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

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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