UNAMI TO OPEN OFFICE IN RAMADI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003172 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2018 TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL IO IZ SUBJECT: UNAMI TO OPEN OFFICE IN RAMADI Classified By: PRT Team Leader James Soriano for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ). ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Anbar reporting cable. ¶2. (C) Summary. A UNAMI delegation led by Special Representative for the Secretary de Mistura visited Ramadi on September 29 to announce the formal opening of UNAMI operations in the province. The delegation met with Governor Ma'amoun and some two dozen local notables. The Governor held a 90-minute discussion with de Mistura, raising such issues as the challenges to economic recovery, elections, health, and education. Surprisingly, the Anbaris did not play up their long-standing concerns on the Article 140 motion to assign a large portion of southeast Anbar to Karbala Province. UNAMI envisions a seven-person office to be set up at Camp Ramadi, with the advance party arriving on October 16. The PRT is in regular contact with UNAMI to offer assistance and to ensure a smooth transition. End Summary. Official Announcement -------------- ¶3. (U) Special Representative for the Secretary General Staffan de Mistura formally announced the establishment of a UNAMI presence in Anbar Province at meetings in Ramadi on September 29 with Governor Ma'amoun Sami Rasheed and Anbari notables. Anbari Concerns -------------- ¶4. (U) De Mistura and his traveling party met with the governor in his Government Center office for 20 minutes before adjourning to the nearby sheikhs' hall where he met with two dozen or more local officials and other dignitaries, including religious clerics, directors general, tribal sheikhs, and the president of Anbar University. De Mistura told his interlocutors that he wished to hear their concerns about reconstruction and the period ahead. In a 90-minute discussion, the Anbaris spoke about the bottlenecks and hindrances to economic recovery, including high unemployment, electricity shortages, and the need to improve health delivery and education. ¶5. (SBU) On another issue, the President of Anbar University, Dr. Khalil Ibrahim Al-Duleimi, sought UNAMI assurances for a fair provincial election. De Mistura replied that UNAMI is actively engaged with the GOI to ensure that credible elections take place. He commended the Anbaris for their recent successful voter registration campaign, and encouraged them to vote on election day. He also urged the Anbaris to train local election monitors to supplement those trained by UNAMI. One speaker raised the issue of human rights, to which de Mistura stressed that UNAMI will pay special attention to receiving reports about human rights abuse. Article 140 -------------- ¶6. (C) Significantly, the audience did not play up the Article 140 motion concerning the purported assignment of a large area of southeastern Anbar to Karbala. That issue came up during previous visits by UNAMI executives and has long been a sensitive one among the local political elite. Article 140 was briefly mentioned in the last question during de Mistura's meeting with the notables. In reply, de Mistura observed that UNAMI has been absorbed with the Kirkuk Article 140 issue because of its urgency, and expressed hope that finding a political solution there would provide a formula for resolving other Article 140 disputes. (Comment: although Article 140 was not a prominent issue, it is likely that the province's political leaders will raise it again after UNAMI sets up an office.) De Mistura's Message -------------- ¶7. (C) In his presentation, de Mistura sought to lower Anbari expectations that UNAMI would come to Anbar with large sums of money for reconstruction projects. At several points in the meeting with the local notables, he observed that Iraq is a rich country and that the GOI itself has publicly said that it is less interested in foreign financial assistance than in the technical assistance needed to deploy domestic resources effectively. UNAMI will design its future programs on the latter score, de Mistura told the audience, emphasizing training and capacity-building. He congratulated the Anbaris for turning around the battle against the Insurgents. Now that security is no longer a major consideration, he said, attention must be given to improving the government's ability to govern and to encourage the BAGHDAD 00003172 002 OF 002 private sector. "Do not look to the UN to help you," de Mistura said, "but rather to help you help yourselves." ¶8. (SBU) De Mistura was accompanied on his visit by UNAMI chief of staff Siddharth Chatterjee, public information officer Said Arikat and UNDP representative Ugo Bott. The delegation was escorted by the PRT leader, who excused himself from the meeting with the governor so as to allow de Mistura to represent the UN without Coalition presence. De Mistura later indicated that the meeting with the governor was a courtesy call; no substance was discussed. Press was present at both meetings. Coordination with the PRT and MNF-West -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Prior to and after the visit to the Government Center, the UNAMI delegation received briefings from PRT and MNF-West staff, including a meeting with the MNF-West Deputy Commanding General. Those discussions included a security update, an overview of political developments, the logistical and administrative steps needed to set up a UNAMI office at Camp Ramadi, and PRT assistance in helping UNAMI reps establish working relationships with their provincial counterparts. Next Steps -------------- ¶10. (C) UNAMI has a near-term plan to set up a seven-person office at Camp Ramadi. A one-person advance element, from UNDP, is scheduled to arrive on October 16. UNAMI office space has already been constructed and will be fitted with electricity and furnishings in the next several weeks. The PRT is in regular contact with UNAMI to offer assistance and to ensure a smooth transition to Ramadi. CROCKER