US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD4908

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004908 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, EFIN, ETRD, IZ 
SUBJECT: PM DISCUSSES PRISON INSPECTIONS, VISIT TO SAUDI 
ARABIA, BORDER CLOSURES, INCIDENT AT UMM QASR 
 
REF: BAGHDAD 4836 
 
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION DAVID SATTERFIELD FOR REASONS 1. 
4 (a), (b), AND (d). 
 
1. (C//REL GBR AUS)  SUMMARY: On the evening of December 3, 
Prime Minister Ibrahim Ja'afari hosted a meeting at his 
residence attended by Charge, MNF-I Commanding General and 
Deputy Commanding General, UK Ambassador Patey, and 
DepPolMilCouns.  Present with the PM were Chief of Staff Dr. 
Abdul Aziz al-Tamimi and Senior Advisor Adnan Ali.  The main 
purpose of the meeting was to discuss Ja'afari's plan to 
reorganize the Ministry of Defense (reftel).  Other 
discussion topics included the PM's visit to Saudi Arabia, 
border closures, and the incident at Umm Qasr.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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DETENTION FACILITY INSPECTIONS 
------------------------------- 
 
2. (C//REL GBR AUS)  Charge informed Ja'afari that the 
committee tasked with inspecting Iraqi detention facilities 
nationwide following the Bunker incident, headed by Major 
General Talib al-Kanini, will make its first unannounced 
inspections on December 8.  These inspections would be led 
and carried out by Iraqi investigators, the PM said, but with 
the support of Embassy and MNF-I assets.  It is critical, 
Charge noted, for Ja'afari to continue to support publicly 
this committee and the committee investigating the Bunker 
incident.  Ja'afari replied that the investigations have his 
full support. 
 
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BORDER CLOSURES FOR ARABS 
------------------------- 
 
3. (C//REL GBR AUS)  Charge called Ja'afari's attention to a 
decree issued several days ago by the Minister of Interior 
ordering Iraq's borders closed to non-Iraqi Arabs until the 
election on December 15 is completed.  Charge noted that this 
unexpected order is causing many complications, as it was 
prohibiting the entry into Iraq of a large number of Arab 
journalists, attorneys for the Saddam trial, election 
observers, NGO and international organization employees, and 
others whose presence in Iraq is in the interests of the GOI 
and the USG.  The order is too broad and must be modified, 
Charge stated.  UK Ambassador Patey noted that the ban does 
not apply to Iranian pilgrims and appeared to be 
discriminatory and inflammatory, particularly to Sunnis. 
Patey suggested that the border closure measures be the same 
as they were for the referendum (i.e., effective only 
immediately before and after the election, with exceptions 
made at the airports).  Ja'afari agreed to have the measures 
reexamined and modified.  (NOTE: Post continues to work the 
issue of formal ratification of the changes to the travel 
ban.  We understand that some lifting may have begun December 
8.  END NOTE.) 
 
4. (C//REL GBR AUS)  GEN Casey informed Ja'afari that on 
November 30 a ceremony had been held in Husayba on the Syrian 
border to commemorate the restoration of Iraqi control over 
its borders.  While acknowledging that it is impossible to 
seal any border, GEN Casey pointed out that the borders now 
are manned by Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) based in a chain of 
border forts and backed up by Iraqi Army (IA) forces. 
 
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PASSAGE OF BUDGET 
----------------- 
 
5. (C//REL GBR AUS)  Charge next brought up the TNA's 
inability to achieve the quorum needed to pass the 2006 
budget law.  It is imperative that the budget law be passed 
before the TNA adjourns, Charge exhorted, since failure to do 
so would jeopardize the provisional IMF Standby Arrangement 
(SBA) and seriously threaten the economy of Iraq.  Charge 
informed Ja'afari that Embassy is working hard to convince 
already-departed TNA members (particularly the Kurds) to 
return for a budget vote, and strongly urged him to do 
whatever possible to convince others to return as well. 
Ja'afari responded that he appreciated the urgency of the 
matter and was working hard to obtain successful passage of 
the budget. (NOTE: The TNA subsequently passed the budget law 
on December 6.  END NOTE.) 
 
-------------------------------- 
POST-BATTLE RECONSTRUCTION FUNDS 
-------------------------------- 
 
6. (C//REL GBR AUS)  Charge and the UK Ambassador urged 
Ja'afari to make good on the GOI's promise to provide 
post-battle reconstruction funds for Fallujah, Tal Afar, and 
the Euphrates River Valley.  The GOI's continued failure to 
fund reconstruction as promised, they added, is becoming an 
embarrassment for the government and also risks the long-term 
success of the military operations designed to clear those 
areas of terrorists and insurgents.  Adnan Ali responded that 
the funds are available but that the Ministry of Finance 
still is awaiting approved plans from the relevant ministries 
on how to spend them.  Charge stressed the need to get on 
with it and to begin helping Iraqis rebuild their lives and 
futures. 
 
--------------------- 
VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA 
--------------------- 
 
7.  (C//REL GBR AUS)  Ja'afari briefly described his recent 
visit to Saudi Arabia.  He characterized the visit as a 
success, although the Saudis have not yet consented to 
granting the number of Hajj visas desired by Iraq.  Iraq can 
afford and has requested 35,000 visas, Ja'afari said, but the 
Saudis so far have allocated only enough for 25,000 Iraqi 
pilgrims.  The PM noted that the Saudi King promised to 
consider his request for more visas.  Charge responded that 
Post also is pushing the Saudis on behalf of Iraq and that 
the Secretary has sent a message to the King on this subject. 
 
----------------------------------- 
DIFFICULTIES AT UMM QASR NORTH PORT 
----------------------------------- 
 
8. (C//REL GBR AUS)  The UK Ambassador raised a recent 
incident at the port of Umm Qasr in Basra that involved 
Ministry of Transportation (MOT) security forces and British 
private security firm employees.  On December 2, Ambassador 
Patey explained, Coalition Forces responded to a standoff 
between ISF and the Armour Group (MNSTC-I contractor for 
pick-up and delivery of ISF equipment).  Armour's convoys 
reportedly were denied access to the port and also told to 
vacate their facility at the port.  ISF conveyed to Coalition 
Forces that Armour instigated the incident by attacking them. 
 The situation was eventually diffused for the night, Patey 
added; however, on December 3, the ISF told Armour to leave 
the facilities or else face attack.  Armour took the threat 
seriously and reported to the British Shaiber Logistics Base 
that they were denied access.  Armour now is staying at the 
KBR facilities and avoiding the port until they are 
guaranteed security and no further threats from ISF.  It is 
believed, Patey said, that the Ministry of Transportation 
(MOT) is behind these threats and that they are a 
continuation of conflicts that have occurred at the Basra and 
Baghdad airports. 
 
9.  (C//REL GBR AUS)  Ambassador Patey and Charge stressed to 
Ja'afari that disputes about control of port security must be 
resolved, adding that ministries should not have competing 
security forces.  Ja'afari replied that this had happened 
because of a misunderstanding about a decision to grant MOI 
control over all port facilities - which the MOT is not happy 
about.  Ja'afari promised that a committee would look into 
the matter and try to resolve it in the coming days.  He 
agreed that multiple agencies cannot be in charge of security 
for the ports.  In the meantime, MNF-I forces will continue 
to monitor the situation at Umm Qasr. 
KHALILZAD