UNSYG BAN KI MOON IN BAGHDAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000323

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL UN IZ
SUBJECT: UNSYG BAN KI MOON IN BAGHDAD

BAGHDAD 00000323 001.4 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In a cordial February 6 meeting with
Ambassador Crocker and General Odierno, UN Secretary General
Ban Ki Moon said he was deeply impressed by the progress Iraq
has made since his last visit in March 2007. The
international community, led by the U.S., has achieved much
and the close U.S.-UN working relationship has been crucial
in this regard. This close cooperation will be essential as
we transition into a period where political reconciliation
and social/economic development will take on an increasingly
important role. Ambassador Crocker and General Odierno
underscored the very positive signal Ban's visit sends in the
wake of Iraq's just-completed provincial elections, both to
Iraqis and to the international community. The leadership of
SRSG Staffan di Mistura, and the dedication and
professionalism of the UN team has won praise from all of
Iraq's disparate communities. This will be of great
importance as the UN now works to mediate such difficult
issues as Kirkuk and Disputed Internal Borders (DIBs). The
Ambassador and CG encouraged Ban to continue expanding the
UN's activities and presence in Iraq, something they said the
U.S. will do all it can to support. Ban relayed that
President Obama had called him soon after the inauguration to
stress the importance of the UN Mission in Iraq. In
response, Ban said the President would have his full support
in this continued effort. End Summary.


2. (C) UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon paid a one-day
visit to Baghdad February 6, meeting with President Talabani,
Prime Minister Maliki and Vice Presidents Hashimi and Abdul
Mehdi. The SYG's visit was fully supported by U.S. milair
assets. Following his meetings with GOI officials,
accompanied by UN Under Secretary General Lynn Pascoe and
SRSG Staffan di Mistura, he met with Ambassador Crocker and
General Odierno.

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Close U.S.-UN Relationship:
Key to Success
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3. (C) Secretary General Ban opened the meeting by thanking
Ambassador Crocker and General Odierno for all that has been
achieved under their leadership. Although only in Baghdad a
few hours, Ban said the changes since his March 2007 visit
were striking. This couldn't have happened without the
international community's involvement, led by the U.S.
Several times during the meeting, the SYG offered effusive
praise and thanks for the support the U.S. has provided
UNAMI, for Ambassador Crocker's and the CG's personal
contributions, and for the logistical assistance without
which he said "my trip here today would not have been
possible." Ban noted that President Obama had called him
soon after the inauguration to stress the importance of the
UN Mission in Iraq and the key role of SRSG di Mistura. Ban
said he had departed on his current multi-country trip before
he could report back to the President on issues the President
had raised. Ban made a point of saying "whatever he has told
me and asked me has been well-taken care of. He doesn't need
to worry about it -- he has my full support."

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Transition, Emphasis on Social-Economic
Development and the ICI
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4. (C) The year ahead will be a time of transition, Ban
observed: for Iraq, for U.S-Iraqi relations and for the
United States itself. He said that he had advised Prime
Minister Maliki earlier in the day that Iraq's relations with
QMinister Maliki earlier in the day that Iraq's relations with
the U.S. "should be based on the full engagement and full
participation of the international community." Picking up
on the UN's evolving role in Iraq, Ban said it "will continue
doing what it has been doing, but more -- political
reconciliation, constitutional reform, refugees, human
rights, and the social-economic dimension." On the latter
point, he said he hoped to convene the next meeting of the
International Compact for Iraq (ICI) in May.

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Visit Sends A Powerful Signal; UNAMI's Work Respected by All
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Ambassador Crocker and General Odierno both
emphasized that Ban's visit at this particular moment sends a
powerful signal of the international community's support for
Iraq's democratic development. The Ambassador emphasized
that the success of the provincial elections would not have
happened without SRSG di Mistura's leadership and the UN

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team's expertise and assistance. These elections are a dress
rehearsal for national elections later in the year, he noted,
and the experience gained has been invaluable. The
Ambassador added that UNAMI's work in the elections has been
praised Q all of Iraq's communities, something that will
give the UN added purchase as it works to mediate the
Kirkuk/Article 23 process and issues related to Disputed
Internal Boundaries (DIBs). The Ambassador also commended
the SRSG for expanding the UN's activities in Iraq and in
encouraging UN Specialized Agencies to return. As security
improves, the Ambassador noted, the issues that are the
purview of these agencies will only increase in importance.

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Improved Security, Reduced U.S. Footprint,
But Continued Support for International Organizations
-------------- --------------


6. (C) General Odierno then provided the SYG with a
security update. Attacks over the past 10-12 weeks, the CG
said, are at the lowest level since July-August 2004. This
is due to a number or reasons, including increased efforts by
the Iraqi Security Forces and the rejection of extremist
elements by the Iraqi population. The CG agreed that 2009
will be a year of transition. It will be marked by a
decrease in the number of U.S. forces, the expected departure
of non-U.S. coalition troops by May/June, and a shift from
counter insurgency to stability operations. The CG stressed
that while U.S. forces will decrease in line with the
President's call for a responsible withdrawal, they will be
at levels necessary to help international organizations take
on more responsibilities. As the security situation
improves, the CG observed, political issues will get more
complex. It is essential that Iraqis tackle these issues
peacefully. To this end, the CG said, the U.S. intends to
work with all international organizations to help them help
the GOI.


7. (C) UN Under Secretary General Lynn Pascoe asked whether
it was likely that UN officials would be able to operate in a
more normal fashion around the country in the near term.
General Odierno judged that in 80% of Iraq, coalition forces
can support officials going out but that we are not yet at a
place where he would be comfortable seeing officials go out
alone without security. The Ambassador agreed with the CG's
assessment and added that the time is right for a careful
evaluation and review of how we all approach security in
Iraq. The U.S. Embassy, he noted, has already started a
process of "Iraqizing" its security program that will include
selecting and training Iraqi police and, over time, creating
an Iraqi security cadre akin to that at the U.S. Embassy in
Beirut.
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Iraq Will be a Story Years in the Telling
--------------


8. (C) USYG Pascoe then asked Ambassador Crocker for his
assessment of Iraq's political future. The Ambassador
responded that Iraq will be a story years in the telling. It
will not be about just one election or several, he noted, but
about the way in which Iraqis work through the problems and
disagreements they face. The Ambassador noted that President
Talabani's decision to go personally to Kirkuk in order to
bring the various parties together, as well as KRG President
Barzani's willingness to receive a delegation of Kirkuk Arabs
and hear out their complaints, are positive indicators that
Qand hear out their complaints, are positive indicators that
necessary compromise is possible. The Ambassador noted that
Iraq's leaders understand this is the best chance they have.


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Iraqi UN Peacekeepers?
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9. (C) As the meeting drew to a close, SRSG di Mistura
shared an interchange he had had the day before with GOI
Defense Minister Abdul Qadir. In response to Abdul Qadir's
comments that the Iraqi ARMY is becoming ever more
professional, di Mistura said he suggested that Iraq consider
contributing an ARMY battalion to UN peacekeeping operations.
This, he told Abdul Qadir, would be a clear signal that Iraq
can be both a recipient and a provider of international
assistance. Abdul Qadir's reaction was enthusiastic, di
Mistura recounted, and he promised he would follow-up.
Ambassador Crocker remarked that Iraqi UN peacekeepers
certainly would be a welcome development and a role the Iraqi
Army has never played before.
CROCKER