AMBASSADOR CROCKER AND SRSG QAZI'S SEPTEMBER 1

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002957 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2017 TAGS: TAGS SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CROCKER AND SRSG QAZI'S SEPTEMBER 1 MEETING REF: A. NEW YORK 713 ¶B. BAGHDAD 2572 ¶C. BAGHDAD 2762 ¶D. BAGHDAD 2859 ¶E. BAGHDAD 0488 ¶F. BAGHDAD 2276 Classified By: AMBASSADOR RYAN C. CROCKER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). -------------- UNAMI HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT -------------- ¶1. (C) The USG and the GOI will be provided a copy of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq's (UNAMI) second-quarter human rights report at least a week before it is publicly released, UNAMI's Special Representative to the Secretary General (SRSG) Ashraf Qazi told Ambassador Crocker SIPDIS on September 1. A release date for the report has not yet been set; however, after feedback from UN offices in Geneva and New York is incorporated in the draft, "We will send a copy to you and the GOI," said Qazi. Areas of factual concern in the report, he noted, can be discussed. Qazi added that he hoped the GOI would respond "reasonably quickly, in a week or so" if they had feedback concerning the draft. He acknowledged the Ambassador's suggestion that allowing the report's consultation process to have a negative impact on UNAMI's expanded mandate in Iraq under UN Security Resolution 1770 is avoidable. Concerning the content of the report, Qazi told the Ambassador, "I don't think you'll be upset by it." He also suggested that perhaps UN offices in Geneva or a consultancy firm should produce the report, rather than UNAMI. -------------- NEW SRSG STILL NOT ANNOUNCED -------------- ¶2. (C) Qazi said although there is "an alleged frontrunner", there were still some questions concerning his successor. Without identifying the source, he reported to the Ambassador that he has been told his own appointment as the next SRSG to the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) is "almost a done deal." He confirmed that if appointed, he would be a resident SRSG in Khartoum. Qazi noted there had been some objections concerning the consultation process on his appointment, but there were no objections to him personally. He said he expected to be in Iraq at least through the end of Ramadan (mid-October),and that November 5 is the end date of his UNAMI contract, after which his deputy Michael Schulenburg could fill in if his successor still had not arrived. (Note: UN Secretary General Ban informed the USG August 28 that he had received agreement from Sudanese President Bashir to appoint Qazi as SRSG to UNMIS, and Steffan di Mistura would replace Qazi as the SRSG for UNAMI (ref A). End note.) -------------- EXPANDED UNAMI ROLE AND ARTICLE 140 -------------- ¶3. (C) Qazi proposed that UNAMI could facilitate political reconciliation meetings on Article 140, the constitutional provision concerning Kirkuk and the disputed territories, as well as continue its support to the Constitutional Review Committee. He assessed that there would probably not be a constitutional amendment regarding Kirkuk's status. Qazi suggested that the high-level meeting on Iraq to be held on the margins of the UN General Assembly session in late September could help clarify UNAMI's new role under its expanded mandate. The Ambassador recommended that the preparatory group that was formed for the late August Leaders Conference might be an appropriate forum for UNAMI to discuss its mandate as well as what more UNAMI can do to support the constitutional review process. -------------- IRANIAN AMBASSADOR'S INQUIRY ON IRBIL FIVE -------------- ¶4. (S) Qazi said that the Iranian Ambassador inquired about possible family visits for the "Irbil Five" -- five Iranians arrested by the Coalition in Irbil in January (ref E). The Ambassador informed Qazi that the Coalition had agreed to allow family members to visit the five Iranians, who had requested visitation by Iranian officials (rather than family members) when they were first detained. The Ambassador noted BAGHDAD 00002957 002 OF 002 that family visits could be arranged as soon as the Iranian government indicated readiness for the visits to be organized. (Note: Three Iranian diplomats visited the "Irbil Five" detainees on July 7 for five hours (ref F). End note.) CROCKER