NEW UNAMI SRSG TO FOCUS ON ARTICLE 140 IMPASSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003902 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (PARA MARKINGS CHANGED) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL TU IR UN IZ SUBJECT: NEW UNAMI SRSG TO FOCUS ON ARTICLE 140 IMPASSE Classified By: Senior Political Advisor David D. Pearce for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Senior Representative to the Secretary General (SRSG) Staffan De Mistura emphasized in a November 25 meeting with Senior Political Advisor that resolving the Article 140 impasse is one of UNAMI's top priorities. "My strategy is to put all my energy into those initiatives that have momentum, and this one has momentum," said De Mistura. He said former Deputy SRSG for Political Affairs Michael Von Schulenburg returned to New York optimistic after his meetings to discuss the issue in Kurdistan and Ankara. ¶2. (C) Senior Advisor agreed that, although Article 140 issues were difficult, it would be dangerous to let them simmer unaddressed. On the one hand, Kurdish public expectations were very high; and the Kurdish leadership had done little to lower them. On the other, the perception among the Sunni (Arab and Turkmen) population in the north was that the Kurds and Shia are teaming up to deprive the Sunnis of their land and rights, and that the Government of Iraq (GOI) and the coalition are complicit. Al-Qaeda trades on these fears, so leaving the matter untended feeds into the insurgency in a very dangerous way. ¶3. (C) Turning to next steps, De Mistura said he would travel to Irbil on November 26 to discuss Article 140 with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) leadership. Senior Advisor noted that the KRG leadership appears to have realized that, as a practical matter, an Article 140 referendum will not happen in 2007. But at the same time they are upset at what they see as GOI foot-dragging on putting into place any viable and active process. ¶4. (C) De Mistura said that, like the Irish, Israelis, and Sri Lankans, Barzani does not want UN Security Council intervention. "However, I will explain to him that the UN does not always mean the Security Council, and that we can provide technical advisors and experts on an issue." De Mistura thought this technical facilitation approach could be more palatable to the Kurds. Senior Advisor said it would be helpful if the GOI could agree soon, if not on resolution of the issues, then at least on a formula for how to address the matter. De Mistura agreed, and said he planned to engage Iraqi leaders on the issue in coming weeks. BUTENIS