INCREASING NUMBERS OF DIPLOMATIC PERSONNEL SEEKING

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002627

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ JO
SUBJECT: INCREASING NUMBERS OF DIPLOMATIC PERSONNEL SEEKING
TO RETURN TO BAGHDAD FROM JORDAN

REF: STATE 114629

Classified By: Charge Gregory L. Berry. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) Over the past week, Embassy Amman, Task Force West,
units deployed in Iraq, and CENTCOM HQ have worked jointly to
facilitate the movement of several foreign diplomatic convoys
into Baghdad from Amman, following requests from those
diplomatic missions (see list para 3) asking for guidance
and/or assistance with such travel. Our standard response
has been that the U.S. military has declared the
Amman-Baghdad Highway to be permissive, although random acts
of banditry have occurred and coalition forces are not in a
position to provide escorts to diplomatic convoys. We have
noted that in Baghdad security is less firm, that the
coalition is unable to provide security for specific
diplomatic properties, and diplomats going there must assume
a certain amount of risk.


2. (C) Despite our efforts to discourage them, all the
diplomatic convoys that intended to travel did so --
apparently as a result of decisions made in capitals. In
each case, we (through Task Force West and CENTCOM HQ) passed
on all the particulars we received to U.S. military units
forward-deployed in western Iraq. The foreign diplomats who
have returned have done so for two stated purposes: (1) to
check on the status of their diplomatic property in Baghdad
and (2) to re-open their missions and/or provide consular
services to their nationals in Iraq. Common questions that
have arisen include: (a) Whether the U.S. military would
provide any protection to their personnel either en route to
or in Baghdad; and (b) who/what is the appropriate point of
contact for them in Baghdad when they arrive. We will convey
information contained in reftel with missions that contact us
from this point forward regarding prospective travel to Iraq.



3. (C) To date, diplomats from the following countries have
traveled to Baghdad from Amman, or intend to do so shortly:
Jordan, Spain, Vietnam, Thailand, People's Republic of China,
Japan, Germany, Korea, Singapore, and Nigeria. In addition,
the Dutch mission here asked if the coalition could provide
transport into Baghdad for one Dutch diplomat who is
recovering from a compound leg fracture and cannot make the
difficult 12-hour drive from Amman.


4. (C) Comment: Since the decisions to reopen missions to
Iraq are made in capitals, we have been unable to dissuade
any diplomatic travelers from going to Baghdad. We would
appreciate clarification of reftel indication that coalition
forces on the Jordan-Iraq border will in future prevent
foreign diplomats from entering Iraq without prior
authorization. If this is the case, we would appreciate an
explanation of the approval process (including initial points
of contact) so we can explain it to would-be travelers in
Amman.
BERRY