NEW ZEALAND SENDS "ONE-OFF" MILITARY LIAISON

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000092

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/ANP, NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND SENDS "ONE-OFF" MILITARY LIAISON
OFFICER TO BAGHDAD WITH UN

REF: 04 WELLINGTON 824

Classified By: ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION KATHERINE B. HADDA, REASO
N 1.4 (B, D)


1. (U) The GoNZ announced January 31 that it will station one
military liaison officer in Baghdad to work in the UN
Assistance Mission. The soldier's work will include liaising
with the MNF and the interim Iraqi Government's security
forces, and the one-year deployment will be served in two
six-month installments. In making the announcement, Prime
Minister Clark noted that the deployment was a "one-off," and
that the GoNZ had not received any additional requests for
troops from either the UN or the USG. She also commended the
strong turnout in the Iraqi elections, but expressed concern
over low Sunni turnout, stating "it is going to be very
important if Iraq if to go forward, that there is the maximum
degree of inclusion."


2. (U) Clark noted that the liaison officer will maintain
NZ's profile as an active participant in UN peacekeeping
operations - a profile which has flagged since participation
in East Timor. New Zealand's initial 12-month military
deployment to Iraq ended September 25, 2004 (reftel) with the
homecoming of over 60 engineers and support staff. At that
time Clark confirmed that no further deployments to Iraq were
being considered, although even then she indicated a
willingness to look favorably on a request from the UN for
one or two military officers to serve in UN headquarters in
Baghdad.


3. (C) Comment: Clark's decision to assign an officer to
Iraq under UN auspices is in keeping in tone with earlier
comments (reftel,) and allows Clark's Government to remain
involved in a significant UN operation. While it also
enables NZ to continue to distance its presence in Iraq from
the US and the Coalition, we predict that the Government will
still try to take credit for the move when speaking with USG
officials. The assignment of one officer also reflects the
GoNZ's efforts to balance a small, overstretched military
force with a strong commitment to peacekeeping efforts
worldwide. Clark's lament that NZ's peacekeeping activities
have declined since East Timor reaffirms the Government's
view that NZ's peacekeeping capabilities are an effective
vehicle for increasing NZ's public profile within the
multilateral system.
Swindells