ZEBARI PROMISES UNAMI RENEWAL LETTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002362 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP - BRIDGET LINES E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UK UN IZ SUBJECT: ZEBARI PROMISES UNAMI RENEWAL LETTER REF: STATE 78542 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Robert Ford for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) PolMinCouns July 27 conveyed to FM Zebari reftel suggested text for the necessary GOI letter requesting renewal of UNAMI's mandate. Zebari noted that Iraq's UN Mission in New York had already informed the MFA on the need to transmit a letter to the UN prior to Security Council action on the UNAMI renewal resolution. Without commenting directly on the suggested U.S. text, Zebari stressed that the language of this year's resolution must be consistent with last year's resolution 1770 and be clear that UNAMI will only operate with the consent of the GOI. ¶2. (C) FM Zebari said as soon as the letter is drafted he will seek the approval of PM Maliki -- something he expected would happen within the necessary timeframe. He noted that some may try to tie UNAMI renewal to the ongoing SFA discussions but did not signal that that posed a serious problem. Zebari characterized the overall work of SRSG Di Mistura as very good -- as is his personal relationship with Di Mistura. Zebari noted that Di Mistura "had made a big mistake" with the recent release of UNAMI's first report on Disputed Internal Boundaries (DIBs). Since then, however, Di Mistura has been working to repair his relations with the Kurds who felt the first DIBs report was unbalanced. Zebari said he was facilitating that effort and that "ideally" Di Mistura would continue as the SRSG in the year ahead. CROCKER