US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD4775

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004775 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, IZ, UN 
SUBJECT: UNSRSG QAZI ON ARAB LEAGUE CAIRO PREPCON 
 
REF: CAIRO 8785 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) This is an action request.  Please see para 8. 
 
2. (C) SUMMARY.  On November 25, Ambassador met with UN 
Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Ashraf 
Qazi and Deputy SRSG Michael von der Schulenberg to discuss 
follow-on actions for the Arab League Conference on the Iraqi 
National Accord, December 15 election preparations, and 
possible UN participation in international investigations of 
the MOI "Bunker" facility.  Qazi and Ambassador agreed to 
explore ways the UN and the U.S. jointly can suggest outcomes 
for the Constitution Review Committee once the new government 
and National Assembly are in place.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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Qazi Positive on Arab League Prepcon 
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3. (C) UNSRSG Ashraf Qazi told Ambassador on November 25 that 
the Cairo Arab League Iraq National Accord Prepcon marked a 
positive step forward in Iraq's political development, with 
outcomes that "everyone can complain about."  Qazi pointed to 
the participation of a wide variety of Iraqi players 
(including Harith al-Dari, President Talabani, and Sheikh 
Hammoudi) who had not come together before in a political 
meeting to discuss Iraq.  Qazi said that the conference will 
move Iraq's political process forward with confidence 
building measures and plans for two follow-on committees. 
Qazi defended the prepcon's final statement, noting that its 
final declaration affirmed UNSCRs 1546 and 1637 and provided 
no new timetables or commitments on withdrawal.  Ambassador 
noted that President Talabani had expressed similar 
sentiments to him the previous night (septel). 
 
4. (C) Qazi said that Moussa was worried that the conference 
would collapse.  As a result, Qazi noted, Moussa may have 
settled for the most generally acceptable confidence building 
measures, which included general statements on the elections 
and prisoners.  However, Qazi said, Moussa played his 
position well and, despite some walkouts, the conference was 
a success.  Qazi reported that at first Jafari appeared 
nervous during the prepcon and delayed his meeting with 
President Mubarak for thirty minutes as he reconsidered his 
attendance.  Qazi said that Moussa threatened to embarrass 
Jafari (whom Moussa believed had an eye on the December 
elections) with public acknowledgment of his non-attendance. 
Qazi maintained the UN's neutral position at the conference, 
refusing at one point to take the chair from Amre Moussa when 
the SYG had to leave.  Stressing this neutral role, Qazi 
stated that he still would consider convening a follow-on 
meeting. 
 
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Conference Objectives 
--------------------- 
 
5. (C) Qazi said there would be two committees created to 
"concretize" follow-on activities.  Although details were not 
finalized, one committee led by Former Sudanese Foreign 
Minister Mustapha Ismael will take the lead on conference 
planning (Ref A).  Lakhdar Brahimi is proposing a regional 
"Six plus Two" conference to buttress support from Iraq's 
neighbors.  Alternatively, Qazi and the Ambassador discussed 
the UN envoy convening a meeting of representatives in Iraq 
to encourage follow-on from the prepcon within the country. 
Expressing a preference for the latter, Ambassador noted that 
the conference could encourage Arab states to send 
ambassadors to Iraq as well as ensure that follow-on actions 
for the conference are pursued. 
 
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December Elections/Constitution 
------------------------------- 
 
6. (C) Ambassador encouraged Qazi, the UN, and the 
Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) to do all 
they can to make the December elections as transparent and 
secure as possible.  Responding that the UN is unable to 
alter the IECI's composition, Qazi said the UN would do all 
it can to ensure international observers are present at 
polling stations.  Schulenberg said that he is hopeful that 
the EU will send an observer mission to Iraq for the 
elections but added that it may not happen unless Kofi Annan 
raises the issue with the EU.  Ambassador agreed to ask USUN 
to raise this issue.  Noting that the UK is reluctant to use 
its EU presidency as a vehicle for Iraq, Schulenberg said he 
hopes Austria's assumption of the EU presidency will allow 
the EU to play a more active role in Iraq.  Ambassador noted 
that several Sunnis have expressed to him concerns about the 
role of militias and security for polling stations. 
Ambassador and Qazi agreed to think of ways they jointly 
could help to speed government formation after the December 
elections and to establish common goals for the 
constitution's review. 
 
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Bunker Investigation 
-------------------- 
 
7. (C) Ambassador said that he was meeting with PM Jafari 
later on November 25 to follow up on the investigation of the 
abuses at the MOI "Bunker."  Ambassador said he encouraged 
MinInterior Jabr to set up two investigations, one on the 
Bunker itself and a second to look at declared and undeclared 
detention facilities.  Ambassador said that it is likely the 
committee designated by the PM to investigate MOI detention 
centers will make unannounced visits to these site, and then 
he asked that the UN consider participating in the 
investigation.  Qazi said he welcomes the idea and that as 
long as the Iraqis accepted their role the UN would 
participate. 
 
8. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST.  Embassy Baghdad requests that 
Department please authorize USEU to raise with the EU the 
issue of it sending an observer mission to Iraq for the 
December 15 election.  Also, please authorize USUN to convey 
to appropriate officials that SYG Annan should raise the 
issue with the EU.  END ACTION REQUEST. 
KHALILZAD