BERLIN SEEKS PERMANENT PRESENCE IN IRBIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003324

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ
SUBJECT: BERLIN SEEKS PERMANENT PRESENCE IN IRBIL


Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) Summary: In an October 1 meeting with the Ambassador,
German Ambassador Dr. Hanns-Heinrich Schumacher revealed a
plan to establish a permanent presence in Irbil, and relayed
Kurdish frustration with the detention of the latest Iranian.
Schumacher also asked "what does the U.S. expect Germany to
do in Iraq?" Ambassador Crocker suggested expanded
international engagement, including greater support for the
International Compact for Iraq (ICI) and support for the
United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq's (UNAMI) expanded
mandate. The German Ambassador also expressed a concern with
the Government of Iraq's (GOI) support for the International
Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC). End Summary.

--------------
KRG Presence
--------------


2. (C) Germany will seek to establish a permanent presence in
Irbil, stated Ambassador Schumacher. He said that it had
been a mistake for them to maintain an honorary consul and
they needed a more robust presence. "I have submitted my
recommendation to Berlin," he stated, "to dispatch my Deputy
Chief of Mission to Irbil to do a thorough report." One
possibility, he explained, would be to establish a joint
diplomatic presence with the British or the French.
Ambassador Schumacher explained that already in four or five
countries the German diplomatic service has common offices
with the French, the British, or both. The Ambassador
admitted that this was an intriguing idea that could work
well in Iraq.

--------------
Iranians
--------------


3. (C) "The Kurds in Berlin have expressed dismay over the
arrest of this last Iranian," said Ambassador Schumacher.
"They complain that there is no evidence to support the
charges," he continued. The Ambassador assured Ambassador
Schumacher that the coalition had shared evidence with
President Talabani and that since then Talabani has not made
any public statements about the case.

--------------
UNAMI Support
--------------


4. (C) Ambassador Schumacher expressed skepticism about an
expanded UNAMI engagement. He asked whether we could
realistically expect a greater UNAMI role if they remain
restricted to the International Zone. He also asserted that
the turnover of top UNAMI leadership will delay initiatives.
The Ambassador pointed out that UNAMI is restricted to the
International Zone only if they choose to be, and that new
Special Representative to the Secretary General (SRSG)
Staffan De Mistura had successful crisis management
experience in Lebanon. The Ambassador also stated that De
Mistura will emphasize residency for himself and his staff in
Baghdad, which will improve UNAMI effectiveness with the GOI.

--------------
International Committee for the Red Cross
--------------


5. (C) Ambassador Schumacher closed by asserting that the GOI
is refusing to conclude a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
with the ICRC, which is blocking the ICRC's entry to Iraq.
The Ambassador said he would look into it and if true, would
raise the issue with the Prime Minister. (Note: UNAMI Chief
Human Rights Officer Hania Mufti told poloff on October 2
that negotiations of the MOU between the GOI and the ICRC
were going well and were on track. Her sense was that the
GOI was supportive of the ICRC and that it was the ICRC who
was not rushing the MOU, because they had not yet resolved
how to handle security on the ground. End Note.)
CROCKER