US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3498

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003498 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, KDEM, IZ, Sunni Arab, Parliament 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES SUNNIS TO SUPPORT CONSTITUTION 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d) 
 
 1. (C) At an August 27 meeting, Ambassador Khalilzad, joined 
by UK Ambassador Patey, told Sunni leaders that while the 
Constitution negotiations had required compromises for all 
parties, the current draft offered a historic opportunity for 
Sunnis, Shia and Kurds to build a democratic Iraq.   The 
Ambassador expressed disappointment with negative public 
statements about the constitution made by some Sunni leaders 
in recent days. He pointed to key textual changes made to 
accommodate the Sunnis.  He called on them to engage with 
Shia and Kurdish leaders directly on any final changes to the 
text they might have. 
 
2. (C) Mahmud Daoud al-Mashhahdani (National Dialogue 
Council) said that the Sunni would accept federalism for the 
Kurds, and maybe later on for the rest of Iraq.  He said that 
it was too early now in the center and south and urged that 
the federalism decision be delayed until the next National 
Assembly.  The Ambassador reminded him that the draft 
constitution would do exactly that. 
 
3. (C) Sheik Abdul Nasr Kareem al-Janabi (National Dialogue 
Council) responded that textual changes to the constitution 
were not enough and required further discussion.  He said 
that the Sunni leaders needed a constitution "we can sell to 
the Sunnis on the street."   The Ambassador observed that he 
and his UK colleague had made every effort to ensure that 
Sunni interests would be protected in the new constitution. 
 
3. (C) Iraqi Dialogue Spokesman Saleh Mutlak complained of 
statements from PM Jaafari's office indicating that the Shia 
would push the constitution forward to a vote, even if the 
Sunnis did not support it.  Ambassadors Khalilzad and Patey 
agreed that divisive comments need to be avoided by all 
parties. 
 
4.  (C) COMMENT: Subsequent to the meeting, the Sunni 
representatives met with Kurdish counterparts.  If agreement 
is reached, it remains unclear how many of the Sunni 
representatives will step forward to publicly support the new 
constitution.  Abdul Nasser's apparent angst over the "Sunni 
on the street" is widespread among his colleagues.  We will 
be pressing them hard on August 28 to take a public stance in 
support of the process. END COMMENT. 
Khalilzad