretary affirmed U.S. support for the Iraqi 
Constitution including Article 140, expressing hope that a 
"dialogue among partners" would lead to resolution of the 
disputed internal boundaries (DIBs) issues.  She emphasized 
that the United States would support a referendum under 
Article 140 to ratify a political agreement among 
stakeholders, but did not favor taking this controversial 
issue to a public referendum first.  She noted that the United 
States was committed to working with the Kurds to determine a 
just resolution to this issue and highlighted the State 
Department's ongoing efforts to address these issues. 
Nechirvan Barzani assured the Secretary  that her remarks on 
an Article 140 referendum had been clearly understood. 
 
¶6.      (S/NF) Barzani stressed the KRG's commitment to a 
democratic Iraq.  On Kirkuk, Barzani reiterated, "The people 
of Kirkuk will make the final decision."  Barzani reassured 
the Secretary that the KRG area would not be separate from 
Iraq, stating, "Even when Kirkuk becomes part of the KRG, we 
will still be part of Iraq."  Barzani said the key issues - 
Article 140, Peshmerga-Iraqi Army integration, census and 
others - could be handled in the next 1 to 2 years.  He noted 
they became more complicated to resolve with the passing of 
time rather than easier. 
 
----------------------- 
U.S. AND KRG RELATIONS 
----------------------- 
 
¶7.      (S/NF) The Secretary reaffirmed U.S. support for the 
Kurdish people in a stable, secure, inclusive, and successful 
Iraq.  President Barzani responded that putting the Iraqi 
house in order is the job of the Iraqis, but the United States 
could provide important assistance.  Barzani acknowledged the 
sacrifice of U.S. men and women in the liberation of Iraq.  He 
expressed hope that the U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq not 
also mark a withdrawal of U.S. attention.  Barzani asked that 
the United States send a clear message that it supported a 
federal, democratic, pluralistic Iraq that would never allow 
the return of a dictatorial regime.  Secretary Clinton stated 
that the United States remained committed to support such an 
Iraq and that the Strategic Framework Agreement was an 
important mechanism for doing so. 
 
¶8.      (S/NF) Barzani reminded Secretary Clinton of her promise 
to travel to Iraqi Kurdistan.  Secretary Clinton said visiting 
Kurdistan was a high priority and that she looked forward to 
enjoying the hospitality of the Kurdish people. 
 
¶9.      (S/NF) President Barzani urged Secretary Clinton to open 
a U.S. consulate general in Kurdistan and to remove the State 
Department travel advisory on Iraq.  He said these steps would 
help raise morale, demonstrate U.S. commitment, facilitate 
international travel, and encourage foreign business 
investment.  Secretary Clinton responded that the United 
States would consider Barzani's recommendations. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
ELECTIONS, GOVERNMENT FORMATION, NATIONAL UNITY 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶10.     (S/NF) President Barzani asserted that the Kurds are not 
part of the problem on the elections; they are part of the 
solution.  Barzani affirmed that the KRG is ready to work with 
the Iraqi federal government.  Despite all of the past 
tragedies the Kurds experienced, they played a major role in 
keeping Iraq together.  Barzani stated that the Iraqi 
Constitution was a "good constitution," and that as long as 
Iraq was guided by it, the Kurds would support and defend it. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
HYDROCARBONS, BUSINESS INVESTMENT, AND TRANSPARENCY 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶11.     (S/NF) The Secretary thanked the Kurds for the public 
disclosure of the contents of two oil contracts.  This step 
could allow for the restarting of production.  She said that 
the recent passing of the Iraqi budget was "wonderful news" 
that would help with the World Bank and the IMF.  She 
encouraged the Kurds to work with Baghdad on the national 
anti-corruption strategy, since it sent a strong, positive 
message to international businesses.  The Secretary said that 
the KRG could  be a model for the rest of Iraq.  Barzani said 
the KRG was prepared to work with Baghdad on good government 
and transparency.  He said, "We are new at this and ready to 
address our flaws." 
 
¶12.     (S/NF) President Barzani asserted that the problem in 
passing hydrocarbons legislation does not come from the Kurds. 
He noted that the Constitution stipulated that Iraq's oil 
belonged to the people of Iraq and that its wealth should be 
shared equitably.  President Barzani expressed his desire that 
the KRG share of oil revenue go into a separate account to 
ensure that Baghdad does not have control over the KRG's 
share, which they could then use to exert pressure on the 
Kurds. 
 
---------------------------------- 
NECHIRVAN BARZANI FLIGHT INCIDENT 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶13.     (S/NF) Secretary Clinton echoed the White House in 
expressing regret about Nechirvan Barzani's recent 
difficulties in traveling from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. 
She stated that through this incident we learned that Iraqi 
President Jalal Talabani's name was also on the list and that 
the U.S. government was working to ensure that this never 
happened again.  Nechirvan joked that perhaps his name was on 
the no-fly list because his name was similar to "Nigeria," and 
Fuad Hussein quipped that perhaps Talabani's name is too close 
to "Taliban." 
 
 
CLINTON