Turkish Red Crescent Travel to Iraq to Explore

UNCLAS ANKARA 003306 SIPDIS DEPT FOR PRM/ANE, EUR/SE AND NEA/NGA DEPT PASS USAID FOR DHCA/OFDA EUCOM FOR JE, JR, J5, SOJ7 AND POLAD GENEVA FOR RMA CENTCOM FOR J3, J5 AND POLAD KUWAIT FOR HOC AND MDRO SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID IZ TU SUBJECT: Turkish Red Crescent Travel to Iraq to Explore Adopting a Hospital Ref: State 108198 ¶1. (U) MFA Ambassador for Iraq Reconstruction Issues Ahmed Rifat Okcun called in Econ Counselor April 21 on Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) plans to visit Iraq to discuss assistance for hospitals with the Iraqi Red Crescent. MFA Head of Department for Multilateral Political Organizations Feza Ozturk and Mission Disaster Relief Officer (MDRO) also attended the meeting. ¶2. (SBU) Referring to reftel demarche on "adopting" Iraqi hospitals, Okcun stated that TRC would like to assist two small hospitals (not further identified) in Kirkuk and Baghdad by providing repairs, new equipment and several doctors and nurses for up to one year. The Turkish Ministries of Health and Labor would provide the staff and equipment. TRC intends to send a 12-person delegation to Iraq to discuss needs, but would not deliver supplies or equipment at this time. The group will be led by TRC Disaster Affairs Director Omer Tasli and will include Dr. Cevdet Erdol, an Ak Party MP (travelling as a medical professional, rather than a politician, according to Okcun). The group includes one GOT employee, a construction expert from the Public Works Ministry. ¶3. (SBU) In a conference call with Okcun during the meeting, TRC Director General Fatih Evren told us that TRC intended to cross the Habur Gate into Iraq on May 23 and to spend approximately three days each in Kirkuk and Baghdad, with a brief stop in Mosul as well. MDRO advised TRC and MFA that the HOC should be notified 96 hours in advance of any movements by humanitarian organizations. TRC and MFA agreed to postpone the visit until May 26 and to provide further details of the delegation's itinerary to MDRO. Embassy will provide delegation details by fax to the Kuwait Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC). ¶4. (SBU) Ozturk said that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has not been informed of this trip, but that TRC would brief ICRC, MFA and the Embassy after the return of the delegation. Pearson