US embassy cable - 04AMMAN3829

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 003829 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, IZ, SY, JO 
SUBJECT: ARAB PARLIAMENT SPEAKERS DEBATE FUTURE OF IRAQ, 
CALL FOR END OF U.S. OCCUPATION 
 
REF: AMMAN 01665 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm for Reasons 1.5 (b), (d) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (C) Speakers of seven parliaments in the region held a 
two-day conference May 12-13 in Amman to discuss the 
situation in Iraq.  Participants called for an end to U.S. 
occupation, highlighted their support for democratic 
institutions in Iraq, and advocated a wider UN role in 
rebuilding the country.  The conference criticized the U.S. 
for abuse of Iraqi prisoners and for imposing sanctions on 
Syria, with representatives from Iran and the Arab 
Parliamentary Union (APU) accusing the U.S. of disregard for 
international law and trying to control the region's oil 
wealth.  Jordan's Speaker received backing for his proposal 
for a large-scale national Iraqi conference to help select a 
new Iraqi leadership and determine solutions to that 
country's problems.  This event was largely choreographed by 
the Jordanian Speaker for purposes of his own political 
self-promotion.  End Summary. 
 
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LET'S TALK IRAQ 
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2.  (U) The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), with GOJ 
support, sponsored a meeting in Amman on May 12 and 13 for 
speakers of parliaments from countries neighboring Iraq (as 
well as from Bahrain and Egypt) to discuss ways to promote 
security and stability in Iraq.  During the opening ceremony, 
IPU President Sergio Verdugo said the purpose of the 
conference was to "help bring the suffering of the Iraqi 
people to an end and restore their freedom and dignity." 
Ross Mountain, Special Representative of the UN Secretary 
General for Iraq, briefed participants on the UN role in 
helping Iraqis establish an interim government and prepare 
for elections in January 2005. 
 
3.  (U) The speakers were unanimous in calling for an end to 
the U.S. occupation of Iraq and for restoring sovereignty to 
the Iraqi people.  They also pledged their support for 
building democratic institutions, including an elected 
parliament, to help unify Iraqi groups and factions.  The 
President of Saudi Arabia's Al Shura Council, for example, 
said that "achieving stability, freedom and prosperity for 
the Iraqi people will not happen without a truly 
representative political system based on national unity and 
consensus." 
 
4.  (SBU) A final statement called for bringing "to justice 
all officials who are responsible for committing 
international crimes against the peoples of Iraq, Iran and 
Kuwait and especially the leadership of the former regime of 
Iraq including Saddam Hussein."  It also urged a greater role 
for the UN after the June 30 transfer of power to an interim 
government and that any foreign military forces remaining 
after this date "should be organized under a clear mandate 
from the UN Security Council."  Unconfirmed press reports 
alleged that there were serious differences between some of 
the delegates with the Kuwaitis fighting off attempts to 
include a strong condemnation of the invasion and occupation 
of Iraq from the final communiqu. 
 
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ADMONISHMENT OF THE U.S. 
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5.  (U) Several of the delegates criticized the abuse of 
Iraqi prisoners by U.S. forces.  Speaker of the Turkish Grand 
National Assembly expressed condemnation of the U.S. 
"humiliation" of prisoners, claiming the mistreatment "hurt 
the dignity of all Iraqis."  Others went farther in their 
U.S.-bashing.  The Speaker of the Iranian Islamic Council 
accused the U.S. of using only force to achieve its goals 
while disregarding international law and human rights.  APU 
Secretary General Noriddin Boshkouj alleged in his speech 
 
SIPDIS 
that the U.S. occupation of Iraq was part of a larger plan to 
"dominate" the region and control its oil wealth.  The 
conference's final statement, in addition to condemning the 
inhumane treatment of Iraqi prisoners by coalition forces, 
also denounced U.S. sanctions imposed on Syria, claiming that 
they were "a direct violation of international law" and "fell 
within the double standards practiced (by the U.S.) in the 
region." 
 
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PUSHING FOR A NATIONAL CONFERENCE 
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6.  (C) Jordanian Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali 
proposed convening a national Iraqi conference gathering over 
1,000 "loyal and qualified" Iraqi intellectuals, politicians, 
religious leaders, and other prominent figures to help select 
a new national leadership and find ways to end that country's 
internal strife.  Other participants expressed support for 
this proposal.  (NOTE: Majali has previously advocated to 
Ambassador and PolOff a large-scale conference on Iraq, 
possibly under UN auspices, to select a new governing body - 
see reftel.)  Majali also defended his decision not to invite 
Iraq to attend the parliamentary gathering in Amman, noting 
that Iraq did not currently have a functioning parliament. 
 
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COMMENT 
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7.  (C) Majali has been keen for some time to host this 
parliamentary meeting to bolster his standing both in Jordan 
and in Arab political circles.  By giving the meeting a green 
light, the GOJ gave greater credence to its stated concern 
for the Iraqi people while solidifying Majali's support for 
the cabinet's legislative agenda.  It is somewhat ironic that 
parliamentary speakers from countries in real need of their 
own political reforms are calling for open elections, 
democratic institutions, and representative government in 
Iraq. 
 
8.  (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