DOS Cable re: Talking Points on World Issues - Iraq; Israel/Palestinians Roadmap; and United nations Security Council Resolution 1495

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222150
SOURCE: CBLEXCLS.000742
DRAFTED BY: NEA/PPD:RSHORE -- 07/31/2003 202-647-5919
APPROVED BY: NEA/PPD:RSHORE
H:JLANDE-2, NEA-15, P:TLENDERKING, IO/ACU, DRL-2, PRM-1

8C8ECO 3119232 /38
O 3119122 JUL 03
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL NEAR .EAST IMMEDIATE
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UNCLAS STATE 222150

1) INFORM CONSULS-PASS PAOS-MILITARY ALSO FOR POLAD 2) EMBASSY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IS, KPAO, OPRC, PREL, XF
SUBJECT: NEA PRESS GUIDANCE - 07/31/03

LONDON PLEASE PASS TO POLITICAL OFFICER ETHAN A. GOLDRICH 3) EMBASSY,
LONDON PLEASE PASS TO MOU: N.. KHOURY

THE FOLLOWING GUIDANCE IS PROVIDED FOR POST'S INFORMATION:

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: ARCHIE M BOLSTER
DATE/CASE ID: 04 NOV 2004 200303827 DOS-002706

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1) ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS: ROADMAP PROGRESS
KEY POINTS:
WE ARE THOROUGHLY ENGAGED IN FOLLOW-UP TO THE

DISCUSSIONS PRESIDENT BUSH HAD WITH PRIME MINISTER SHARON

JULY 29 AND WITH PRIME MINISTER ABBAS JULY 25.

AMBASSADOR WOLF WILL RETURN TO THE REGION TODAY TO
CONTINUE MONITORING AND COORDINATING STEPS TO FULFILL THE
COMMITMENTS BOTH PARTIES MADE TO PRESIDENT BUSH; AMBASSADOR
KURTZER AND ACTING CONSUL GENERAL JEFF FELTMAN CONTINUE
ACTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH BOTH SIDES. SECRETARY POWELL,
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR RICE, AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF

NEAR EASTERN AFFAIRS WILLIAM J. BURNS, ARE IN REGULAR CONTACT
WITH THE PARTIES.

BOTH SIDES HAVE OBLIGATIONS. BOTH SIDES HAVE
RESPONSIBILITIES. THE SUBSTANCE OF THESE OBLIGATIONS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES HAS NOT CHANGED. ALL PARTIES AGREE THAT A
FUNDAMENTAL IMPEDIMENT TO PROGRESS IS TERRORISM.

THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY MUST UNDERTAKE SUSTAINED,
TARGETED, AND EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS TO CONFRONT THOSE ENGAGED
IN TERROR AND TO DISMANTLE TERRORIST CAPABILITIES AND
INFRASTRUCTURE.

PRIME MINISTER ABBAS HAS COMMITTED TO A COMPLETE END TO
VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM. WE ARE DETERMINED TO HELP PRIME•
MINISTER ABBAS AS HE WORKS TO END TERROR AND ESTABLISH THE
RULE OF LAW THAT WILL PROTECT ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS.

THE ISRAELIS HAVE OBLIGATIONS TOO, WHICH INCLUDE
DISMANTLING ROADBLOCKS AND SETTLEMENT OUTPOSTS, AND FREEZING
SETTLEMENT ACTIVITY. WE ARE PLEASED THAT FIVE CHECKPOINTS
HAVE BEEN DISMANTLED, WHICH EASES RESTRICTIONS ON TRAVEL TO
WORK, HOME, SCHOOL FOR PALESTINIANS, BUT MORE WORK REMAINS TO
BE DONE.

AS PRESIDENT BUSH HAS STATED, &THE ISSUE OF
SETTLEMENTS MUST BE ADDRESSED FOR PEACE TO BE ACHIEVED.8

WE WILL CONTINUE TALKING TO THE ISRAELIS ABOUT PRISONER
RELEASES. WE ARE• ENCOURAGED BY POSITIVE STEPS THAT ISRAEL
HAS TAKEN TO FURTHER THE CAUSE OF PEACE, INCLUDING THE
RELEASE OF PRISONERS THAT PM SHARON ANNOUNCED JULY 29.

THE SEPARATION FENCE IS ANOTHER POINT WE WILL CONTINUE
DISCUSSING WITH THE PARTIES. AS THE SECRETARY STATED, (JULY

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30, REUTERS), &THE FENCE IS A PROBLEM IF IT IS CONSTRUCTED

IN A WAY OR CONTINUES TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN A WAY THAT TAKES

ADDITIONAL PALESTINIAN LAND, PREJUDGES WHAT MIGHT BE LEFT FOR
A PALESTINIAN STATE, OR IF IT COMPLICATES OUR DISCUSSIONS

GOING FORWARD.8

WE ARE PLEASED THAT BOTH SIDES ARE CONTINUING TO MEET
REGULARLY: PRIME MINISTER SHARON WITH PRIME MINISTER ABBAS,
AS WELL AS ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN CABINET AND SECURITY
OFFICIALS.

THERE ARE TOUGH ISSUES AHEAD, BUT THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE
PROCESS IS MOVING FORWARD. AS THE SECRETARY SAID, &THIS IS
A GROUND GAME AND YOU GET IT A COUPLE OF YARDS AT A TIME.8

(JULY 30, REUTERS)

2) IRAQ: WORLD BANK LOANS FOR RECONSTRUCTION

KEY POINTS

WE ARE PLEASED THAT WORLD BANK PRESIDENT JAMES
WOLFENSOHN TRAVELED TO IRAQ TO MEET WITH THE IRAQI GOVERNING
COUNCIL, AMBASSADOR BREMER AND UN SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE
VIEIRA DE MELLO.

AS QUOTED IN THE NY TIMES TODAY (7/31), MR. WOLFENSOHN
SAID THAT WORLD BANK FINANCING WOULD BE AVAILABLE &BEYOND
DOUBTS ONCE AN IRAQI CONSTITUTION AND ELECTED GOVERNMENT

WERE IN PLACE. THE,WORLD BANK AND UN ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT
TRUST FUND MECHANISMS TO COVER THE SHORT-TERM.

ALREADY THE WORLD BANK IS ENGAGED IN A NUMBER OF NEEDS
ASSESSMENTS IN IRAQ, WORKING WITH THE EXISTING IRAQI
MINISTRIES, UN AGENCIES AND THE COALITION PROVISIONAL
AUTHORITY. THESE NEEDS ASSESSMENTS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF
THE PLANNING FOR AN OCTOBER DONORS, CONFERENCE AND WILL
SUPPORT IRAQI EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A 2004 NATIONAL BUDGET.

WE ARE•PLEASED WITH THE BANK,S ENGAGEMENT TO DATE ON

IRAQ AND ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE &THE MAXIMUM. FEASIBLE
SUPPORT TO IRAQ DURING THE TRANSITION TOWARD AN ELECTED
GOVERNMENT.8 (WORLD BANK NEWS RELEASE)

IN ADDITION, WOLFENSOHN,S MEETING WITH THE IRAQI GOVERNING

COUNCIL PROVIDED IMPORTANT RECOGNITION OF ITS ROLE IN THE
TRANSITION TO AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT.

3) IRAQ: APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNING COUNCIL PRESIDENT, RETURN
OF IRAQI REFUGEES, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT ON INTERNAL
SITUATION IN IRAQ

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KEY POINTS:

AS THE SECRETARY NOTED YESTERDAY, THERE ARE SOME VERY

POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ: "IRAQI REFUGEES RETURNED TO

THEIR HOMELAND TODAY FROM SAUDI ARABIA OUT OF REFUGEE CAMPS

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 12 YEARS, AND THE JOY IS CLEAR IN THEIR

FACES THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO GO HOME." WE ARE WORKING TO

ENSURE THAT THE SECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE EXISTS TO PERMIT

THE SAFE RETURN OF THE MANY THOUSANDS OF IRAQI REFUGEES WHO

FLED THE SADDAM HUSSEIN REGIME AND WILL CONTINUE TO CONSULT

CLOSELY WITH UNHCR AND IRAQ' S NEIGHBORS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

((I MADE THIS CHANGE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE DON,T WANT

LARGE-SCALE RETURNS YET))

AS YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNING COUNCIL HAS ELECTED A
PRESIDENCY FOR ITSELF; AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP AS THE COUNCIL
ORGANIZES ITSELF FOR THE CHALLENGING WORK AHEAD. THE
GOVERNING COUNCIL WILL NAME MINISTERS, OVERSEE IRAQI
MINISTRIES AND THE PREPARATION OF THE 2004 BUDGET, AND HELP
LAUNCH A CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS THAT WILL DRAFT A NEW IRAQI
CONSTITUTION AND PAVE THE WAY FOR NEW ELECTIONS.

THERE ARE OVER 12,000 IRAQI POLICEMEN BACK ON THE
STREETS IN BAGHDAD, AND THIS MEANS A VISIBLE IRAQI PRESENCE
INVOLVED IN MAINTAINING SECURITY. IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, WE
WILL RECRUIT AND TRAIN THE FIRST BATTALION OF THE NEW IRAQI
ARMY AS A VOLUNTEER ) (NOT A CONSCRIPTION) FORCE. WE WILL

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ALSO RAISE EIGHT NEW BATTALIONS OF NEW IRAQI CIVIL DEFENSE

CORPS, RE-OPEN POLICE ACADEMY AND RECRUIT A BORDER GUARD. WE

RE-ESTABLISHED THE CRIMINAL COURT IN JUNE, AND CRIMINAL

TRIALS WILL RESUME SOON.

BASIC SERVICES ARE IMPROVING: ALL IRAQI HOSPITALS HAVE
RE-OPENED, AS WELL AS 90% OF IRAQ'S MEDICAL CLINICS.
ELECTRICITY OUTPUT IS UP TO 74% OF PRE-WAR OUTPUT AND WE HAVE
A NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS UNDERWAY THAT WILL GET US
BACK UP TO MEETING IRAQ'S ELECTRICITY NEEDS. OVER 90% OF
IRAQI PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE RE-OPENED AND ALL 22 IRAQI
UNIVERSITIES HAVE RE-OPENED. IN ADDITION, QATAR AND UNESCO
HAVE JOINTLY CREATED AN IRAQI HIGHER EDUCATION FUND WITH AN

INITIAL $15 MILLION QATARI CONTRIBUTION TO ENHANCE IRAQI
HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING, AND COMPUTER SCIENCE.

WE'RE PAYING PUBLIC SECTOR SALARIES, AND INJECTING $200
MILLION PER MONTH INTO THE ECONOMY THROUGH PAYMENT OF
SALARIES AND PENSIONS. BOTH STATE BANKS HAVE RE-OPENED AND
NORMAL TRANSACTIONS LIKES CHECK-CASHING ARE AVAILABLE. AND,
ON JULY 7TH, WE CREATED AN INDEPENDENT CENTRAL BANK WITH A

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NEW IRAQI GOVERNOR.

THE COALITION EFFORT IS TRULY INTERNATIONAL AND
PROGRESS IS BEING MADE, AND AS THE SECRETARY NOTED, "THERE
ARE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING (AND) SLOWLY BUT
SURELY, AMBASSADOR BREMER AND HIS TEAM ARE SUCCESSFULLY
STARTING UP ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND A POLITICAL PROCESS IS
UNDERWAY. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS COMING IN ALL WAYS
TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT."

REGARDING AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CRITICISMS:

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT. I
WOULD REITERATE THAT THE COALITION IS VERY FOCUSED ON
ENSURING THAT THE SITUATION INSIDE IRAQ CREATED BY THE REGIME
OF SADDAM HUSSEIN AND INHERITED BY THE COALITION IS RECTIFIED
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE LONG DOCUMENTED THE
DEPLORABLE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN IRAQ UNDER SADDAM
HUSSEIN, INCLUDING THE DISCREDITED AND LARGELY DYSFUNCTIONAL
JUDICIAL SYSTEM, A NON-FUNCTIONING POLICE FORCE, THE RELEASE
OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VIOLENT CRIMINALS ONTO THE STREETS IN
THE LATE DAYS OF THE REGIME, THE PERVASIVE CLIMATE OF FEAR

AND REPRESSION, AND THE ABSENCE OF THE RULE OF LAW.

WE ARE WORKING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS THIS.
MANY OF THE STEPS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED - THE TRAINING
OF A NEW POLICE FORCE AND CIVIL DEFENSE FORCE, THE RE-OPENING
OF THE CRIMINAL COURTS AND THE RESUMPTION OF CRIMINAL TRIALS
WILL HELP SIGNIFICANTLY ADDRESS THE ISSUES NOTED IN THE
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT.

WHILE A GREAT DEAL OF WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE, THERE
HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE, AND WE BELIEVE
THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN IRAQ IS STEADILY IMPROVING.

(IF PRESSED ON DETAINEES):

AS AMBASSADOR BREMER SAID WHILE IN WASHINGTON: &WE
ARE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH OUR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE GENEVA
CONVENTIONS. THE ICRC, THE UNHCR, THEY ALL HAVE FULL ACCESS
AND HAVE VISITED OUR DETAINEES. OUR DETAINEES NOW HAVE
ACCESS TO LAWYERS. WE HAVE ARRANGED FAMILY VISITS. FOR ALL
BUT A FEW OF THE DETAINEES. .

4) HAS US SOUGHT TO INTERVIEW AL-BAYOUMI?

Q. HAVE WE SOUGHT TO INTERVIEW OMAR AL-BAYOUMI, A SAUDI WHO
KNEW TWO OF THE 9/11 HIJACKERS?

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A. ) QUESTIONS CONCERNING ANY PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS WITH
AL-BAYOUMI SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE APPROPRIATE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES, IN THIS CASE THE FBI. WE UNDERSTAND
THAT ON BEHALF OF THE FBI, DR. RICE REQUESTED THAT THE

GOVERNMENT OF SAUDI ARABIA COOPERATE WITH US LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS IN CASES PERTAINING TO SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS. FOR
FURTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING DETAILS ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS,
PLEASE CONTACT THE FBI.

5) WESTERN SAHARA: UNSC RESOLUTION ON BAKER PLAN

.KEY POINTS

THE UNITED STATES WELCOMES THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY
COUNCIL'S UNANIMOUS ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 1495.

THIS RESOLUTION:

OFFERS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE EFFORTS OF THE
SECRETARY-GENERAL AND HIS PERSONAL ENVOY, JAMES BAKER, AND
SIMILARLY SUPPORTS THEIR PEACE PLAN FOR SELF-DETERMINATION OF
THE PEOPLE OF THE WESTERN SAHARA;

CALLS UPON THE PARTIES TO WORK WITH THE UN AND
EACH OTHER TOWARDS ACCEPTANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEACE
PLAN;

RENEWS THE MANDATE FOR THE UN MISSION FOR THE
REFERENDUM IN WESTERN SAHARA (MINURSO) FOR THREE MONTHS
(UNTIL OCTOBER 31).

THE UNITED STATES BELIEVES THE BAKER PLAN PROVIDES A
FAIR AND BALANCED BASIS ON WHICH TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARD
RESOLVING THE LONGSTANDING DISPUTE OVER WESTERN SAHARA.

WE URGE THE PARTIES AND NEIGHBORING STATES TO SEIZE THE
OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED BY THE PLAN AND COOPERATE CLOSELY AND
ACTIVELY WITH THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND HIS PERSONAL
ENVOY*AND WITH EACH OTHER*TO MOVE THE PROCESS FORWARD.

IF ASKED: COMMENT ON REPORTED OBJECTIONS BY MOROCCO THAT THE

BAKER PLAN &IMPOSES8 A SETTLEMENT?

ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AGREE THAT THE PEACE PLAN FOR THE

SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE PEOPLE OF WESTERN SAHARA COULD BE

AN OPTIMUM POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THIS LONGSTANDING DISPUTE OF

NEARLY THIRTY YEARS.

THIS RESOLUTION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN IMPOSITION; IT

REPRESENTS THE COUNCIL,S RECOMMENDATION TO THE PARTIES AND

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NEIGHBORING STATES.

ONLY THE PARTIES CAN RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT IS UP TO
THE PARTIES TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO SIGNAL THEIR FORMAL
ACCEPTANCE BY SIGNING THE PLAN.

WE WOULD URGE ALL PARTIES AND NEIGHBORING STATES TO
WORK WITH THE UN AND EACH OTHER TOWARDS ACCEPTANCE AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEACE PLAN.
IF ASKED: MOROCCO,S REPORTED REJECTION OF THE PLAN?

REFER YOU TO THE GOVERNMENT OF MOROCCO.

BACKGROUND FOR BRIEFER ONLY: IN LATE MAY, THE
SECRETARY-GENERAL FORWARDED THE BAKER PEACE PLAN IN A REPORT
TO THE UNSC. SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS BEGAN WITH THE
ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE POLISARIO HAD ACCEPTED THE PLAN. THE

US CIRCULATED A DRAFT MINURSO RESOLUTION THAT HAD BEEN
DISCUSSED BY THE FRIENDS GROUP. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF
DISCUSSION AND A LENGTHY SESSION YESTERDAY, THE COUNCIL WAS
ABLE TO REACH CONSENSUS ON A SLIGHTLY MODIFIED TEXT. THE
TEXT WAS VOTED ON THIS MORNING; UNSCR 1495 PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY.

PRIOR TO YESTERDAY,S COUNCIL SESSION, MOROCCO ISSUED A

STATEMENT REJECTING THE BAKER PLAN. IT IS UNCLEAR, HOWEVER,

WHETHER MOROCCO,S POSITION HAS CHANGED DUE TO THE COURSE OF

EVENTS OF THAT SESSION.
POWELL

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