US embassy cable - 05PARIS7496

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 007496 
 
SIPDIS 
 
CORRECTED COPY OF PARIS 7492 -- MISSING TEXT IN PARAS 2-4 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2015 
TAGS: PARM, PREL, IZ, UNSC 
SUBJECT: MFA EMPHASIZES COOPERATIVE SPIRIT ON DRAFT IRAQ 
UNSCR, SUGGESTS "MINOR" PREAMBULAR CHANGES 
 
REF: STATE 201053 
 
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons 
1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) This message contains a guidance request in para 4. 
 
2. (C) Poloff discussed the new Iraq UNSCR (reftel) November 
2 with MFA UN/Iraq desk officer Nicolas Kassianides, who had 
sent instructions on the draft text earlier in the day to the 
French UN Mission in New York.  Kassianides stressed that the 
GoF remained in a "cooperative spirit" on the draft text, and 
that the GoF would make "one or two" minor suggested edits to 
the preambular section.  According to Kassianides, one likely 
GoF-suggested change would be for the preambular language to 
more clearly express the linkage between the capacity of 
Iraqi forces and the eventual withdrawal of the multinational 
force; on this point, Kassianides, pressed by poloff, 
clarified that the GoF was not seeking to hasten MNF-1's 
departure, suggest a withdrawal timetable, or seek any sort 
of confrontation.  He suggested that perhaps some language 
from the U.S. letter to the UNSC (reftel) on the transfer of 
security responsibility from MNF to Iraqi security forces 
could be added to the draft text; poloff noted that letter in 
question, along with the extension request letter from the 
Iraqi government, would be appended to the new UNSCR. 
 
3. (C) On the proposed 12 month extension of MNF-1, 
Kassianides observed personally that this was longer than one 
might expect for a technical rollover, though the 
instructions he sent to New York did not address this point. 
He said that the GoF understood U.S. firmness on the 12-month 
extension, and suggested that the GoF would not seek a 
confrontation on this point.  At the same time, he suggested 
that the GoF might seek a bit more flexibility on the 
proposed review of the MNF-1 mandate eight months after 
adoption of the resolution, and asked why not six months, 
given the Iraqi constitutional calendar.  Poloff stressed the 
need for the Council to be responsive to what the Iraqi 
government had requested, and allow the newly elected Iraqi 
government to assume office, consolidate its authority and 
address constitutional issues before confronting UNSC issues. 
 Poloff added that the proposed review clause in the draft 
text would give Iraq's new government the opportunity to 
request a review of the mandate at any time.  Kassianides 
accepted the point, but suggested that the GoF might probe 
for flexibility on the mandate review timing in discussions 
in New York. 
 
4. (C) In passing, Kassianides asked for clarification on 
U.S. intentions to pursue a second Syria/Lebanon UNSCR to 
respond to the recently issued UNSCR 1559 implementation 
report, and asked how such a resolution might be sequenced 
with the adoption of the draft Iraq UNSCR and to what extent 
it would address Iraq.  Poloff responded by reiterating our 
determination to adopt the Iraq UNSCR quickly and 
consensually, as reftel guidance suggested, on or about 
November 9.  Action request for Washington: Please advise on 
how to respond to the French query on timing for a second 
Syria/Lebanon UNSCR and possible elements. 
 
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm 
Stapleton