A PREVIEW OF IRAQ FM ZEBARI'S TRIP TO THE U.S. -

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001869 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2019 TAGS: PREL UNSC IZ KU EG TU SUBJECT: A PREVIEW OF IRAQ FM ZEBARI'S TRIP TO THE U.S. - SOME GOOD NEWS ON IRAQ-KUWAIT ISSUES REF: A. A) STATE 68248 ¶B. B) BAGHDAD 1828 ¶C. C) BAGHDAD 1773 ¶D. D) BAGHDAD 1821 Classified By: AMBASSADOR CHRISTOPHER R. HILL. REASON 1.4 (B/D) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador met with FM Hoshyar Zebari to discuss his upcoming trip to the U.S. FM Zebari noted that he had asked the Iraqi permanent mission at the UN to request a meeting with the U.S. permanent representative during his July 12-15 stay in New York; he looks forward to his meeting with the Secretary on July 17 in Washington. Zebari recapitulated the main points of Iraq's strategy regarding Chapter VII sanctions relief, and informed us of some significant positive developments regarding Kuwaiti archives that have recently been returned to Kuwait. He welcomed the announcement of the UN Secretary-General's new UNAMI SRSG, Ad Melkert. End Summary. ¶2. (C) FM Zebari informed the Ambassador that he had briefed the GOI cabinet earlier this month regarding the MFA's approach toward the upcoming UN Secretariat's review of UNSCR's pertaining to Iraq. The PM directed the establishment of a ministerial committee comprising Foreign Affairs, Justice, Defense, Interior as well as PMO legal and political advisors. Zebari underscored that Iraqi embassies had been lobbying in capitals, and had provided feedback on the draft UNSYG report, as mandated by UNSCR 1859. ¶3. (C) Zebari said he understood from his consultations with the UN and key UNSC representatives (including Russian FM Lavrov) that the likely outcome of the upcoming review would be the recommendation of another period of confidence-building measures with Kuwait; Zebari has briefed the Iraqi cabinet not to expect to get out from under UN review in August. Iraq would demand a timeline for implementation of all resolutions. He acknowledged the need for Iraqi action on some matters, notably efforts to bring into force/implement an additional protocol to its IAEA Safeguards Agreement (ref A). GOOD NEWS ON LAND BORDER, MISSING PERSONS, AND ARCHIVES ¶4. (U) Zebari outlined several areas where progress has been made in Iraqi-Kuwait relations. -- The UN has dropped its insistence that Iraq build a road alongside the land border with Kuwait (a UNIKOM-era demand for maintaining demarcation markers -- we defer to USUN to verify this information). --The UK had dismantled structures in the vicinity of a land border marker (between 105D and 106) very close to the former Iraqi naval station at Umm Qasr. -- The GOI has signaled its clear commitment to cooperate with Kuwait on missing persons. "We'll be public, and are prepared to launch a media campaign and an intelligence review (on this issue)." -- The GOI will do the same for missing property. "We have nothing to hide and are checking with ministries to see if anything that might belong to Kuwait can be found." ¶5. (U) On archives, Zebari noted two significant developments: -- The MFA discovered the archives of the Kuwaiti central bank (including cash, stamps, etc.),and had returned a container load consisting of 29 boxes to Kuwait two weeks ago. -- Two months ago, Iraq returned the media archives of Kuwaiti radio and television -- going back to the foundation of the State. ¶6. (U) In response to our question about reports of Iraqi farmers on Kuwaiti land, Zebari indicated that this was a relatively insignificant matter. The Ambassador also inquired about reports that the GOI is making headway in Qinquired about reports that the GOI is making headway in nominating an ambassador to Kuwait. Zebari did not have any update on the status of this nomination in the COR (ref D). -------------- -------------- NEXT STEPS: REDUCING COMPENSATION, ACCEPTING UNSCR 833 -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Zebari reiterated Iraq's desire to see its compensation obligations to Kuwait forgiven, or the *********************** * Missing Section 002 * ***********************