VZCZCXRO1686
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #4656/01 3551834
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 211834Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8646
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0560
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC//NSC// PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004656 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2016 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL PHUM IO UN IZ
SUBJECT: UN SRSG QAZI'S RESPONSE TO DRAWDOWN CONCERNS 
 
REF: A. BAGHDAD 4593 
     ¶B. BAGHDAD 4581 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador expressed strong concern December 
20 to UN Special Representative to the Secretary General 
(SRSG) Ashraf Qazi over a planned UNAMI reduction of staff in 
Iraq.  The Ambassador pressed Qazi on the reason for the 
drawdown and stressed the continuing need for strong UN 
engagement in the key areas of constitutional revision and 
national reconciliation.  In response, Qazi outlined his 
concerns over security, emphasizing the zero tolerance HQ UN 
has for risk in Iraq by claiming that just one UN death here 
could precipitate a total UNAMI pull out.  Qazi told 
Ambassador the transition to a new Secretary General has put 
UNMAMI in a holding pattern and that a comprehensive security 
review will take place in January which could raise the 
reduced manning ceiling from 55 to as high as 65.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
---------------------------- 
UN'S ZERO TOLERANCE FOR RISK 
---------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) On December 20, Ambassador met with SRSG Ashraf Qazi 
to express strong concern over a planned 40 percent UNAMI 
reduction of staff in Iraq (Ref A).  The Ambassador 
emphasized to Qazi the impact such a decision will have, 
particularly at such a critical juncture in Iraqi's history 
and at this particular phase in the development of democracy 
in Iraq. 
 
¶3. (C) Qazi told the Ambassador the decision to draw down was 
based on strong security concerns, saying there was now a 
zero tolerance for risk at HQ UN and a belief in the rising 
likelihood there would be a security incident within the IZ 
itself.  The Ambassador pressed Qazi on this issue.  Stating 
we were all at risk, Ambassador asked Qazi to explain what 
was meant by zero tolerance and if the UN had specific 
intelligence UNAMI was being targeted.  Qazi said they did 
not, there was an elevated general concern that someone could 
smuggle weapons or an explosive into the International Zone 
(IZ) and mount an attack.  Qazi told Ambassador the concern 
was so great at HQ UN that if a UN employee were to be 
killed, he feared UNAMI would be forced to "pack up and 
leave." 
 
¶4. (C) Qazi told the Ambassador that the UN would be 
conducting a security review in January and there was some 
flexibility in the now reduced staffing ceiling, which could 
be raised from 55 to as high as 65 (Ref B).  As part of this 
review, UN Undersecretary General for Safety and Security, 
David Vaness, is expected to visit Baghdad.  In addition to 
concern over a specific incident or indirect fire, Qazi also 
noted more general concerns over changes in the configuration 
and security of the IZ as the US prepared to move into the 
new embassy compound and expressed a need for close 
coordination on this issue. 
 
----------------------------------- 
LACK OF "POLITICAL SPACE" FOR UNAMI 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) In addition to security concerns, Qazi also expressed 
frustration over what he called a "lack of political space" 
that UNAMI has been given to work within.  Qazi said that in 
what should be its core area, reconciliation, UNAMI is 
underutilized and not being asked to help or engaged by the 
Iraqi political parties.  He said the mood within the 
Constitutional Review Committee is to "go slow."  The Shia 
are unwilling to make any significant concession to the Sunni 
on the Constitution or accept UNAMI advice on anything other 
then minor technical issues.  Speaking more broadly, Qazi 
said that the transition to a new UN Secretary General has 
put UNAMI into a holding pattern and they can not pursue any 
new initiatives at this time without the UN itself providing 
clarity on what role UNAMI might play.  Qazi expressed 
optimism that expected high level talks in New York with the 
US early next year will result in a well coordinated and 
synchronized effort between the US and UNAMI in Iraq. 
 
¶6. (C) Ambassador stressed to Qazi that despite the 
difficulties, UNAMI's role in Iraq is critical.  UNAMI can 
and must have people on the ground who can engage contacts. 
Strong engagement by the UN through UNAMI on the core areas 
of human rights, democracy and reconciliation will make all 
the difference and UNAMI must take the lead on constitutional 
reform.  Ambassador concluded by urging Qazi to push for full 
UNAMI engagement and higher manning levels as a commitment to 
 
BAGHDAD 00004656  002 OF 002 
 
 
the Iraqi and her people. 
KHALILZAD