UN/IRAQ: UNSC QUARTERLY MEETING ON UNAMI AND MNF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000589 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2014 TAGS: PREL UNSC PGOV IZ SUBJECT: UN/IRAQ: UNSC QUARTERLY MEETING ON UNAMI AND MNF REF: A) STATE 40608B) USUN 454 USUN NEW Y 00000589 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Ambassador John R. Bolton, Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Begin Summary. In the March 15 UNSC meeting on Iraq, SRSG Qazi expressed concerns about sectarian violence and the human rights situation in Iraq, but described success in meeting the benchmarks in the political process. On behalf of the MNF, Ambassador Bolton briefed progress in transferring responsibility for security to the Iraqis. Iraqi DPR al-Istrabadi urged an increased UN presence in Iraq and called on Iraq's neighbors to comply with UNSCR obligations to prevent the flow of foreign fighters across the border. In informal consultations, UNSC members urged rapid government formation and expressed concerns about sectarian violence and the human rights situation. France expressed concern about the threat of civil war and urged a timetable for MNF withdrawal. Russia also expressed concerns about civil war, claimed Syria was playing a more helpful role on the border, and suggested a new UNSCR would be needed with the conclusion of the political process under UNSCR ¶1546. End Summary. Public Meeting -------------- ¶2. (U) Full text of statements by SRSG Qazi, U.S. Ambassador Bolton, and Iraqi Deputy Permrep al-Istrabadi are available at www.un.org. ¶3. (U) SRSG Qazi said the political transition benchmarks have largely been met, but significant challenges persist. Pointing to the recent Samarra bombing and the subsequent violence, he said the sectarian divide must be overcome. He urged all efforts - from neighbors, the UNSC and the Iraqis themselves - to strengthen the national compact, and said UNAMI would continue to work within the mandate established by UNSCR 1546 (2004) to help the Iraqi parties reach an agreement on government formation. Qazi said he has proposed a regional contact group and would pursue this idea at the March 28 Arab League meeting in Khartoum. He expressed support for a June Arab League conference of Iraqi leaders. He said UNAMI wants to increase its activities, especially in the humanitarian and development fields and given the deteriorating human rights situation, but security continues to constrain mobility and operations. He said UNAMI will expand activities responsibly; expansion will be ;demand-driven and used the UN' s comparative advantage, but it will not necessarily include an increase in staff. Qazi said if a more robust UN role is needed, the UN needs more support, including the provision of dedicated air assets. ¶3. (U) Per Ref A, on behalf of the MNF, Ambassador Bolton provided an update on the security situation in Iraq and MNF efforts to transition security responsibilities to the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). He detailed recent example where the ISF has assumed the lead for operations, and he echoed the call on the UN to play the fullest possible role in Iraq. ¶4. (U) Iraqi DPR al-Istrabadi praised recent positive political developments in Iraq and efforts to transfer security responsibility to the ISF. He said negotiations on the formation of a national unity government would take time, but a sense of enfranchisement would be vital, and he looked forward to the negotiations' successful conclusion. He linked economic development with political stabilization and called on the international community to engage in Iraq and on donors to fulfill their pledges. Istrabadi expressed appreciation to the SYG and SRSG, but urged an increase in the number of UNAMI staff in Baghdad, Basra and Erbil. He condemned the recent sectarian violence in Iraq, welcomed UNSC condemnation of terrorism in Iraq, and renewed the call on neighbors to abide by the obligations of reaffirmed in UNSCR 1618 (2005) to undertake specific acts to prevent terrorism in Iraq. He welcomed constructive criticism of Iraq's human rights situation and reiterated his government's commitment to the respect of human rights and the rule of law, but criticized the discussion of human rights contained in the SYG's March 3 USUN NEW Y 00000589 002.2 OF 003 quarterly report on UNAMI (S/2006/137). He said the report takes inadequate account of the extent to which insecurity constrains the Government's ability to implement its human rights agenda and fails to identify terrorism itself as a an unacceptable attack on human rights. Istrabadi urged a normalization of Iraq's relationship with the UNSC and an end to the barriers and sanctions imposed during the Saddam period. He asked the UNSC to review and rescind prior mandates that are no longer relevant, given the new Iraqi leadership. (Note: Iraqi PR Sumaida'ie is in Baghdad to receive his credentials as Iraqi Ambassador to the U.S.) Informal Meeting -------------- ¶5. (C) France: After the UNSC moved into the informal chamber, French PR de la Sabliere expressed significant concern about the chaotic situation and levels of violence in Iraq. He urged a genuinely representative government that meets the challenges of economic and political reconstruction and said that only a genuinely inclusive process, including a constitutional review, could remedy the current situation. He acknowledged that training the ISF is a key element of Iraq's political transition, but insisted that a timetable for MNF withdrawal is essential. He urged a role in political reconciliation for the UN, which he said is a neutral body with the necessary credibility. He encouraged UNAMI to advise and train the Iraqi authorities to ensure improved human rights, and he looked forward to a normalized relationship between Iraq and the UNSC. ¶6. (C) UK: PR Jones Parry praised the work of SRSG Qazi and UNAMI, especially on the elections, and welcomed the recent decisions by the policy committee, which contained the SYG's assurances that the UN will continue its role (Ref B). He said the IECI will need strong support for the local elections and urged the UN to provide this support and to put the right team in place for that purpose. He advocated the most active role possible, but acknowledged that the security-related concerns of the SYG and SRSG. He especially encouraged an increased role in humanitarian, development and reconstruction activities. Jones Parry said the international community, especially Iraq's neighbors, must rally behind Iraq; neighbors and others with influence must use it. He said he shared the SYG's concerns about the human rights situation in Iraq and pressed the Iraqi authorities to report quickly and credibly on abuses. ¶7. (C) Jones Parry said the transfer of responsibility to the ISF continues, and one or two southern provinces would be handed over to the ISF shortly. He said draw down of MNF forces must be coordinated with the UN to prevent a security vacuum and to ensure that it takes place in accordance with international human rights standards. He rejected de la Sabliere's calls for a timetable for withdrawal; that would play into the hands of terrorists, who would wait out the timetable, and that is not what the Iraqi authorities want. He said withdrawal of the MNF would be a sign of success, but ironically it could be a problem for the UN, which relies on the MNF for security. He advised that the UN address this problem by assuming additional responsibility for its own security and undertaking a responsible degree of planning. ¶8. (C) Russia: PR Denisov said he shared the assessment and conclusions of the SYG and that he hoped the UN would continue to assist Iraq. Noting that Ambassador Bolton had told the UNSC that Syria has not adequately complied with UNSC requirements relating to the border, he acknowledged that this had been a problem. But, he alleged, there had been a change in Syrian policy and a resulting decline in the flow of illegal Syrian fighters into Iraq. He said the threat of full-scale civil war exists in Iraq, and the international community must prevent it. He said he expects there will be another UNSCR; all the political benchmarks of UNSCR 1546 have been met. He also noted that all outstanding disarmament issues should be resolved. ¶9. (C) Following consultations, Russian PolOff pursued these themes with USUN PolOff. He said Syrian border patrols are imperfect, but are much improved and have successfully USUN NEW Y 00000589 003.2 OF 003 reduced the movement of foreign fighters into Iraq. He said with the political process laid out by the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) and endorsed by UNSCR 1546 completed, a new UNSCR is needed to detail the UNAMI mandate and reiterate the international community's commitment to Iraq. He acknowledged a new UNSCR could probably not be contemplated before the new Iraqi government is formed and has taken a view on this issue, but he identified June and August as appropriate points to consider the issue; the UNSC will review the MNF mandate in June, and UNAMI's mandate expires in August. ¶10. (C) China: PR Wang described the recent violence in Samarra as warning bell and said the current sectarian strife prompts concerns about the threat of civil war. He said the political process must be more inclusive, and the living conditions of Iraqis must be improved. ¶11. (C) Elected Members: The E10 expressed concern about recent sectarian violence and urged swift progress in government formation and the creation of an inclusive, representative government. They expressed strong support for UNAMI and concerns about the human rights situation. They recognized the need to improve Iraqi living conditions and condemned terrorist attacks. Slovakia committed to remain in the Coalition as long as required by Iraq. Japan said that it would increase assistance when security improves and urged donors to honor their pledges. PR Oshima also noted the recent letter of PM Koizumi to senior Iraqi leaders urging government formation. Qatar looked forward to the withdrawal of foreign forces, without mention of a timetable, and also to the July conference sponsored by the Arab League. PR al Nasser also urged the UNSC to rescind all restrictions on Iraq that were imposed in response to the Saddam government. Ghana made a strong plea for the necessary air assets to be provided to UN AMI. ¶12. (C) SRSG Qazi: Offering more interesting and personal views in the informal chamber of the UNSC, Qazi said the achievements in the political process have not yet translated into a more security situation. He noted that violence is significant in only 4 or 5 of the 18 governorates, but that these governorates - which include Baghdad - impact the rest of the country. He looked forward to the seating of the Council of Representatives and said he hoped that this would be a significant development, given the large increase in Sunni representation on the Council. He noted that analyzing the Parliament in terms of sectarian composition is double-edged; the increase in Sunni representation is a criterion for political progress, but the focus on sectarian divisions is not helpful. Qazi said he saw no real prospect of a descent into civil war, but nor does he see a reason for complacency; he described a risk that violence would force Iraq to slip into ungovernability. He agreed that the UN could play a more robust role in Iraq, and identified the constitutional review and local elections as key areas of UN attention, but said if UNAMI is play a more robust role, it will need more robust facilities. BOLTON