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PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING WITH UN SECRETARY GENERAL,
25 JUNE
Kofi Annan called on the Prime Minister on 25 June for an hour. Annan was accompanied by Kieran Prendergast, Fred Eckhart and two other UN officials; the Prime Minister by David Manning, Peter Ricketts (FCO) and me.
On Irag, Annan expressed his condolences for the deaths and injuries to British personnel on 24 June. The Prime Minister briefed Annan on the background to the attacks.
Annan said De Mello had established good relations with John Sawers (about whom he spoke highly) and Bremer. Bremer had a clear sense of direction. The UN were encouraging him to go as fast as possible, or at least set out a political vision, to avoid Iraqi frustration of an overly long occupation.
Annan hoped the Political Council would appoint acting Ministers, who should be competent technocrats. The Prime Minister hoped that De Mello was being properly consulted - it was important for us that he should be, and he had urged Bremer to work with De Mello. Annan confirmed that he was, but this was clearly a US operation. Bremer was a centraliser - good at taking quick decisions, but there was a risk of reduced consultation.
Prendergast reported that De Mello had proposed that Jeremy Greenstock should be part of the CPA structure when he arrived. He added that Bremer gave De Mello full access and listened to him. Annan said that Bremer should engage more with the Iraqi public. We must ensure the Iraqis did not play off Bremer and De Mello against each other. Annan said that in the near future De Mello would take on further work on eg human rights.
Annan warned that de-Baathification had gone too deep, since for most Iraqis it was Saddam, not Iraq. who had been defeated. We should find a way DECLASSIFIED
bunums needed to be resurred yulenty. me noped tat te be would not pursue "reconstruction-lite" . The Prime Minister assured Annan that there was no way he would permit this. We would fulfil our commitments to the Iragi people.
The following paragraphs do not contain information relating to Iraq DECLASSIFIED
(washington), sir niger sheinwald (Unkep brussels), sir Jonn holmes (paris), Sir Peter Torry (Berlin) and Sir Roderic Lyne (Moscow).
Yours ever
Signed : Matthew Rycroft
25/06/2003
MATTHEW RYCROFT
Simon McDonald
FCO
DECLASSIFIED