UN SECURITY COUNCIL REVIEWS MANDATE FOR THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001225

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC IZ
SUBJECT: UN SECURITY COUNCIL REVIEWS MANDATE FOR THE
MULTINATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ (MNF-I)


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1. (U) Summary: The UNSC held public and private sessions on
June 15 to review the mandate of the Multinational Force-Iraq
(MNF-I) as well as to review Development Fund for Iraq (DFI)
and International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB)
arrangements. Council members voiced unanimous support for
the continued role of MNF-I and, with the exception of Qatar,
unanimous support for sustaining the DFI/IAMB arrangements.
During the meeting, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari
called for an increased UN role in his country, increased
international support for Iraq by means of an International
Compact, and discussed the challenges facing the
newly-elected government in Iraq. Several delegations
expressed concerns about the human rights situation in Iraq
and called on MNF-I and the Iraqi security forces to act in
full accordance with international human rights and
humanitarian law. At the end of the meeting, the Council
adopted the draft press statement previously approved by the
Department. End Summary.

MNF, DFI / IAMB Review
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2. (U) There was unanimous support for the continued role of
MNF-I and, with the exception of Qatar, unanimous support for
sustaining the DFI/IAMB arrangements. Many countries
specified that MNF are still critical in building Iraqi
Security Forces (ISF) capacity. ISF capacity, in turn, would
be critical for addressing the security issues in Iraq, which
have negatively affected economic development, sectarianism,
and human rights. During the closed session, Iraqi Foreign
Minister Zebari, in an apparent effort to display Iraqi
"ownership," commented that while MNF-I presence is currently
&essential8 it will not be &indefinite.8 Additionally, a
fully functioning and capable ISF will allow Iraq to take
ownership of both its domestic and foreign affairs.
Regarding DFI/IAMB, Qatar commented that &the situation had
changed8 and that &it was time to put an end to the mandate
of IAMB,8 but noted that it would be for the Security
Council to decide.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari
On the International Compact
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3. (U) In both public and private UNSC sessions, Zebari
provided a participatory framework for an International
Compact, including the P-5, UN, World Bank, the Arab League,
and regional neighbors to build international support. He
also noted that Iraq was, in part, a regional security issue,
which requires the international community to increase its
shared responsibility. Because of this, an International
Compact would be necessary and appropriate. To show existing
support for such an initiative, he noted that he had
discussed it with EU foreign ministers and that they were
receptive. The UK and Tanzania also voiced support for the
Compact in their remarks.


4. (U) Zebari,s main theme was to internationalize both
security and economic assistance efforts in Iraq. At the
outset, Zebari noted recent security and political
developments (e.g. Zarqawi and the recent ministerial
appointments) and cited the continued challenges faced in
achieving domestic reconciliation and economic development.
Zebari called for an increased UNAMI role in Iraq, to its
&maximum capacity,8 noting that hesitancy from UN members
to &engage fully in Iraq only encourages the insurgency.8
Furthermore, Zebari cited the UN,s contributions to the
constitutional process, humanitarian and electoral
assistance, and donor coordination. In his concluding
statements, he again called on states to fulfill their donor
pledges from Madrid and Amman. Drawing on his
"internationalization" theme, Zebari noted a recently agreed
upon reconciliation conference, which will be hosted by Iraq
and the Arab League in August (Note: This was pushed back
from an original date of June 21-22. End Note.). Numerous
other speakers supported an Arab League role, led by China
(who had requested an Arab League reference in the UNSC press
statement) as well as by Denmark, Ghana, Congo, and Peru.

Human Rights Concerns
--------------


5. (U) Numerous speakers voiced concern over human rights
issues, including the UN, Japan, Slovakia, Argentina, Ghana,
Congo, and Tanzania. Speaking in the open session, Assistant
Secretary General Angela Kane tied human rights violations to

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security challenges and sectarianism, and noted a growing
problem of displaced persons. She stated that there are a
total of &approximately 1.3 million IDP,s countrywide.8
Without mentioning specific incidents, Ms. Kane noted that

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Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and MNF-I have a &particular
responsibility to act in full accordance with international
human rights and humanitarian law.8 Furthermore, she called
upon the ISF and MNF-I to ensure &full, transparent and
effective investigations of all such incidents8 of human
rights violations. To address the human rights and IDP
issues, Ms. Kane also called upon the establishment of an
Independent National Human Rights Commission and a Center for
Missing and Disappeared Persons. This initiative was later
supported by Congo.

UNAMI
--------------


6. (U) There was unanimous support for a strong UN role in
Iraq. Besides fulfilling the UN mandate as stipulated in
UNSCR 1546, A/SYG Kane noted the UN,s intention to
strengthen its activities in reconstruction and development.
Additionally, she noted that the Iraqi government could
advise the UN on how it could best fulfill its mandate. The
UN again noted logistical and security concerns making it
more difficult for them to fulfill their mandate. Denmark
called for an increased UN role, noting that the UN could
uniquely contribute to the issue of national reconciliation.
Denmark also noted their recent authorization to provide
UNAMI with a dedicated aircraft. The UNAMI mandate will be
reviewed this August.


7. (U) The UK laid out seven areas for which the UN could
increase its role in Iraq, including the following:
promoting inclusiveness and a rejection of sectarianism;
supporting the Constitutional Review process; ensuring
effective relations between provinces and Baghdad; assisting
successful provincial elections and electoral reform; working
to deliver the rule of law and improved human rights;
increasing its reconstruction and development activities;
promoting greater international support and coordinating
donor contributions.
BOLTON