Wikileaks - MLV
154140 5/15/2008 22:49 08USUNNEWYORK438 USUN New York CONFIDENTIAL VZCZCXRO5600 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHTRO DE RUCNDT #0438/01 1362249 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 152249Z MAY 08 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4287 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 0671 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST IMMEDIATE 0457 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 0906 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI IMMEDIATE 4310 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 1580 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000438
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AMBASSADOR SATTERFIELD AND BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR CROCKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2013 TAGS: PREL, PGOV, UNSC, IZ SUBJECT: NEED FOR SECURITY FOR UN IN IRAQ AFTER MNF-I
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3.
2. (C) Conscious of the upcoming expiration of the Security Council's MNF-I mandate at the end of calendar year 2008, the UN is looking to the United States and the Government of Iraq to initiate discussions about follow-on security arrangements for the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). Security Council Resolution 1546 (2004), adopted following the formation of the sovereign interim government of Iraq, inter alia expanded the mandate of UNAMI to help the new government and authorized the mandate of the Multinational Force in Iraq (MNF-I). UNSCR 1546 and its accompanying letter from Secretary Powell assigned to MNF-I inter alia the responsibility to create a "distinct entity" to provides security for the UN presence in Iraq under the command and control of the MNF-I commander. Subsequent Council extensions of MNF-I authority have encompassed this security arrangement. Therefore, since 2004, the distinct entity -- variously staffed by Georgian, Romanian, South Korean and Fijiian troops and supported by voluntary state contributions to a UN Trust Fund -- has provided security to UNAMI facilities in Baghdad, Basra, and Irbil.
3. (C) The UN's long-term compound in Baghdad is still in the planning stages, and will not be able to address the UN's security needs for an estimated two years or more. UNSCR 1770 (2007) updated and expanded the UNAMI mandate to include support on key issues such as national reconciliation, disputed internal boundaries, refugee assistance, and reconstruction. Given the importance of the UN role in Iraq, UNSCR 1770 also confirmed that "security is essential for UNAMI to carry out its work." In order to ensure that UNAMI is able to continue its important role in Iraq, security arrangements will need to be developed to fill the gap between the expiration of the MNF-I role and the establishment of a secure UNAMI compound and the development of Iraqi Security Forces capable of providing a level of security acceptable to the UN.
4. (C) Action request: USUN requests the Department to instruct Embassy Baghdad to engage the GOI on a discussion of options for follow-on security arrangements for UNAMI. USUN also requests the Department to consider related consultations with other coalition countries, including those currently providing security assistance to UNAMI, to address this need.
5. (U) Below are relevant excerpts from key UNSCRs.
Resolution 1546 (2004). OP13. "Notes the intention, set out in the annexed letter from the United States Secretary of State, to create a distinct entity under unified command of the multinational force with a dedicated mission to provide security for the United Nations presence in Iraq, recognizes that the implementation of measures to provide security for staff members of the United Nations system working in Iraq would require significant resources, and calls upon Member States and relevant organizations to provide such resources, including contributions to that entity;"
Annexed letter to UNSCR 1546 from Secretary Powell. "In addition, the MNF is prepared to establish or support a force within the MNF to provide for the security of personnel and facilities of the United Nations. We have consulted closely with UN officials regarding the United Nations' security requirements and believe that a brigade-size force will be needed to support the United Nations' security effort. This force will be under the command and control of the MNF commander, and its missions will include static and perimeter security at UN facilities, and convoy escort duties for the UN mission's travel requirements."
Resolution 1770 (2007). OP3. "Recognizes the important role of the Multi-National Force Iraq (MNF-I) in supporting UNAMI, including security and logistical support, and further recognizes that security is essential for UNAMI to carry out its work on behalf of the people of Iraq;"
Resolution 1790 (2007). PP17. "Recognizing the tasks and arrangements set out in letters annexed to resolution 1546
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(2004) of 8 June 2004, including the provision of security and logistical support for the United Nations presence in Iraq, and the cooperative implementation by the Government of Iraq and the multinational force of those arrangements, and having regard for resolution 1770 (2007) of 10 August 2007,"
Annexed letter to UNSCR 1790 from Secretary Rice. "MNF is prepared to continue to undertake a broad range of tasks to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability and to ensure force protection, acting under the authorities set forth in resolution 1546 (2004), including the tasks and arrangements set out in the letters annexed thereto, and in close cooperation with the Government of Iraq."
Khalilzad
