9.6 |
27 June 2007 to April 2008
on
detainees, while passage of these laws still leaves much to be done
before
these
issues are resolved it does represent a significant step which
might boost
reconciliation
efforts …”
797.
Mr Prentice
commented that the political atmosphere in the run up to the votes
was
“poisonous
but gave way to relief and pride when all three Bills were passed
and the
CoR went
back on holiday”.386
798.
The passing of
the 2008 Budget (60 trillion Iraqi Dinars, then equivalent
to
US$50bn)
followed a protracted battle between a Dawa-led Arab nationalist
faction
and the
Kurdish alliance, in which the two main sticking points were the
funding of the
Peshmerga
and the Kurdish Regional Government’s (KRG) share of revenues. A
further
postponement
of a decision on funding the Peshmerga and agreement that the
KRG
should
retain its existing 17 percent revenue share, with a census
conducted later in the
year,
allowed the Budget to pass.
799.
Mr Miliband
issued a statement welcoming the approval of the legislation, as
“three
important
and positive steps for Iraq” which would release “record resources
for services
and
reconstruction”, lay “the foundation for greater Sunni
reintegration” and move Iraq
closer
towards a new round of provincial elections.387
The
statement continued:
“There is
now a clear desire on the part of Iraq’s political leaders to reach
out to
each other
in a spirit of compromise, and use the space created by the
improved
security
environment to make real progress on reconciliation. I hope this
positive
atmosphere
continues. Political reconciliation is key to Iraq’s development as
a
secure and
stable country.”
800.
The Iraq
Strategy Group discussed “the strategy paper” again on 14
February.388
Mr McDonald
underlined that the paper was “too ambitious, not UK-centric
enough, and
too long”
and that it should not presume engagement beyond spring 2009. More
work
was needed
before it could be put to Ministers. It was agreed to split the
paper into two:
one which
dealt with the medium term (to spring 2009) and another dealing
with the
longer
term, including future legal arrangements.
801.
Those papers
would be discussed again at the ISG and then by a
Ministerial
trilateral
meeting on 4 March and NSID(OD) in early April, which would also
consider
force level
options.
802.
Mr McDonald
asked that three clear options should be presented to
Ministers:
•
maintain
the status quo at around 2,800;
386
eGram
6531/08 Baghdad to FCO London, 20 February 2008, ‘Iraq: 2008 Budget
Passed’.
387
Email
Hickey to Iraq Group [junior official], 15 February 2008, ‘Iraq:
Passage of Budget, Amnesty and
Provincial
Powers Laws: Statement and Personal Message’.
388
Minute
Cabinet Office [junior official], 15 February 2008, ‘Iraq Strategy
Group, 14 February’.
329