IRAQ COMPACT UN MEETING: GERMAN RESPONSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000515 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2017 TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN EINV PGOV PREL IZ GM SUBJECT: IRAQ COMPACT UN MEETING: GERMAN RESPONSE REF: SECSTATE 29448 Classified By: DCM John M. Koenig for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Post delivered ref demarche to the Chancellery and MFA to urge senior German participation. The German government's initial plan was to have an ambassador-level official from its UN Mission represent Germany at the event. Embassy has reclamaed the German government at senior levels noting the importance of Germany, particularly given its EU and G-8 Presidency, sending high representation from capital. Officials have agreed to re-examine German plans in light of the Embassy's request. Foreign Ministry officials also report Germany plans to contribute one million dollars to the UN's request for "Middle Ring" security and plans are underway to announce a "significant" contribution to Iraq's reconstruction when Foreign Minister Steinmeier participates in an Iraq-related ministerial. End Summary. ¶2. (C) DCM urged Chancellery Deputy DG for Foreign Affairs Rolf Nikel March 12 that Germany send State Secretary-level participation, especially in view of German EU and G-8 Presidencies. Nikel said he would discuss the issue with the MFA and asked about other countries' expected level of participation. ¶3. (C) MFA Iraq Team Leader Ruediger Lotz told Global Affairs Officer the twin EU and G-8 Presidencies made difficult sending high level representation on short notice, but a high level phone call from Washington might help persuade German officials to change their minds. Americas Director Christoph Eichhorn, responding to EMIN's points about the importance of Germany sending senior level representation to the Iraq Compact event from capital, noted he had not been aware of the meeting but understood the USG's points. He agreed to make inquiries within the ministry and also push to reconsider the plans for German representation. Mission will continue to follow up on this issue. ¶4. (C) Lotz also asked about the staging of subsequent high level meetings, including whether, for example, the ministerial concluding the International Compact with Iraq (ICI) and a ministerial meeting of Iraq's neighbors might be scheduled to run on consecutive days or even be combined. Germany sees a role for the G-8 in Iraq, Lotz explained, including possibly as co-chairs of working groups of experts set up subsequent to a ministerial. ¶5. (C) German Foreign Minister Steinmeier hopes to attend such a ministerial, Lotz said, and he confided that his office had been tasked to develop a German contribution "significantly above what we have done so far" possibly in the capacity building, police training, and/or rule of law areas. Such participation in a ministerial would signal a new phase for Iraq -- and for Germany -- Lotz said. The MFA, including at senior levels, is aware that the Iraq issue will remain a challenge for some time, he continued, and Germany has to do more to help with the challenges. TIMKEN JR