UN - UNAMI COMPOUND TO BE CONSIDERED BY GENERAL

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000692 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: IZ PGOV PREL UNGA SUBJECT: UN - UNAMI COMPOUND TO BE CONSIDERED BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY DURING FALL SESSION REF: A. RASHKOW-ABRAHAMS EMAILS 07-30-08 ¶B. BAGHDAD 002133 ¶C. STATE 070826 ¶D. BAGHDAD 001425 ¶E. STATE 046440 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4. ¶2. (SBU) As reported REFTELS B-E, despite several demarches, we have not been successful in obtaining a firm commitment from the Government of Iraq (GOI) regarding the size of the contribution they will provide to build the proposed new UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) UN integrated compound in Baghdad. The SYG,s revised proposal (in A/62/828 - preliminary cost estimate of $98.6 million) to build the compound at a new site, formerly known as the Al-Sijud Palace, will be considered by the Fifth Committee of the GA during the main part of the 63rd GA in the Fall. Mission reiterates its view that there is a high risk that both the ACABQ and the Fifth Committee will not approve (or will defer action on) the project without a commitment from the GOI to fund a significant part of the costs involved - at least 50 percent. ¶3. (SBU) As noted in REF A, the Department has been asked by the French whether the USG could support a proposal that the GOI should assume full responsibility for constructing the new compound and in turn lease the facilities to the UN. As anticipated by the Mission, the UN, at the working level, has indicated that it does not favor such a proposal because, in their view, it would significantly delay the project and risk undermining the security aspects of the project. As we understand, part of the concern driving the French proposal was its fear that the UN was not capable of delivering on the project in a timely manner. Their concern may be assuaged by the recent UN report on the project referred to above. ¶4. (SBU) If the timely construction of the UNAMI compound remains a high priority for the USG, Mission recommends we consult further with the French stressing the UN's reservations and ask them to work with us and the UK to secure GOI agreement to fund a significant part of the project. Mission also recommends we continue to seek a firm commitment of the GOI to fund a significant part of the project, at least 50 percent, as soon as possible, in order to facilitate GA approval of the project in the Fall. Wolff