FM ZEBARI ANNOUNCES GOI'S WMD ACTION PLAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000267 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018 TAGS: IZ PGOV PREL SUBJECT: FM ZEBARI ANNOUNCES GOI'S WMD ACTION PLAN Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gary A. Grappo for reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On January 28, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari held a brief meeting with A/DCM and COMs from the other four permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The FM briefed the group on recent developments on the Oil for Food (OFF) and follow-on arrangements for the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) before discussing the GOI's plan to work with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to find a way forward on WMD. FM Zebari provided copies of the letter he sent to the President of the Security Council outlining the GOI's efforts to achieve compliance and expressing its willingness to provide information and access to the organization to A/DCM. He also gave A/DCM a letter elaborating on these efforts to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. (See para 7 for Embassy translation.) The FM requested the support of P-5 governments to assist with the GOI's efforts to obtain a response from the IAEA, as well as to mobilize international support. End summary. ¶2. (C) Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari hosted a brief meeting on January 28 at the MFA to discuss recent GOI developments on Chapter VII, specifically Oil for Food and WMD. The FM was accompanied by DFM Labeed Abbawi, COS Srood Najib, and International Organizations expert Mohammed Hamaimeidi. A/DCM, as well as COMs of the other four permanent members of the United Nations Security Council attended. The meeting began with an expression of gratitude from the FM to the P-5 for its assistance in the passage of Resolution 1905 and subsequent extension of the DFI for one year. FM Zebari also alerted the group that his team is making progress on the U.S. victims claims issue, as well as examining approximately 66 disputed OFF contracts it expects to resolve before April. (NOTE: The exact number of disputed contracts is unclear. A recent letter to the UNSC reported ¶69. END NOTE) GOI LETTER -------------- ¶3. (C) Transitioning to the key issue of the meeting, the FM told to the group that he had sent a letter to the UNSC about GOI efforts to achieve compliance with IAEA requirements. The letter highlighted Iraq's readiness to provide information and access to the IAEA, underscoring the GOI's willingness to work with the organization, he stated. Zebari expressed the expectation that the IAEA will agree to a presidential statement recognizing Iraq's compliance. ¶4. (C) FM Zebari asked the P-5 representatives for help from their respective governments to obtain a positive response from the IAEA and UNSC. As the GOI continues to lobby in capitals around the world, he added, it wants to "send the message that Iraq is part of the international community." RATIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL...PROVISIONALLY -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) FM Zebari shared that he recently called key COR leaders to urge them to ratify the Additional Protocol (AP), stating that a "lack of appreciation" for the AP's importance, rather than political obstacles, is responsible for delays in the ratification. Zebari elaborated that key lawmakers do not consider the AP a priority, and that given Parliament's current recess, an "extraordinary" session would need to be called to allow for debate and voting on the AP. ¶6. (C) When asked by A/DCM to clarify whether the AP received more than a first reading in Parliament, FM Zebari related that while the Foreign Relations Committee has not Qrelated that while the Foreign Relations Committee has not pressed the AP vote in Parliament, the GOI offers its assurances that the AP will be endorsed and, in the interim, commits to a provisional application of the AP, and communicated that commitment to the IAEA. TRANSLATION OF THE FM'S LETTER TO SECRETARY CLINTON -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The following is an English translation of FM Zebari's letter to Secretary Clinton: Her Excellency Hillary Clinton U.S. Secretary of State Your Excellency is aware of the sanctions and restrictions imposed on Iraq by UN Resolutions in the area of disarmament and Weapons of Mass Destruction, especially Resolution 687 and 707 for the year 1991 in the aftermath of the former regime's subjection of Kuwait and the Second Gulf War, and because of the Regime's irresponsible foreign policies, pursuit of internal oppression of its people, and the unwavering readiness to use WMD against it. After the collapse of that Regime in 2003 and the complete change of the situation in Iraq, it was inevitable for the international community to reexamine these sanctions after Iraq has taken great strides in fulfilling its obligations in this field based on relevant Security Council resolutions, and also through joining and signing several international agreements related to disarmament. Also, the Iraqi permanent constitution stipulated banning the use and possession of WMD and anything that it is connected with. The international community valued these steps taken by Iraq in this respect through Security Council Resolution No. 1762 for the year 2007, in accordance with which the Council had ended the two mandates of the UN Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Committee (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Despite the effectiveness of the Resolution, some secondary issues related to disarmament remain to be resolved by the Security Council in order for Iraq to be able to exercise its duties and enjoy its rights in the international community as an effective member of it. I have explained all of this in a similar letter to the President of the Security Council and the General Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, dated 1-18-2010, in which I have set forth the steps taken by Iraq, as well as the steps to be taken in the future, to implement Iraq's obligations in the area of disarmament. I have made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that Iraq shall continue to provide the International Atomic Energy Agency with the necessary and required announcements and in a way that is consistent with the situation upon Iraq's ratification of the Additional Protocol attached to the Guarantees Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. I would add to the above that Iraq will guarantee free access to locations and documents as stipulated in the Additional Protocol. I have requested in my letter to the Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency to recognize the steps taken by Iraq, and also to recognize the change that occurred in the situation in Iraq which makes it substantively different from the situation that existed when the Security Council's resolutions were adopted. Consequently, the Iraqi government and the People of Iraq are waiting for the Security Council's immediate ending of all restrictions imposed on Iraq in accordance with Security Council Resolutions related to disarmament, ballistic missiles, and WMD, and including Security Council Resolutions No. 687 and 707 for the year 1991. I look forward to your cooperation and support for the position of Iraq in ending the restrictions, and will appreciate it if you can direct your Permanent Representative in New York to deal positively with a resolution to be issued by the Security Council in this regard. Such a position will be greatly appreciated by our people and will enhance the established good relations between our two countries and peoples. Please accept my sincere appreciation and respect. Hoshyar Zebari, Minister of Foreign Affairs TRANSLATION OF FM ZEBARI'S LEETER UNSC PRESIDENT YESUI QTRANSLATION OF FM ZEBARI'S LEETER UNSC PRESIDENT YESUI -------------- -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The following is an English translation of FM Zebari's letter to Zhang Yesui, President of the UN Security Council: Republic of Iraq Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister's Office His Excellency Mr. Zhang Yesui I would like to refer to the report by UN Secretary General mentioned in Document No. S/2009/385 regarding reviewing the resolutions, based on the Security Council's Resolution No. 1859 for the year 2008, in order to return Iraq to its former position prior to the Security Council's decision No. 661 for the year 1990. As Your Excellency knows, among the restrictions that are still keeping Iraq from rejoining the international community as a responsible and effective member and depriving it (at the same time) from benefiting from the progress in technology and scientific research, are restrictions related to the remaining issue concerning disarmament, which the international community must put an end to after Iraq has fulfilled its obligation in accordance with related Security Council Resolutions. Here I would like to reconfirm Iraq's support for the international regime for nonproliferation, and its commitment to disarmament and other related international agreements. We will work on providing the reports that include the additional steps taken by the Iraqi government in this respect. In this regard, I would like to refer to Iraq's report to the Security Council mentioned in document no. S/2008/350, based on Resolution No. 1762 for the year 2007, and Iraq's report to the Committee of 1540 mentioned in document no. S/AC.44/2004/(02)116. In both reports, we stated the positive steps taken by Iraq in the areas of disarmament and nonproliferation. The Iraqi government has taken a number of steps and procedures to abide by the international rules for nonproliferation and disarmament, in addition to the practical measures reported previously and mentioned in the two Iraqi reports stated above, which are consistent with Article 9 Paragraph (the Arabic letter "H") of the permanent Iraqi Constitution which stipulates that, "The Iraqi government shall respect and abide by Iraq's international commitments concerning nonproliferation and the development, production, and use of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, and shall prevent the development, production, and use of relevant equipment, materials, technology, and communication systems." I am pleased to inform the Security Council that Iraq, since the adoption of the Security Council Resolution No. 1762 for the year 2007, has achieved progress in very important matters. Iraq has completed joining the Agreement on Banning the Development, Production, Storage, and Use of Chemical Weapons (chemical weapons agreement). With the deposit of the membership deed, Iraq has become on February 9, 2009, the 186th member in the Agreement for Banning Chemical Weapons. Iraq has signed the Additional Protocol of the Comprehensive Guarantees of the International Atomic Energy Agency which is currently under review for approval by the Council of Representatives. Also, the Treaty for the Comprehensive Ban of Nuclear Experiments has been submitted to the Council of Representatives for approval. Also, the National Monitoring Directorate (NMD),as required by Resolution No. 1762, is working with other ministries in the Iraqi government concerning the controls on the dual-use and harmonizing the legislation concerning Iraqi exports with international standards. The NMD is the national liaison for implementing the Treaty on Banning Development, Production, Storage, and Use of biological and toxic weapons and monitoring their destruction. The NMD takes annual measures for building trust, and providing information for the implementation support unit within the Office of the United Nations for Disarmament Affairs in Geneva. NMD, in cooperation and coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science and Technology, is preparing Iraq for joining the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials. Also, the Iraqi government, in its democratic structure, in accordance with the principles of the Constitution, pledges to take additional steps to abide by the standards of nonproliferation and disarmament. The Iraqi government seeks to guarantee that the NMD continue to work on establishing and implementing the regulations Qto work on establishing and implementing the regulations concerning control over the Iraqi exports in a manner that is consistent with the international standards, such as the control system over missile technology, the Australian Group, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and the "FAZNAR" agreement (TN:spelled phonetically),including transit, shipping, and all other controls in this regard. Iraq will seek to join the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages and the Convention of Nuclear Safety, the international system of discipline to prevent the spread of ballistic missiles. Iraq will also take the necessary steps to participate in the Hague Code of Conduct against the proliferation of ballistic missiles. Moreover, the Iraqi government will seek to approve the International Initiative for Combating Nuclear Terrorism, implement the laws of the International Atomic Energy Agency on the rules of safety and security of radioactive sources, implement the regulations related to import and export, and enter into joint treaties concerning the safety of managing consumed fuel and radioactive waste. The Iraqi government will continue to provide the International Atomic Energy Agency with the necessary and required announcements in a way that is consistent with the situation upon Iraq's approval of the Additional Protocol. The steps that Iraq intends to take clearly show and assure the international community of the extent of Iraq's commitment to the regulations of nonproliferation. Iraq will inform the Security Council and the IAEA and the relevant agencies, in accordance with its legal and legislative authority and consistent with international regulations, of all progress achieved in implementing these steps. Therefore, we hope the Security Council and the IAEA will recognize these steps, as well as the change that has occurred when the Security Council disarmament resolutions were adopted. We look forward to the Security Council's immediate consideration of ending all restrictions imposed on Iraq in accordance with the Security Council Resolutions related to disarmament, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and ballistic missiles, including Security Council Resolutions No. 687 and 707 of 1991. The Government and People of Iraq are determined to build a democratic system, live peacefully in a stable and secure homeland, and play a positive role that contributes to the stability and security of the region. We hope that the international community will assist Iraq in playing this role and overcoming the consequences of the irresponsible policies of the previous regime. I would be grateful if Your Excellency can circulate this letter to the members of the UNSC as soon as possible to assist the Council in its deliberations in accordance with Resolution No. 1859 of 2008. Respectfully, Hoshyar Zebari Iraqi Foreign Minister HILL