GOI SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED UNSCR; LIBYA HOLD ON

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 001050

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

TREAS, NSC, STATE FOR IO/PSC-CROWE, IO/UNP-EGOLDRICH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018
TAGS: ETTC IZ PREL PTER XF
SUBJECT: GOI SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED UNSCR; LIBYA HOLD ON
UNSCR 1267 DESIGNATION

REF: A. BAGHDAD 00987


B. BAGHDAD 00994

C. SECSTATE 19145

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY EMIN CHARLES RIES FOR REASONS 1.5(b) AND 1
.5(d)


1. EMIN, accompanied by Acting Economic Counselor and Deputy
Treasury Attach, met with Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on
Tuesday, April 1, to discuss GOI interest in either revising
the scope of UNSCR 1518 or taking the lead to lobby for the
passage of a new UNSCR that will target Iraqis and third
country nationals/entities who assist the insurgency and/or
threaten the peace and stability of
Iraq. This meeting followed earlier meetings with the
National Security Advisor and the Minister of Finance
(reftels a and b).


2. EMIN shared with FM Zebari a letter signed jointly by
Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus, urging Prime
Minister Nuri al-Maliki to support this effort. EMIN
stressed that we would want that the initiative be perceived
as an Iraqi one, although the U.S. was ready to offer
assistance in drafting the proposal.


3. The FM agreed, calling the proposition "a wonderful idea."
He noted that accurate intelligence would be necessary for
targeting the individuals and entities. The FM added that
the evidence in support of designations had to be watertight,
in order to win over the neighbor countries, which would have
"sensitivities" toward actions under the new or expanded
UNSCR. He planned to form a committee of colleagues both
within the MFA and in other ministries (Intel, Justice,
Finance) to work this issue.


4. EMIN pointed out that the first step was to receive the
necessary legal authority through passage or amendment of an
UNSCR; the designation of targets would follow. The GOI would
need to reach a decision soonest on whether to propose a new
UNSCR versus an expanded UNSCR 1518. EMIN asked the FM,s
views on approaching the Government of Libya to bring the
proposal to the Security Council. The FM responded that
although the GOI and the GOL maintained cordial relations, it
would not be reasonable to expect the GOL to take such a lead
based on Qaddafi,s speech at the Arab Summit in Damascus
over the past weekend (ref a).


5. On a separate issue, EMIN also requested that the GOI
discuss with the GOL the hold which Tripoli has placed on
Badran Turki Hishan al Mazidih and three others the USG and
the GOI wish to designate under UNSCR 1267 (ref c). FM
promised that the GOI would discuss the issue with the GOL
via a letter (the GOL does not have an embassy in Baghdad).
BUTENIS