Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAGHDAD1869
2009-07-10 14:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

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

Tags:  PREL UNSC IZ KU EG TU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4968
OO RUEHBC RUEHDH RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #1869/01 1911420
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 101420Z JUL 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3880
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0820
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0122
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)

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
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7. (C) Zebari reiterated Iraq's desire to see its
compensation obligations to Kuwait forgiven, or the


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