Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAGHDAD2957
2007-09-04 10:24:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR CROCKER AND SRSG QAZI'S SEPTEMBER 1

Tags:  TAGS 
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VZCZCXRO7302
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #2957/01 2471024
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 041024Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3174
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0197
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC//NSC// PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0632
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
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
-------------------------

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