US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT1752

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001752 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2014 
TAGS: PREL, ASEC, EAID, IZ, KU, UN 
SUBJECT: (C) UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR DISCUSSES IRAQ 
RE-ENGAGEMENT ISSUES 
 
Classified By: CDA FRANK C. URBANCIC; FOR REASONS 1.4 (D) 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: This is an action request.  During a June 2 
courtesy call, Paolo Lembo, the new United Nations Resident 
Coordinator discussed with the Charge the possibility of the 
UN basing some Iraq support staff in Kuwait.  Envisioning a 
staff of 100-120, he said that their new headquarters would 
probably be in the former UNIKOM compound in the suburb of 
Kheitan.  Lembo said the GOK had offered financial support 
for the UN to base its Iraq support staff in Kuwait.  He 
emphasized that no timeline has been established for UN 
re-engagement in Iraq.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) During a June 2 courtesy call, Paolo Lembo, the new 
United Nations Resident Coordinator discussed with Charge the 
possibility of the UN basing Iraq support staff in Kuwait. 
Lembo said that he envisioned about 100-120 personnel, and 
discussed the advantages of supporting initial UN operations 
in southern Iraq from Kuwait vice Amman and Larnaca.  (NOTE: 
We understand the UN is close to its ceiling of 250 
direct-hire staff in Amman, and does not want to raise the 
ceiling.  END NOTE.) 
 
3. (C) Lembo, whose most recent experience as coordinator for 
UN development programs was in Algeria and Afghanistan, 
admitted that he was surprised by the recent GOK offer of 
financial support if the UN decided to base its Iraq support 
staff in Kuwait.  He said that the old UNIKOM compound in the 
suburb of Kheitan would be the best location to establish its 
new headquarters. 
 
4. (C) Lembo solicited the Charge's opinion on the current 
security situation in Kuwait.  The Charge replied that it was 
good, adding that while the GOK security services are small, 
they do their best to monitor internal security threats. 
 
5. (C) Lembo also inquired about the perception of the UN in 
Iraq.  The Charge replied that while the vast majority of 
Iraqis realize that the UN is there to help, there is a small 
minority that wish both the Coalition and the UN to fail. 
 
6. (C) Lembo was quite candid in his assessment of morale 
back at the UN Secretariat, describing it as an atmosphere of 
"uncertainty".  He said that the UN is divided into "two 
schools of thought" regarding its role in Iraq.  Some 
officials prefer that the political situation in Iraq sort 
itself out first before any development assistance programs 
are implemented.  Other officials believe that development 
programs must be started immediately.  Lembo offered his 
personal assessment that the UN should be conducting 
development programs now and accept a minimum of risk if 
needed.  He stated  that the UN had a "moral obligation" to 
assist Iraq and that any potential risk should be accepted, 
as the UN "is not a church." 
 
7. (C) Lembo said that he would be meeting in Cairo this week 
with other UN agencies to discuss the UN's future in Iraq. 
 
8. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Lembo said he was unsure how to 
proceed in arranging the UN presence in Iraq, and wondered 
whether the UN should proceed to open an office in the south, 
probably in Basra, before Baghdad.  Request Department 
guidance on what, if anything, Embassy should pass to Lembo 
on US views for next steps in Iraq.  Lembo is scheduled to 
return to Kuwait on June 12. 
 
9, (U)  Baghdad minimize considered. 
URBANCIC