WikiLeaks: 2007-10-16: 07BAGHDAD3435: View on Shifting Alliances and Other Issues from an Independent COR Member

Viewing cable 07BAGHDAD3435, COR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE IN INFANCY

VZCZCXRO0564
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3435/01 2891158
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 161158Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3868
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003435 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: COR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE IN INFANCY 
STAGES, SUPPORT NEEDED FROM GOI LEADERSHIP 
 
REF: A. 2006 BAGHDAD 4613 
 
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Robert Waller for reason 1.4 
(b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (S/NF) Summary.  The Council of Representatives (CoR) 
National Reconciliation Committee, established by CoR order 
on July 30, 2007, is comprised of twelve members drawn from 
each of the sects (Sunni, Shia, Kurd, and Christian), and 
Chaired by Sheikh Wathab Shakir al-Dulaimi.  It meets 
bi-weekly, but has no budget.  The committee's recent 
activities include inviting ministers, tribal members (i.e. 
Anbar Awakening Council), and other Iraqi officials to 
address ways to improve national reconciliation efforts.  In 
a meeting with PolOff on October 11, committee member Yondam 
Kanna (Rafidyn/Assyrian Christian) said the committee needs: 
more support from the 3   1 leadership; increased 
representation from Iraqiyya and independents; sharper focus 
on proposals discussed in the national reconciliation 
conference (December 2006); and linkage with the USG.  While 
he perceives PM Maliki's Implementation and Follow-up 
Committee for National Reconciliation (IFCNR) committee as 
ineffective, he said the CoR committee is open to meeting 
with the IFCNR to discuss ways to coordinate efforts.  End 
summary. 
 
COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE AND OVERALL LEADERSHIP 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶2. (S/NF) The CoR National Reconciliation Committee was 
established by CoR order on July 30, 2007 and is comprised of 
Kurds, Shia, Sunni, and Christians.  The list follows below: 
 
-Sheikh Wathab Shakir Muhmud al-Dulaimi (Independent 
Sunni/Tawafuq, Baghdad) (Chair) 
-Melhan Omran Musa Almgoter (UIA, Independent Shia, 
Diwayniyah/Baghdad) 
-Qais Sa'ad Hassan al-Ameri (UIA, Independent Shia, Najaf) 
-Abd al-Bari Muhammad Faris Zebari (KAL/PUK, Kurd, 
Ninewa/Dohuk) 
-Ala Tahsin Habib Talabani (KAL/PUK, Kurd, Suleimaniyah) 
-Sheikh Khairallah Karim Kadhim al-Basri (Iraqiyya, Shia, 
Basrah/Baghdad) 
-Fawzi Akram Samin Tarzi (UIA, Sadrist/Turkmen, Salah ad-Din) 
-Abd al-Karim Abd al-Sahib Muhammad al-Nakeeb (UIA/SCIRI, 
Shia, Babil/Baghdad) 
-Kamila Ibrahim Ahmad Badi (KDP, Sunni/Kurd, Dohuk/Baghdad) 
-Harith Muhi al-Din Abid al-Ubaidi (Tawafuq/Independent, 
Baghdad) 
-Judge Wa'el Abd al-Latif al-Fadel, Iraqiyya 
(Shia/Independent, Basrah) 
-Yonadam Kana (Rafidayn/Assyrian Democrat/Christian, 
Anbar/Baghdad) 
 
¶3. (S/NF) Kanna called the committee an "independent 
commission," although its rules and procedures indicate it is 
part of the CoR.  The committee includes cross-representation 
from the parties and sects as well as geographical diversity, 
although half its membership is Shia.  According to Kanna, 
the committee works in "a dark room in the basement" of the 
CoR, meets bi-weekly, and has no budget.  For now, individual 
members are absorbing costs/expenses related to the business 
of the committee. 
 
¶4. (S/NF) Regarding the strength of Sheikh Wathab's 
leadership as Chair, Kanna said the Sheikh was selected 
because of his contacts among the various tribes.  He added 
Sheikh Wathab has a good reputation as a businessman and is 
not a religious extremist.  When asked whether Sheikh Wathab 
is an effective leader, Kanna said he is "not bad" but noted 
he does not hold the "national stature" to be a unifying 
leader.  More importantly, however, Sheikh Wathab was 
acceptable to both CoR Speaker Mahmoud Mashadani and Deputy 
Speaker Khalid Attiyah. 
 
RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (S/NF) Kanna said the committee recently invited 
representatives from the Anbar Awakening Council to speak to 
the committee regarding its tribal reconciliation efforts. 
The committee is also reaching out to other tribes and 
emerging "Awakening Councils" in other provinces.  The 
committee recently invited Minister of Trade Abd al-Sudani to 
discuss ways to improve the Public Distribution System (PDS) 
and service delivery of supplies to all of the provinces. 
Kanna also noted Muhammad Shahwani, the Chief of the Iraqi 
National Intelligence Service (INIS), recently briefed the 
committee.  (Note:  Other than these activities, the 
committee appears to lack a clear focus on specific 
priorities.  End note) 
 
BAGHDAD 00003435  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
CHALLENGES/NEEDS OF THE COMMITTEE 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (S/N) According to Kanna, the committee needs more support 
in principle from the 3   1 leadership, and he asked for USG 
support in this regard.  He also mentioned the committee 
needs to focus on proposals discussed in the national 
reconciliation conference in December 2006 (ref A).  Next, he 
recommended the committee increase representation from 
Iraqiyya and other independents.  He would also like to see a 
secretariat for the committee established and a small budget 
 
SIPDIS 
for its operations.  He sees a USG link as important, and 
suggested it might be helpful to have a liaison from the US 
Embassy to the committee. 
 
RELATIONSHIP WITH MALIKI'S COMMITTEE 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶7. (S/NF) Kanna called the IFCNR committee "ineffective" and 
said it has "no credibility," noting that the IFCNR is 
comprised of political appointees, all of whom are under PM 
Maliki's control.  He said IFCNR leaders Dr. Bassima 
al-Sa'edi and Dr. Safaa al-Sheikh are perceived as being too 
sectarian, but said that the two have suggested that the 
IFCNR and the CoR committee coordinate their efforts, an idea 
which Sheikh Wathab is entertaining. 
CROCKER