IRAQ-KUWAIT TARASOV REPORT SECURITY COUNCIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000942 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2119 TAGS: PREL PREF PGOV KPKO OVIP IZ KU SUBJECT: IRAQ-KUWAIT TARASOV REPORT SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ¶1. (C) Summary: In Security Council consultations on October 22, the UN high-level coordinator Gennady Tarasov briefed on the recently released report regarding activities and progress made on missing persons and archives issues during the last six-month "confidence and cooperation building period" between Iraq and Kuwait. Tarasov highlighted a "new team spirit" between the governments of Kuwait and Iraq and the "initial signs of forward movement" seen during this reporting period, which included the creation of an Iraqi action plan and timeline for burial ground exhumations, the commencement of digging possible gravesites in Karbala, and the return by the GOI of currency and postage stamps to Kuwait. He also underscored that tangible progress has been limited, since there have been no identification of Kuwaiti remains nor progress on clarifying the fate of the Kuwaiti national archives. Most Council members echoed Tarasov's comments, commending the incremental progress seen during the reporting period and stressing the need for redoubled efforts by both parties leading to concrete future progress. A consensus press statement was issued following the Council session, expressing support for the continued financing of the high-level coordinator for a further period of eight months. End summary. ¶2. (U) UNSCR 1284 (1999) requested the UN high-level coordinator regularly report to the Council on Iraq's compliance with assisting the return and repatriation of Kuwaiti and third-country nationals' remains, as well as Kuwaiti property, especially Kuwait's national archives. The current high-level coordinator, Gennady Tarasov, issued a report on October 19 following a six-month "confidence and cooperation building period," as proposed by the Secretary General in his comprehensive report of April 2009, which was meant to further encourage the parties to achieve visible and significant progress and to strengthen the patterns of their cooperation. ¶3. (C) In consultations on October 22, Tarasov underscored the positive steps that have been taken by the Government of Iraq and acknowledged initial indications of movement on the issue of missing remains; but stressed that the main tasks of discovering and identifying the victims and closing their files still lies ahead. Specifically, Tarasov commended the GOI initiated newspaper appeal published in August requesting information on missing persons, the GOI created action plan and timeline on its human remains reconnaissance activities, and the return of silver coins, traveler's checks, postage stamps and old-issue bank notes belonging to the Central Bank of Kuwait. ¶4. (C) All Council members spoke after Tarasov's briefing, commending the GOI for actions taken during this reporting period - especially the creation of an action plan and timeline for burial ground exhumations - yet stressing the need for further concrete results in the near term future. While there was consensus for the Secretary-General's recommendation of a further eight-month funding extension for Tarasov, Council members were divided on the possibility for future extensions. The UK, Japan, and Turkey noted the possibility of ending Tarasov's funding when it comes up again for review, while RUSSIA strongly encouraged continued extensions of funding if concrete action is not seen on both missing persons and national archives by June 2010. A number of Council members also noted that these Iraq-Kuwait humanitarian issues are part of a broader package of Chapter VII issues, including land and maritime border issues (resolution 833). The Russian PermRep said that the review of Chapter VII issues must be resolved as a package, which would include the issues of borders, WMD, and Oil-for Food, as well as missing persons and archives. The Libyan Deputy PerRep stressed the constructive role that civil society and NGOs can play in helping to recover missing remains and locate the archives, and asked Tarasov about their involvement thus far. Tarasov replied that they had not so far played much of a role, but he would take the suggestion under advisement. Wolff