US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3155

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003155 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, KISL, PREL, IZ, National Assembly, Reconstruction 
SUBJECT: GRAND AYATOLLAH SISTANI CALLS FOR U.S. SUPPORT TO 
RESOLVE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
 1. (C) SUMMARY.  National Security Adviser Ruba'i relayed 
Grand Ayatollah Sistani's views on the constitution to 
Ambassador on July 29.  Sistani feels only a governorate 
district proportional representation electoral system will 
produce a just result.  He wants Iraq to adopt the Afghan 
constitution "word for word," and to do this by the August 15 
deadline.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) National Security Adviser Ruba'i told Ambassador on 
July 29 that Grand Ayatollah Sistani feels that Kurdish 
factions oppose the electoral system's governorate-based 
districts for the allocation of seats in parliament.  Sistani 
believes that only the United States can successfully press 
the Kurds to change their position and support 
governorate-based districts because the Kurds, Sistani said, 
have undue influence over Allawi and the speaker of 
parliament.  Sistani cited Massoud Barzani as the greatest 
obstacle to change. 
 
3. (C) According to Ruba'i, Sistani feels a nationwide 
single-district system would over-represent the Kurds.  This 
would produce an unbalanced result lasting four years, and 
Sistani would "reject this decision as unjust."  Shia Arab 
leaders would not allow this outcome.  "This is a redline, he 
said."  Shia and Sunni Arabs would be "seriously" 
underrepresented, and this would contribute to greater 
violence.  He noted that this is "a pivotal issue for us" and 
that it would affect the stability of the country.  Shia 
leaders are working quietly to convince others to support 
them.  Sistani further explained that Shia Arab religious 
leaders endorsed a slate in the last election because of the 
use of the single national-district system instead of a 
governorate-based one.  When asked by Ambassador whether he 
should interpret the message to mean that, if all parties 
accept a governorate-based system, the marja'iya would 
refrain from endorsing a slate in the December elections, 
Ruba'i replied affirmatively. 
 
4. (C) According to Ruba'i, Sistani said that he had read 
Afghanistan's new constitution twice and that he would accept 
the formula in that document on the role of Islam and Sharia 
"word for word."  Ruba'i also said Sistani affirmed that he 
wished to see the constitutional draft, referendum, and 
election completed according to the TAL timeline, with no 
delays. 
 
5. (C) Although other major Iraqi leaders are coming to 
Baghdad to reach final agreement on the constitution, Sistani 
will not. Ruba'i discussed two options with Sistani's son, 
Mohammed Ridha, to receive Sistani's input:  Sistani could 
either open a direct channel to Ambassador Khalilzad or he 
could communicate indirectly with the Ambassador through his 
son.  Ruba'i told the Ambassador that the Iraqi side would 
come back with a proposal the evening of July 30. 
 
6. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO KIRKUK, 
Minimize considered. 
Khalilzad