IRAQ HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION STILL OFF MESSAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000338 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA PDAS LAROCCO AND DAS DIBBLE, NEA/RA, NEA/NGA, AND NEA/ARP BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR NEUMANN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2029 TAGS: PHUM PREL IZ BA UNHRC SUBJECT: IRAQ HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION STILL OFF MESSAGE SAYS MFA OFFICIAL REF: A. STATE 38355 ¶B. MANAMA 227 ¶C. MANAMA 217 ¶D. STATE 32070 Classified By: CDA Robert S. Ford for reasons 1.4(b)(d). 1.(C) A highly reliable senior official (strictly protect) told P/E Chief March 10 that the Iraqi Human Rights Commission delegation remains completely off message in inter-Arab meetings, according Bahrain's PermRep in Geneva (strictly protect). Our MFA source said he had briefed Ref A demarche to the PermRep, but he reported to Manama after the Arab Group meeting that the Iraqi delegation did not speak. Since then, the PermRep has reported to the MFA that the Iraqis continue to receive conflicting instructions from the Iraqi foreign ministry and the human rights ministry. The MFA official said that his PermRep perceives that the Iraqi team is exploiting the situation to strike out on its own and work contrary to USG objectives. That said, our contact assured P/E Chief that the draft Algerian resolution is dying a slow death. 2.(C) COMMENT: Our contact said that he passed this information in strictest confidence and indicated that he would have serious problems from his superiors if they learned that he discussed this information with us. Without naming anyone, our source asserted that there are senior MFA officials who are not sympathetic to USG Iraq policy. END COMMENT. 3.(U) Baghdad minimize considered. FORD