US embassy cable - 04AMMAN1665

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001665 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2014 
TAGS: PREL, KISL, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER BACKS INTERNATIONAL 
CONFERENCE TO CHOOSE NEW IRAQI LEADERSHIP 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm for Reasons 1.5 (b), (d) 
 
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SUMMARY & COMMENT 
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1.  (C) Abdul Hadi Al-Majali, Speaker of the Lower House of 
Parliament, told the Ambassador on March 4 that he had been 
in contact with a group called "The League for the Defense of 
the Rights of the Iraqi People" regarding a proposed 
conference comprised of representatives from many different 
groups in Iraq to choose a new Iraqi leadership structure 
prior to the June 30 transfer of power.  According to Majali, 
who supported the conference idea, the League consists of a 
cross-section of Iraqi opinion makers committed to national 
unity.  Like him, they believe that the current Iraqi 
Governing Council (IGC) does not enjoy real legitimacy within 
Iraq and that it would be a mistake for the IGC to lead the 
country after June 30.  Majali said that the League is 
pitching its conference proposal, modeled after the 
international conference in Germany that selected the Afghani 
government, in European and Arab capitals, as well as to the 
United Nations.  We understand that CPA and the Department 
are aware of the League and its proposal from other sources, 
but this was the first time post had heard of the subject 
being raised with elements of the GOJ.  Our initial inquiry 
with the MFA turned up no information on the League or its 
activities in Jordan, but we will continue to track the 
matter.  End Summary & Comment. 
 
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NEGATIVE WORDS FOR THE IGC 
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2.  (C) In a March 4 meeting with the Ambassador to discuss 
issues related to the Jordanian Parliament, Lower House 
Speaker (and former Ambassador to the U.S.) Abdul Hadi 
Al-Majali switched the subject to Iraq, saying that he was 
very concerned with the security situation there and the 
possibility of civil unrest and instability after the June 30 
transfer of power.  In Majali's opinion, the vesting of 
authority in the IGC until the holding of national elections 
in the future would be unwise as the IGC was not up to the 
task and did not enjoy broad support or real legitimacy 
within Iraq.  Accordingly, Majali asserted that "something 
new" was sorely needed. 
 
3.  (C) Majali continued that he had been talking with 
representatives of a group called "The League for the Defense 
of the Rights of the Iraqi People" about a proposal to select 
a new Iraqi leadership to replace the IGC until such time as 
Iraq was ready for national elections.  Majali asserted that 
the League consisted of influential Iraqis, including 
well-educated academics and professionals, from all major 
groups within Iraqi society who were committed to unifying 
Iraq and overcoming religious and ethnic differences.  He 
specifically mentioned a man named "Mazher Delaimi" as one of 
the League representatives who had contacted him. 
 
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LET'S HAVE A CONFERENCE! 
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4.  (C) Majali reported that the League is proposing a 
large-scale conference outside of Iraq, possibly in Geneva, 
comprised of over 1,000 representatives drawn from a broad 
variety of different groups within Iraq to choose a new 
leadership structure for the country to include a President 
and/or Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers, and several 
committees to oversee security, national elections, and other 
specific subjects.  This new leadership would rule Iraq until 
democratic elections are conducted some time in the future. 
Majali said the League cited as precedent the international 
conference in Germany that chose the government of 
Afghanistan following the fall of the Taliban, and that the 
League hoped to win UN endorsement of its proposal. 
 
5.  (C) Majali told the Ambassador that he strongly supported 
the League's conference idea and that he had discussed it 
with King Abdullah (though he did not specify the King's 
reaction).  He characterized the League as a "realistic 
group" that was confident that its ideas would enjoy strong 
support inside Iraq.  According to Majali, he had also raised 
the subject with the Chilean head of the International 
Parliamentary Union (IPU), which was tentatively planning to 
sponsor a meeting on March 24 in Amman for the Speakers of 
parliaments in countries neighboring Iraq (possibly including 
Iran) to discuss the proposal and other topics related to 
Iraq.  He further said that the League was pitching the 
conference in some European capitals, including Paris, and 
had sent formal letters to Arab foreign ministries and to 
Kofi Annan at the United Nations.  Majali asked the 
Ambassador if the U.S. would be able to support the proposed 
conference "from a distance." 
 
6.  (C) The Ambassador told Majali that it was very important 
that the conference proposal not conflict with CPA plans and 
objectives for Iraq.  He also inquired if the League had been 
in touch with Shi'a groups, including Ayatollah Sistani, 
since any Iraqi national conclave had to be comprehensive and 
inclusive of all major factions.  Majali replied that the 
League included a Shi'a sheikh but adamantly opined that 
Sistani should not play a role in choosing Iraq's future 
government as he was "an Iranian" who took his orders from 
Tehran.  Clerics, he insisted, should not be too deeply 
involved in politics as this would jeopardize the goal of 
transcending ethnic and sectarian differences. 
 
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SURPRISE AT THE MFA 
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7.  (C) Following the Ambassador's meeting with Majali, 
PolOff contacted Basheer Zoubi at the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs who is responsible for Iraq-related matters in 
Foreign Minister Muasher's Private Office.  Zoubi said he was 
not aware of the League or of having received any document 
proposing a conference along the lines described by Majali. 
Zoubi said he would check with FM Muasher and the head of the 
Private Office, Ali Al-Ayed, upon their return from Cairo to 
see if they had any relevant information. 
 
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COMMENT 
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8.  (C) Majali's backing for the conference proposal stems 
most likely from animosity against members of the IGC working 
against Jordanian interests in Iraq, as well as a sincere 
belief that it represents the best hope for security and 
stability in Iraq.  Post understands that CPA and the 
Department are aware of the League and its ideas, but thought 
it was important to report the League's marketing efforts 
outside Iraq and the resulting interest in, and inquiries 
about, the conference proposal if the League's actions in 
Jordan are repeated elsewhere. 
 
9.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ or through the 
Department of State's SIPRNET site. 
GNEHM