AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR AGREES TO REQUEST DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004637 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2016 TAGS: PHUM PREL IO IZ SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR AGREES TO REQUEST DEMARCHE ON UNAMI DRAWDOWN REF: A. BAGHDAD 4581 ¶B. BAGHDAD 4593 Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In a December 19 meeting, the Ambassador discussed the UN drawdown with his Australian counterpart, Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown (ref A). The Ambassador stressed the importance of a robust UN presence in Iraq, emphasizing that the UN was the most appropriate body to take the lead on issues like constitutional review, reconciliation initiatives and the final status of Kirkuk. He noted that UN officials had expressed concerns about security in Baghdad, however they also have a large facility in Erbil that remains vacant and from which they could monitor and conduct activities that remains vacant. ¶2. (C) The Australian Ambassador agreed, adding that the UN's presence during the upcoming election cycle was crucial. At the Ambassador's request, Innes-Brown said that he would ask the Foreign Office in Canberra to send a demarche request to the Australian mission to the UN, strongly urging the UN to reconsider the drawdown. KHALILZAD