06-A-2265doc1

COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY ._IJIB~~ BAGHDAD INFO MEMO FOIC FROM, SUBJECf: THE ADMINIStRATOR Megbon O'Sulliwn Readout on Man:b 24lraq Stabilization Oroup SVTS s .... ..,. The c.xmversation at toDigbt's svrs focused exclusively on the interim savemmcnt; we did DO\ have sufficient 1ime 10 disc\1ss 1he elections issues. Blackwill, who cluUrcd the group. noted Brahimi's prcfercncel for a simple aecuti.ve aad ovorall govemmmrt struoture, as well u very limited powers for the interim government. There seemed 10 be conseusus Br01IDd kcepina: a fairly small expanded~GC as a stazld.i.Dg body. However, most puticipants diaagn:led that 1bis body sbollld. be more symbolic !baD substantive; instclld, several argued tbot tho ~od body obould "be ..al" and""""" some ,...,;,.rw powas. ........ Blackwill began the mooliDg by giving a short synopsis of receat dcvelopments reg&IdiDg tho GC and the UN. He also distributed a short paper laying out lhe oonditions under which the TAL 8Zid CPA arden am be amended (SUSBeatiDs that the interim government, under ODB inte:tptdalion of the TAL, couJd DOt amend or change either- though in OOC's view, this may oot be the stronger legal view), We began adisl:ussion ofdae principles for the ielectioD of the llG. macltwill n:fcrenced. OD several occasions the PC decision 10 have PO legislature. I ubd for clarificatioa md wu told thai it was the UDBDimous decision of1be principals tbat the IJG would have nothing thai looked or functioned like a legislative body. It was not made explicit whether the c:oastraint wu on having 8D)' staDding body, or just one that exercised }egi.slative powers, altbougb over the course of the c:onversation, the latter seemed. 10 be the ""'· Blac:kwill said there was broad apmeot that the llG should involve an expanded OC, but as that the expansion should involve as few additioas as possa'ble 10 make it repeaeutative. The prefereftcc, he said wu for a body between 25·SO people, although olbon ..... tbo!lhc body ohoulcllook,;gmtkoDtly-tbon lhcounent- I dilc.-1 that we would need to add more dwt cme or two Smmis to make the new body represcntadve., and tbeso additions would fuel the numbers (UDiess we f'CmO\Ied some of1he cumnt Sunnis). We then diacuned the powcn that this oxpauded OC would have; in1uestingl.y, no ooe mentioned tb8 possibility of diualviDg it after its fim convention. Blackwill insisted that it would have no legislative powers (per cbc decision of the principals) and reminded us that iD Brabimi's experience and that of lhc UN, tbcre Was rarely a lqislative body. Blackwil! also questioned the utility of the three person pmidcmcy, aaying Brahimi wanted as llimple 1m executive u possible and citiDs Sistani's opposition to it 1 UDdersconxl the importance of the presidency council for protecting minority rights. Tho bulkoflhcport;clpoab- notfmwUI.._mg ,._..,.,._ body, but for 10tne real powers for it to exercise. Suggcstioos included having the power to overturn lhe actiona of tho executive and oversight over mirrlstriea. I !ilressod that we would not be successful in addressing publlc disaffection if we were to create a l1lOIC representative body, but not empower it Blackwill queried whether CPA hlu1 views 011 wbMbcr the GC should be refteahed of simply expanded. I replied that, given awl · · ' .........,. ... _..,....,..., some of its members. Blackwill o'6jectil to many "or the exiles .. '"" c<K Blackwill concluded the IDCCiiDs by talking about how the procc:sa of formu1ating the interim government would "look to lhe real ~" Brahimi and the UN bad to be seen to be at dte tcad; USG and CPAwanld Iii heh;;w; ICf:lies. Thls is also true for lhe election process. The meeting coneluded wilb some diAcuaicm Of the bonrbmarb thai: bad to be rcachod on the way to securing a UNSCR before JUDe: 30. Kim Holmes said that there must be iatcmgency agreement on the elcmonts of the molution by the. end of AprU; drafting of the reaol~y. iuput from other actnrs (UK. Iraqis) shortly therelfter, and negotiatillg the resolution at tiM: end gfMay or lqinning of lnM.., Tukon Over the course oflhemeetiDg. wewereasbd to provide: • A short paper on wba1 the 1!!!!n ofthc MP""dcd GC would be if we wge to allow each proviDcial council to elect eae pmmn to the neriou' body (25 + I 8); • Input into what the ethnie ~ secarim madw;m•tiCI of !he npandr:d f..C WQI•Id be if it included 32 mcmbca or 40. 45:« SO: ' 2