Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ANKARA1099
2003-02-19 16:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

MFA ON IRAQ REFUGEE/IDP ISSUE: ACTION REQUEST

Tags:  PREF EAID IZ MOPS TU 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001099 

SIPDIS


DEPART FOR PRM - RGREENE, EUR/SE AND NEA/NGA
NSC FOR QUANRUD AND BRYZA
DEPT PASS USAID FOR BHR/OFDA - WGARVELINK/RLIBBY AND FFP
EUCOM FOR J3, J4, J5 AND POLAD
GENEVA FOR RMA
CENTCOM FOR J3, J5 AND POLAD


E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2013
TAGS: PREF EAID IZ MOPS TU
SUBJECT: MFA ON IRAQ REFUGEE/IDP ISSUE: ACTION REQUEST


REF: A. (A) ANKARA 0964

B. (B) ANKARA 0946


(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch. Reason: 1.5(b,d)


C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001099

SIPDIS


DEPART FOR PRM - RGREENE, EUR/SE AND NEA/NGA
NSC FOR QUANRUD AND BRYZA
DEPT PASS USAID FOR BHR/OFDA - WGARVELINK/RLIBBY AND FFP
EUCOM FOR J3, J4, J5 AND POLAD
GENEVA FOR RMA
CENTCOM FOR J3, J5 AND POLAD


E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2013
TAGS: PREF EAID IZ MOPS TU
SUBJECT: MFA ON IRAQ REFUGEE/IDP ISSUE: ACTION REQUEST


REF: A. (A) ANKARA 0964

B. (B) ANKARA 0946


(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch. Reason: 1.5(b,d)



1. (U) This is an action request -- see para 8.



2. (C) Summary: MFA Depuuty Director General for
International Political Organizations Tunc Ugdul called
EconCouns in February 17 to discuss USG and GOT approaches to
refugee/IDP issues related to a potential Iraq operation.
Ugdul reiterated that Turkey's intention to set up Red
Crescent-run camps just across the border was compatible with
the U.S. approach of providing humanitarian assistance to
Iraqis beyond that border zone. He said the GOT agreed in
principle to opening its borders to NGOs providing
humanitarian assitance, and asked why no NGOs had yet applied
for permission. Ugdul also asked whether the USG planned to
open a humanitarian coordination center in Turkey similar to
that established in Kuwait. Finally, he indicated that the
GOT was ready to approve the USG request to bring in and
store one million humanitarian daily rations, subject to
working out some logistical details. Embassy will work with
Eucom regarding next steps on a coordination center, and
recommends that Washington encourage 1-2 NGOs to test the
GOT's professed willingness to open its border to them. End
Summary.



3. (C) MFA Deputy Director General for International
Political Organizations Tunc Ugdul called in EconCouns
February 17 to follow up on recent discussions on
Iraq-related humanitarian issues (reftels). Ugdul said he
wanted to clarify what he termed "different perceptions" in
the USG and GOT about the outcome of those discussions.
Specifically, he was concerned by reports that the USG
thought its approach to the issue was significantly different
than that of the GOT. EconCouns noted that the GOT approach
focused on establishing Red Crescent-run camps just across
the border, while the USG wanted to deliver food and other
supplies to Iraqi people where they live. The USG was still

not sure whether Turkey would be willing to open its border
to NGOs so they could bring the necessary supplies from
Turkey into Iraq.



4. (C) Ugdul argued that the two approaches were compatible,
and that Turkey, while establishing its camps across the
border, would in no way limit U.S. humanitarian efforts. He
reiterated (ref A) that NGOs wishing to work in the Red
Crescent-run camps would need to negotiate and sign an MOU
with the MFA to ensure coordination. Those wishing to work
beyond the border region (i.e. further into Iraq) did not
need to sign such an MOU, but would need GOT authorization.
Such NGOs should contact the MFA, explain their goals, their
proposed areas of operation, and what they planned to bring
across the border. Once the GOT approved an NGO's general
application, the NGO would need to advise the MFA in advance
of each shipment so that the MFA could coordinate the border
crossing. Ugdul said that, while the GOT had not formally
finalized this approach, his comments reflected official GOT
thinking at this point. He asked why no NGOs had yet applied
to operate across the border, and agreed it would be useful
for 1-2 "credible" NGOs to apply in the near future. The
only issue, he said, would be that the NGOs should confine
their activity to humanitarian and health work; the GOT would
not welcome NGOs coming to work in the political area.



5. (C) Ugdul said the MFA was working with the ICRC on the
issue of the legal mandate to operate the camps across the
border. He expected the GOT to approve shortly the ICRC's
request to open a temporary office in Turkey, and hoped that
the issue of legal mandate could be addressed via the Red
Crescent's membership in the IFRC.



6. (C) Noting that the USG had established a Humanitarian
Operations Center (HOC) in Kuwait, Ugdul asked if the USG
intended to do so in Turkey. If so, he suggested the Embassy
forward a specific proposal. EconCouns responded that the
Humanitarian Planning Team had proposed, during its January
visit, establishing such a coordination mechanism, which
ideally would be "plugged" into the Kuwait HOC.

7. (C) Finally, Ugdul said that, after an initial
misunderstanding, the GOT was now ready to approve the USG
request to bring in and store one million humanitarian daily
rations in Turkey, subject to some clarification of
logistical issues. Embassy/ODC is following up directly with
the MFA on this.



8. (C) Comment and Action Request: Embassy recommends we
test the MFA's new-found openness on this issue. We will use
this week's visit of General Pete Osman to discuss
(internally) next steps on establishing a coordination
center, and recommend that Washington encourage 1-2 NGOs to
apply to the MFA for approval to perform cross-border
operations.
PEARSON