PM OFFICE BLAMES UNAMI STAFFER FOR BIASED HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001434

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN IZ
SUBJECT: PM OFFICE BLAMES UNAMI STAFFER FOR BIASED HUMAN
RIGHTS REPORT


Classified By: Classified by Deputy Political Counselor Robert Gilchris
t for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Prime Minister Maliki's staff has expressed
concerns to post about what it characterizes as "inaccuracies
and misrepresentations" in the United Nations Assistance
Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) human rights report released April

24. UNAMI did not consult substantially with the GOI in
advance on the report, as it had similarly failed to consult
with the U.S. The PM's staff has accused one of the key
drafters of the report of pro-Sunni bias and may expel him
from the country. The report, at least for the time being,
has damaged UNAMI's relationship with the GOI. End Summary.


2. (C) On April 26, Political Advisor to the Prime Minister
George Bakoos recounted to poloffs an April 23 meeting
between the Prime Minister's Office and UNAMI officials on
the then-pending UN Human Rights Report on Iraq. The Prime
Minister's Office objected to the report because of what
Bakoos characterized as "inaccuracies and misrepresentations"
of the situation in Iraq as well as UNAMI allegations that
the GOI sought to hide the extent of casualties by failing to
provide official figures. Bakoos said that, in addition to
himself, present at the meeting with UNAMI were Minister of
Human Rights Wijdan Salim, PM Foreign Relations Advisor Dhuha
Al-Zubaidi; and from UNAMI, Special Representative to the
Secretary General (SRSG) Ashraf Qazi, Human Rights Officer

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Ivana Vuco, and Human Rights Officer Said Arikat.


3. (C) According to Bakoos, SRSG Qazi initially agreed in the
meeting that the Iraqis could have one week to present
rebuttal data, said Bakoos. However, recounted Bakoos, Said
Arikat stepped in and said "No, the report will be released
tomorrow." After this statement, SRSG Qazi changed his
position. Bakoos recounted that the GOI team then reportedly
asked Qazi "Who is the Ambassador for UNAMI, you or him".
According to Bakoos, further discussion underscored that
Arikat controlled the report release process, not Qazi or
Vuco.


4. (C) Bakoos added that after the meeting, the Prime
Minister's Office researched Said Arikat, who appeared to be
able to overrule an SRSG. Bakoos told poloffs that they
discovered that Said Arikat is a Palestinian, with many
previous writings and interviews on Al-Jazeera that are
critical of the United States and Iraq, and in which he
repeatedly advances the premise that a new Iraq will ally
with Israel against the Sunni Arab world. "How can such a
person be involved with the UNAMI team?" asked Bakoos.


5. (C) Bakoos stated that PM Chief of Staff Tarek Abdullah is
very concerned and that the GOI plans to declare Said Arikat
a persona-non-grata. Furthermore, SRSG Qazi's credibility is
damaged beyond repair, he posited. Poloff inquired if this
would affect other aspects of the UNAMI engagement in Iraq.
Bakoos replied that no, each area of engagement is evaluated
on its own merits, but a new SRSG is required and current
feeling among the Prime Minister's advisors is that he/she
should not be Muslim. Bakoos added that he was concerned the
UNAMI Human Rights report content might agitate the Sunni
representation within the Council of Representatives, and
therefore escalate sectarian conflict. On the other hand,
Bakoos noted that although the Council of Ministers had not
yet discussed the report, he believed there would be
consensus that the report is biased. He also said that the
PM's office had not yet received any reactions from Arab
neighbors on the topic.


6. (SBU) Bakoos informed PolOffs that Minister Wijdan plans
to release a detailed response to UNAMI on either April 29 or
April 30, and a press conference would follow.

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