UNAMI COMMEMORATION FEATURES KARBALA PRT SPEAKER,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003433 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2023 TAGS: PGOV PINR IR IZ SUBJECT: UNAMI COMMEMORATION FEATURES KARBALA PRT SPEAKER, OMITS IRANIAN CONSUL REF: BAGHDAD 3033 Classified By: Karbala PRT Leader Don Cooke This is a PRT Karbala Reporting Cable ¶1. (U) At an October 25 commemoration of the U.N.,s 63rd anniversary, Karbala PRT Team Leader was among several speakers asked to give remarks. Others included Karbala Governor Aqueel Mahmoud Kareem al-Khazali and Provincial Council Chairman Abd al-Yasiri. The Iranian consul Ridha Kodha Wardigan, attended the event, but was not invited to speak. ¶2. (C) The event was organized by Sheik Ali Kamonah, the local representative for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and former governor. Kamonah told us that at the last minute Ridha asked for a speaking slot, but Kamonah told him it was already a full program. Kamonah also said that Ridha was irritated, but that he (Kamonah) thought having the Iranian on the program would be too risky. ¶3. (U) Although the Iranian representative did not share the podium, he was seated in the front row near the stairs leading to the stage. Several of the other speakers, including PC Chairman al-Yasiri, did make a point of warmly greeting Ridha on their way to the podium. ¶4. (U) Adding insult to injury for the Iranian Consul, Ahmed Hasson, a &coordinator8 from Prime Minister Maliki,s office (according to Kamonah),in prepared remarks referred to acts in Karbala by &Iranian terrorists8. (Al-Yasri stood up and departed just as Hassoon began, but took the time to bid farewell to Ridha.) In his remarks, the PRT Team Leader referred to the importance of complying with IAEA standards and the NPT. ¶5. (U) About 100 people attended the UNAMI event, including several members of the Provincial Council and about a dozen media outlets. Afterwards, PRT members lingered in the auditorium talking to contacts and members of the audience, while the PRT Team Leader was interviewed by 3 media organizations. Ridha departed the hall as soon as the event concluded. CROCKER