US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3629

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003629 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KISL, KDEM, IZ, Sunni Arab, Parliament 
SUBJECT: SUNNI MODERATE GHAZI AL-YAWR DISCUSSES 
CONSTITUTION WITH AMBASSADOR 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) Summary. In separate meetings on September 1 and 3, 
the Ambassador, urged Deputy President Ghazi al-Yawr to 
actively support the new constitution.  Al-Yawar was pleased 
with the latest draft, but stressed that the changes must be 
put before the Iraqi public.  Noting that he had just spoken 
to Arab League SYG Amr Mousa, al-Yawr said that Mousa was 
pleased with additional language in the draft affirming 
Iraq's commitment to the Arab League Charter. He, however, 
had remaining questions regarding state control over oil and 
gas resources and how regional governments will be 
represented overseas.  Al-Yawr promised to encourage other 
Sunni Arabs to publicly support the draft by September 12. 
End Summary. 
 
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September 1: The Constitution has come a long way 
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2. On September 1, Al-Yawr expressed appreciation for USG 
efforts on behalf of a balanced constitution, and said that 
while the current version of the document is not perfect, it 
has many good points and is worthy of Sunni Arab support.  He 
observed that the current draft of the constitution is 
considerably better than the version of a month ago. 
Nevertheless, adding that Iraqis see things in "black and 
white," al-Yawr said that moderate Sunni leaders such as 
himself need to avoid embracing the constitution in order to 
prevent attacks on their credibility.  "If I defend the 
constitution," he said, "I shall be seen as pro-U.S. (i.e., 
not pro-constitution)"  At the same time, al-Yawr pledged to 
encourage Sunnis not to be "reactionary" but to participate 
in Iraq's political process, including upcoming elections. 
 
3. (C) Al-Yawr said that the issue of constitutional 
reference to Iraq's Arab identity was much more important for 
Sunni Arabs than the language on federalism.  He said that 
for Sunnis, this reference was a matter of "our history and 
our culture," not our ethnicity.  He said that if Iraq's Arab 
identity  were adequately mentioned in the constitution,  he 
could marshal the support of at least 300,000 of his Ninewah 
province constituents.  Al-Yawr said that National Dialogue 
politicians such as Spokesman Saleh Mutlak deserve criticism 
for obstructionism.  However, he stressed that it would be 
wrong to exclude the Dialogue members from the constitutional 
discussion.  To do so, he warned, would  attract even more 
hard-line Sunnis to their side. 
 
4. (C) Al-Yawr discussed gloomily his concerns about growing 
Sunni-Shia polarization.  He stressed the importance of a 
resolution to the situation in Tal Afar (septel).  He said 
that inter-sectarian tensions in the city were strengthening 
the hand of both Sunni and Shia hardliners.  He also warned 
that cases of Sunnis being murdered with impunity threaten to 
become an "epidemic" in Baghdad.   He noted that in many of 
these incidents, the perpetrators were either Iraqi police or 
dressed to appear as such, implying Shia responsibility.  He 
said that many Sunni believe the Shia are trying to drive 
them out of Baghdad.   Asked whether Interior Minister Bayan 
Jabor was capable of turning this situation around, al-Yawr 
said "diplomatically" that Jabor's thinking is too 
"sectarian," making it hard for him to be objective. 
 
5. (C) Al-Yawr said that many Sunni Arabs in western Ninewah 
province feel that they have not had adequate access to voter 
registration centers and fear equal difficulties on election 
day.  He asked the Ambassador to engage the Election 
Commission to ensure that Sunnis do not have to travel into 
Kurdish controlled towns or villages in order to participate 
in the electoral process. 
 
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September 3: Ready to Encourage Support on the Draft 
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6. (C) In a follow-on meeting September 3, Ghazi reaffirmed 
his commitment to support the Constitution, but expressed 
some concern over three remaining issues: Arab identity, the 
ability of regions to open overseas offices and control of 
natural resources.  Al-Yawr said there was progress in the 
area of Arab identity, and that he believes this issue is the 
primary concern of most Sunnis.  Noting that he had just 
spoken with Amr Mousa, Ghazi said the Arab League SYG had 
agreed to support language in the draft constitution that 
would affirm Iraq's commitment to the Arab League Charter. 
Claiming that in Germany and Ireland Kurdistan Regional 
Government offices issue notaries and visas, al-Yawr asked 
for clarification on whether this practice could continue. 
The Ambassador agreed to raise this issue with the Kurds. 
Al-Yawr said the formula for state control over resources is 
a problem.  The Ambassador reviewed the present formula and 
suggested al-Yawr reread the text carefully, specifically the 
section that ensures that oil and gas resources belong to all 
the people of Iraq. 
 
7. (C) The Ambassador urged al-Yawr to press Sunni Arabs to 
narrow their demands to realistic changes, perhaps two or 
three.  Al-Yawr responded that he would meet with other Sunni 
politicians shortly and promised to hold a press conference 
with other Sunnis offering support of the Constitution by 
September 12. 
Khalilzad