US embassy cable - 04MANAMA338

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000338 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA PDAS LAROCCO AND DAS DIBBLE, NEA/RA, NEA/NGA, 
AND NEA/ARP 
BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR NEUMANN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2029 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, IZ, BA, UNHRC-1 
SUBJECT: IRAQ HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION STILL OFF MESSAGE 
SAYS MFA OFFICIAL 
 
REF: A. STATE 38355 
 
     B. MANAMA 227 
     C. MANAMA 217 
     D. STATE 32070 
 
Classified By: CDA Robert S. Ford for reasons 1.4(b)(d). 
 
1.(C) A highly reliable senior official (strictly protect) 
told P/E Chief March 10 that the Iraqi Human Rights 
Commission delegation remains completely off message in 
inter-Arab meetings, according Bahrain's PermRep in Geneva 
(strictly protect).  Our MFA source said he had briefed Ref A 
demarche to the PermRep, but he reported to Manama after the 
Arab Group meeting that the Iraqi delegation did not speak. 
Since then, the PermRep has reported to the MFA that the 
Iraqis continue to receive conflicting instructions from the 
Iraqi foreign ministry and the human rights ministry.  The 
MFA official said that his PermRep perceives that the Iraqi 
team is exploiting the situation to strike out on its own and 
work contrary to USG objectives.  That said, our contact 
assured P/E Chief that the draft Algerian resolution is dying 
a slow death. 
 
2.(C) COMMENT:  Our contact said that he passed this 
information in strictest confidence and indicated that he 
would have serious problems from his superiors if they 
learned that he discussed this information with us.  Without 
naming anyone, our source asserted that there are senior MFA 
officials who are not sympathetic to USG Iraq policy.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
3.(U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
FORD