UN SRSG QAZI'S RESPONSE TO DRAWDOWN CONCERNS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004656

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL PHUM IO UN IZ
SUBJECT: UN SRSG QAZI'S RESPONSE TO DRAWDOWN CONCERNS

REF: A. BAGHDAD 4593

B. BAGHDAD 4581

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador expressed strong concern December
20 to UN Special Representative to the Secretary General
(SRSG) Ashraf Qazi over a planned UNAMI reduction of staff in
Iraq. The Ambassador pressed Qazi on the reason for the
drawdown and stressed the continuing need for strong UN
engagement in the key areas of constitutional revision and
national reconciliation. In response, Qazi outlined his
concerns over security, emphasizing the zero tolerance HQ UN
has for risk in Iraq by claiming that just one UN death here
could precipitate a total UNAMI pull out. Qazi told
Ambassador the transition to a new Secretary General has put
UNMAMI in a holding pattern and that a comprehensive security
review will take place in January which could raise the
reduced manning ceiling from 55 to as high as 65. END
SUMMARY.

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UN'S ZERO TOLERANCE FOR RISK
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2. (C) On December 20, Ambassador met with SRSG Ashraf Qazi
to express strong concern over a planned 40 percent UNAMI
reduction of staff in Iraq (Ref A). The Ambassador
emphasized to Qazi the impact such a decision will have,
particularly at such a critical juncture in Iraqi's history
and at this particular phase in the development of democracy
in Iraq.


3. (C) Qazi told the Ambassador the decision to draw down was
based on strong security concerns, saying there was now a
zero tolerance for risk at HQ UN and a belief in the rising
likelihood there would be a security incident within the IZ
itself. The Ambassador pressed Qazi on this issue. Stating
we were all at risk, Ambassador asked Qazi to explain what
was meant by zero tolerance and if the UN had specific
intelligence UNAMI was being targeted. Qazi said they did
not, there was an elevated general concern that someone could
smuggle weapons or an explosive into the International Zone
(IZ) and mount an attack. Qazi told Ambassador the concern
was so great at HQ UN that if a UN employee were to be
killed, he feared UNAMI would be forced to "pack up and
leave."


4. (C) Qazi told the Ambassador that the UN would be
conducting a security review in January and there was some
flexibility in the now reduced staffing ceiling, which could
be raised from 55 to as high as 65 (Ref B). As part of this
review, UN Undersecretary General for Safety and Security,
David Vaness, is expected to visit Baghdad. In addition to
concern over a specific incident or indirect fire, Qazi also
noted more general concerns over changes in the configuration
and security of the IZ as the US prepared to move into the
new embassy compound and expressed a need for close
coordination on this issue.

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LACK OF "POLITICAL SPACE" FOR UNAMI
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5. (C) In addition to security concerns, Qazi also expressed
frustration over what he called a "lack of political space"
that UNAMI has been given to work within. Qazi said that in
what should be its core area, reconciliation, UNAMI is
underutilized and not being asked to help or engaged by the
Iraqi political parties. He said the mood within the
Constitutional Review Committee is to "go slow." The Shia
are unwilling to make any significant concession to the Sunni
on the Constitution or accept UNAMI advice on anything other
then minor technical issues. Speaking more broadly, Qazi
said that the transition to a new UN Secretary General has
put UNAMI into a holding pattern and they can not pursue any
new initiatives at this time without the UN itself providing
clarity on what role UNAMI might play. Qazi expressed
optimism that expected high level talks in New York with the
US early next year will result in a well coordinated and
synchronized effort between the US and UNAMI in Iraq.


6. (C) Ambassador stressed to Qazi that despite the
difficulties, UNAMI's role in Iraq is critical. UNAMI can
and must have people on the ground who can engage contacts.
Strong engagement by the UN through UNAMI on the core areas
of human rights, democracy and reconciliation will make all
the difference and UNAMI must take the lead on constitutional
reform. Ambassador concluded by urging Qazi to push for full
UNAMI engagement and higher manning levels as a commitment to

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the Iraqi and her people.
KHALILZAD