Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE29254
2009-03-26 17:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:
DEMARCHE REQUEST: URGING IRAQ TO NEGOTIATE WITH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0017 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #9254 0851804 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 261746Z MAR 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 5011 INFO RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT PRIORITY 5763 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 2897 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 5437 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 6449
UNCLAS STATE 029254
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IZ KU UNCC UNSC EFIN ECIN ECON PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: URGING IRAQ TO NEGOTIATE WITH
KUWAIT AT APRIL 28-29 UN COMPENSATION COMMISSION (UNCC)
MEETING IN GENEVA
REF: A. NEWMAN-SWINEY EMAIL 24MAR09
B. BAGHDAD 766
UNCLAS STATE 029254
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IZ KU UNCC UNSC EFIN ECIN ECON PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: URGING IRAQ TO NEGOTIATE WITH
KUWAIT AT APRIL 28-29 UN COMPENSATION COMMISSION (UNCC)
MEETING IN GENEVA
REF: A. NEWMAN-SWINEY EMAIL 24MAR09
B. BAGHDAD 766
1. (U) This is an action request for Embassy Baghdad; see
paragraphs 4 and 5.
Background
--------------
2. (U) The UNCC was established in 1991 to process and pay
claims for damages resulting from Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
The UNCC issued awards (entitlements for claims payments)
totaling more than USD 52 billion. Kuwait or Kuwaiti
nationals were awarded USD 41 billion. Kuwait and Kuwaiti
nationals have received more than USD 15 billion in claims
payments from the UNCC Compensation Fund. Other countries
and their nationals have received about USD 11 billion in
claims payments. The award amounts remaining to be paid
include USD 1.5 billion in environmental remediation awards
and USD 24 billion in awards for Kuwait's oil sector. The
UNCC Governing Council (UNCC-GC) and Secretariat, starting in
April 2008, have urged the Government of Iraq (GOI) to engage
in settlement negotiations with regard to the USD 24 billion
in oil sector awards. Despite readiness on the part of the
UNCC Secretariat and the Government of Kuwait (GOK) to
commence such negotiations, GOI has consistently been
unavailable on the proffered dates. On February 9, 2009, the
Secretariat sent a letter to GOI Prime Minister Maliki
requesting assistance in expediting the negotiations (see
reference).
3. (U) Pursuant to UNSCR 1483, UNCC claims are paid from a 5
percent deduction from all Iraqi export sales of petroleum,
petroleum products, and natural gas. GOI has requested on
numerous occasions, most recently in a March 10, 2009 letter
to the President of the Security Council, that the deduction
be lowered to one percent. The UNCC-GC has insisted that GOI
must negotiate in good faith with Kuwait with regard to the
USD 24 billion in oil sector awards (and fully pay the
environmental remediation awards) before a reduction in the
deduction can be considered. GOI also took the position in
its March letter that because it has paid a high proportion
of its compensation claims, the remaining claims should be
annulled. Kuwait submitted its reply, which likely rejected
the GOI position, to the Security Council on March 24, 2009.
Action Request
--------------
4. (SBU) Embassy is requested to deliver a demarche to PM
Maliki's legal adviser, Dr. Fadel Jawad Khadum, along the
following lines:
- Stress the importance the USG attaches to Iraq sending
appropriate level representation, with proper authority to
engage in negotiations regarding the settlement of the USD 24
billion in UNCC oil sector awards, to the April 28-29 UNCC-GC
Meeting in Geneva.
- Discuss how these negotiations will demonstrate that GOI
is ready to resolve fully the issues of the past, terminate
the relevant Chapter VII UNSCR and restore its position as a
member in good standing of the international community.
- Note that GOI Minister of Finance Jabr favors sending a
high-level delegation, and that sending a low-level
delegation might signal a lack of seriousness of purpose.
- Emphasize that the USG and the UNCC-GC expect good faith
efforts by Iraq to enter into settlement discussions under
UNCC auspices before the UNCC can consider Iraq's proposal to
reduce the 5 percent deduction from GOI oil export revenues.
- Note that the Embassy is prepared to discuss the issue
directly with PM Maliki, but first wants to hear Dr. Fadel's
views and confirm his support.
5. (U) The Department appreciates the Embassy's assistance in
this matter.
CLINTON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IZ KU UNCC UNSC EFIN ECIN ECON PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: URGING IRAQ TO NEGOTIATE WITH
KUWAIT AT APRIL 28-29 UN COMPENSATION COMMISSION (UNCC)
MEETING IN GENEVA
REF: A. NEWMAN-SWINEY EMAIL 24MAR09
B. BAGHDAD 766
1. (U) This is an action request for Embassy Baghdad; see
paragraphs 4 and 5.
Background
--------------
2. (U) The UNCC was established in 1991 to process and pay
claims for damages resulting from Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
The UNCC issued awards (entitlements for claims payments)
totaling more than USD 52 billion. Kuwait or Kuwaiti
nationals were awarded USD 41 billion. Kuwait and Kuwaiti
nationals have received more than USD 15 billion in claims
payments from the UNCC Compensation Fund. Other countries
and their nationals have received about USD 11 billion in
claims payments. The award amounts remaining to be paid
include USD 1.5 billion in environmental remediation awards
and USD 24 billion in awards for Kuwait's oil sector. The
UNCC Governing Council (UNCC-GC) and Secretariat, starting in
April 2008, have urged the Government of Iraq (GOI) to engage
in settlement negotiations with regard to the USD 24 billion
in oil sector awards. Despite readiness on the part of the
UNCC Secretariat and the Government of Kuwait (GOK) to
commence such negotiations, GOI has consistently been
unavailable on the proffered dates. On February 9, 2009, the
Secretariat sent a letter to GOI Prime Minister Maliki
requesting assistance in expediting the negotiations (see
reference).
3. (U) Pursuant to UNSCR 1483, UNCC claims are paid from a 5
percent deduction from all Iraqi export sales of petroleum,
petroleum products, and natural gas. GOI has requested on
numerous occasions, most recently in a March 10, 2009 letter
to the President of the Security Council, that the deduction
be lowered to one percent. The UNCC-GC has insisted that GOI
must negotiate in good faith with Kuwait with regard to the
USD 24 billion in oil sector awards (and fully pay the
environmental remediation awards) before a reduction in the
deduction can be considered. GOI also took the position in
its March letter that because it has paid a high proportion
of its compensation claims, the remaining claims should be
annulled. Kuwait submitted its reply, which likely rejected
the GOI position, to the Security Council on March 24, 2009.
Action Request
--------------
4. (SBU) Embassy is requested to deliver a demarche to PM
Maliki's legal adviser, Dr. Fadel Jawad Khadum, along the
following lines:
- Stress the importance the USG attaches to Iraq sending
appropriate level representation, with proper authority to
engage in negotiations regarding the settlement of the USD 24
billion in UNCC oil sector awards, to the April 28-29 UNCC-GC
Meeting in Geneva.
- Discuss how these negotiations will demonstrate that GOI
is ready to resolve fully the issues of the past, terminate
the relevant Chapter VII UNSCR and restore its position as a
member in good standing of the international community.
- Note that GOI Minister of Finance Jabr favors sending a
high-level delegation, and that sending a low-level
delegation might signal a lack of seriousness of purpose.
- Emphasize that the USG and the UNCC-GC expect good faith
efforts by Iraq to enter into settlement discussions under
UNCC auspices before the UNCC can consider Iraq's proposal to
reduce the 5 percent deduction from GOI oil export revenues.
- Note that the Embassy is prepared to discuss the issue
directly with PM Maliki, but first wants to hear Dr. Fadel's
views and confirm his support.
5. (U) The Department appreciates the Embassy's assistance in
this matter.
CLINTON