IRAQI EMBASSY IN CANADA

id: 7383 date: 4/11/2003 21:31 refid: 03OTTAWA1065 origin: Embassy Ottawa classification: SECRET destination: 03OTTAWA801|03STATE93783 header: This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. -------------- header ends -------------- S E C R E T OTTAWA 001065 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2013 TAGS: PREL IZ CA SUBJECT: IRAQI EMBASSY IN CANADA REF: (A) STATE 93783 (B) OTTAWA 801 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Brian Flora, Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) We discussed reftel (A) demarche with Chris Hull, Foreign Affairs Desk Officer for Iraq, on April 11. Hull told us that the GoC continues to monitor closely the activities of the one Iraqi diplomat remaining in country, Charge Mamdouh Mustafa, and had no indication that he was destroying Iraqi Government records or property. Hull noted that the GoC was looking for an opportunity to remove items of an "undiplomatic nature" (nfi) from the premises of the Iraqi Embassy. ¶2. (S) Mustafa, Hull continued, has given no indication of his future plans. Hull saw no basis for him to be granted refugee status, but said that if Mustafa makes such a claim he could remain in Canada while his case is being reviewed. The GoC could also decide to declare him persona non grata. The RCMP is providing security for the Iraqi Embassy and is escorting Mustafa due to concerns about potential demonstrators. ¶3. (S) COMMENT: The GoC has been very helpful to us in working with Mustafa, and we have concurred with their reasons for not expelling him from Canada (ref. B). The GoC is now taking a wait-and-see approach on how to deal with him. The Foreign Affairs spokesperson has said it would be up to the new Iraqi Government to decide whether to withdraw current diplomats. CELLUCCI =======================CABLE ENDS============================