Iraq: Mission conveys demarche on UNSC open

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000420

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, IO, NEA; NSC FOR E. MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 3-12-13
TAGS: PREL IZ CE MV UNSC
SUBJECT: Iraq: Mission conveys demarche on UNSC open
session to Sri Lankan and Maldivian governments

Ref: State 63629

(U) Classified by Lewis Amselem, Deputy Chief of
Mission. Reasons 1.5 (b, d)


1. (C) Per Reftel, Mission has urged the Sri Lankan and
Maldivian MFA's to express support for the joint
US/UK/Spanish Iraq resolution.


2. (C) Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Nihal Rodrigo told
us that Sri Lanka's UN representative had instructions
to speak if there is "a cast of thousands" participating
in the open session. Sri Lanka does not want to be on
the forefront of this issue, but it also does not want
to be completely on the sidelines. If the Sri Lankan
representative speaks, Rodrigo indicated that the
message would be that Iraq must comply with all UN
resolutions, but that inspections should be given enough
time.


3. (C) We have not yet received any reaction from the
Maldivian MFA to our demarche.


4. (U) Minimize considered.

WILLS