MFA EMPHASIZES COOPERATIVE SPIRIT ON DRAFT IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 007496

SIPDIS

CORRECTED COPY OF PARIS 7492 -- MISSING TEXT IN PARAS 2-4

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2015
TAGS: PARM PREL IZ UNSC
SUBJECT: MFA EMPHASIZES COOPERATIVE SPIRIT ON DRAFT IRAQ
UNSCR, SUGGESTS "MINOR" PREAMBULAR CHANGES

REF: STATE 201053

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons
1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This message contains a guidance request in para 4.


2. (C) Poloff discussed the new Iraq UNSCR (reftel) November
2 with MFA UN/Iraq desk officer Nicolas Kassianides, who had
sent instructions on the draft text earlier in the day to the
French UN Mission in New York. Kassianides stressed that the
GoF remained in a "cooperative spirit" on the draft text, and
that the GoF would make "one or two" minor suggested edits to
the preambular section. According to Kassianides, one likely
GoF-suggested change would be for the preambular language to
more clearly express the linkage between the capacity of
Iraqi forces and the eventual withdrawal of the multinational
force; on this point, Kassianides, pressed by poloff,
clarified that the GoF was not seeking to hasten MNF-1's
departure, suggest a withdrawal timetable, or seek any sort
of confrontation. He suggested that perhaps some language
from the U.S. letter to the UNSC (reftel) on the transfer of
security responsibility from MNF to Iraqi security forces
could be added to the draft text; poloff noted that letter in
question, along with the extension request letter from the
Iraqi government, would be appended to the new UNSCR.


3. (C) On the proposed 12 month extension of MNF-1,
Kassianides observed personally that this was longer than one
might expect for a technical rollover, though the
instructions he sent to New York did not address this point.
He said that the GoF understood U.S. firmness on the 12-month
extension, and suggested that the GoF would not seek a
confrontation on this point. At the same time, he suggested
that the GoF might seek a bit more flexibility on the
proposed review of the MNF-1 mandate eight months after
adoption of the resolution, and asked why not six months,
given the Iraqi constitutional calendar. Poloff stressed the
need for the Council to be responsive to what the Iraqi
government had requested, and allow the newly elected Iraqi
government to assume office, consolidate its authority and
address constitutional issues before confronting UNSC issues.
Poloff added that the proposed review clause in the draft
text would give Iraq's new government the opportunity to
request a review of the mandate at any time. Kassianides
accepted the point, but suggested that the GoF might probe
for flexibility on the mandate review timing in discussions
in New York.


4. (C) In passing, Kassianides asked for clarification on
U.S. intentions to pursue a second Syria/Lebanon UNSCR to
respond to the recently issued UNSCR 1559 implementation
report, and asked how such a resolution might be sequenced
with the adoption of the draft Iraq UNSCR and to what extent
it would address Iraq. Poloff responded by reiterating our
determination to adopt the Iraq UNSCR quickly and
consensually, as reftel guidance suggested, on or about
November 9. Action request for Washington: Please advise on
how to respond to the French query on timing for a second
Syria/Lebanon UNSCR and possible elements.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
Stapleton