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