DEPUTY SRSG SCHULENBURG WARNS DCM OF THE UNAMI

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002762 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UN IZ SUBJECT: DEPUTY SRSG SCHULENBURG WARNS DCM OF THE UNAMI SECOND QUARTER HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Patricia A. Butenis for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) second quarter human rights report will be as "shocking and heavy handed" as the first quarter report, said Acting Special Representative to the Secretary General (SRSG) Michael Schulenburg (protect) in an August 17 meeting with the DCM. He noted that UNAMI does not plan to share the report with the Embassy before it is publicly released. Schulenburg also stated that he plans to resign once the new SRSG is appointed. End Summary. -------------- HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT -------------- ¶2. (C) DCM pressed for UNAMI to honor its commitment to hold consultations with the Embassy and the Government of Iraq (GOI) on the second quarter human rights report prior to its release. Schulenburg stated that the report was written, but that UNAMI Chief Human Rights Officer Hania Mufti did not intend to provide the Embassy or the GOI with an advance copy. When DCM asked for Schulenburg's impression of the content and tone of the report, Schulenburg replied that it would be as "shocking and heavy handed" as the first quarter report. ¶3. (C) Poloff pointed out that, following the release of the first quarter report, UNAMI and the GOI came to an agreement whereby the GOI would grant Mufti greater access to prisons and detainees in exchange for a greater spirit of cooperation and UNAMI's promise to afford the GOI an opportunity to review and comment on the second quarter report before its release. Schulenburg admitted that the GOI had met its side of the bargain, but that Mufti felt her "shock" approach with the first quarter report had been so successful in getting greater access that she intended to repeat it. Schulenburg lamented that this "shock" approach is an NGO approach and not appropriate for a UN mission. (Note: Hania Mufti was employed by Human Rights Watch immediately prior to joining UNAMI. End Note.) Schulenburg asserted that Mufti was demonstrating clear bias, which would further damage UNAMI's reputation with the GOI because "the report only presents one side." ¶4. (C) Schulenburg stated that he has embargoed the report, as he disagrees with both its content and methodology, but that he expects it to be released once SRSG Ashraf Qazi returns from vacation on August 26. -------------- THE NEXT SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE -------------- ¶5. (C) Schulenburg stated that he would "definitely not" stay on once the new SRSG is announced, although he didn't know what he might do next; "maybe I will retire," he said. Schulenburg felt the protracted delay in appointing a new SRSG is "really bad," and warned that who we pick would send a strong signal as to how seriously we take the UN. Schulenburg did not feel that either Staffan Di Mistura or the former Romanian ambassador to Iraq were the strongest available candidates, although he did not propose anyone else. (Note: Schulenburg is actively lobbying for the SRSG position and Prime Minister Maliki at least once mentioned his name as a possible candidate to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. End Note.) -------------- EXPANDED MANDATE -------------- ¶6. (C) DCM asked Schulenburg for his opinion of the expanded UNAMI mandate. Schulenburg said that the main obstacle to implementing the expanded mandate would be Prime Minister Maliki and his entourage. Schulenburg opined that, despite the appearance at least twenty times in the mandate of the phrase "upon the request of the Government of Iraq," the Prime Minister and his Dawa party still feel "paranoid and cornered." Schulenburg said UNAMI has to rebuild its relationship with the Prime Minister, his advisors, and the Presidency Council, but that this would have to wait for the new SRSG. CROCKER