U.S.-IRAQ SOFA NEGOTIATIONS: ROUND 2 PRODUCES SOME

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 001536 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2018 TAGS: MARR PREL KTIA IZ SUBJECT: U.S.-IRAQ SOFA NEGOTIATIONS: ROUND 2 PRODUCES SOME AGREED TEXT REF: BAGHDAD 1037 Classified By: Acting PolMil Counselor Karen H. Sasahara. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: The U.S. and Iraqi Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) negotiation teams met in Baghdad April 22 to May 11. The talks have recessed at the request of the GOI, which will be sending part of its SOFA negotiating team to Turkey, Germany, Japan, and Korea to discuss with those governments the implementation of their SOFAs with the U.S. The two sides made substantial progress in negotiating the text, coming to agreement on a number of provisions. Key differences remain, including on Status of Personnel, Authorities for Combat and Detention Operations, Jurisdiction over Certain Contractors, and Taxation. The teams plan to reconvene in early June, possibly in Washington. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (S) The two sides came to agreement on the following provisions of the draft SOFA: Article II: Pol-Mil Consultations Article III: Respect for Laws Article IV: Definitions: 5 of 7 paragraphs agreed Article V: Property Ownership Article XIII: Bearing Arms and Wearing Uniforms Article XVII: Licenses Article XVIII: Official Vehicles Article XXIII: Attachments Article XXIV: Implementation and Disputes: 2 of 3 paragraphs agreed Article XXV: Entry into Force, Amendment and Termination ¶3. (S) Other articles are near agreement: Preamble Article I: Scope and Purpose Article VI: Use of Agreed Facilities and Areas Article VII: Positioning of Defense Materiel Article VIII: Protection of the Environment Article XIV: Entry and Exit Article IX: Movement of Vehicles, Vessels, and Aircraft Article XX: Currency and Exchange Annex A: List of Agreed Facilities and Areas ¶4. (S) Articles and Provisions Requiring Substantial Additional Work: Article X: Contracting Article XI: Utilities and Telecommunications Article XII: Status of Personnel Article XV: Import/Export Article XVI: Taxation Article XIX: Service Support Activities Article XXI: Claims Article XXII: Extension to other States Attachment 1: Combat Operations Attachment 2: Detention Operations Attachment: Jurisdiction over Certain Contractors ¶5. (S) COMMENT: Negotiations are proceeding at a good pace, and the teams expect to come to agreement on substantial portions of the text when they meet again in June. END COMMENT. ¶6. (U) Lead SOFA Negotiator Ambassador Loftis has cleared this message. CROCKER