PRM A/S DEWEY'S DISCUSSIONS WITH OPE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001220

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PRM/A, GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM GH
SUBJECT: PRM A/S DEWEY'S DISCUSSIONS WITH OPE



1. Summary: A/S Dewey and the Overseas Processing
Entity (OPE) Representative and Staff held fruitful
discussions during the recent trip by A/S Dewey to W.
Africa. Touching on issues related to 9/11, new
caseloads, partner relations, efforts to meet the FY 04
ceiling as well as the many benefits of WRAPS, Dewey was
presented with a thorough debriefing of OPE operations
in the region. Positive words of appreciation and
encouragement by A/S Dewey were well-received and
bolstered team efforts to move another 3,000 refugees by
October 1. End Summary.


2. During a representational dinner, OPE Director
Frances Tinsley and A/S Dewey discussed a myriad of
issues related to OPE processing in the region. The
two focused on three general areas of concern: 1) USRP
progress made since 9/11 on moving cases out of West
Africa, 2) the need for new caseloads and 3) partner
relations. All three points were of keen interest to
the Assistant Secretary and are detailed below.


3. 9/11 - Getting over the Hurdles. Due to the hiatus
in processing following the events of 9/11, numerous
hurdles arose as the Department struggled to address
security concerns related to the refugee program.
Tinsley emphasized that in the last year, the process
had picked up great speed as many 9/11 related policies
had been ironed out. The eventual normalization of the
RAVU process between Washington DHS, OPE and RPC was
welcomed recently by all and proved instrumental in
resolving the fate of thousands of refugees in limbo.
While the movement on RAVU policy assisted in breaking
the logjam, partner efforts were redoubled to address
those cases that had been stuck at various stages
throughout the year. Underscoring the importance and
success of the individual trouble-shooting partner
meetings, the myriad of concerns have eventually
ameliorated. Partners continue to convene weekly to
scrutinize SOPs and dislodge cases through meetings on
IOM/OPE data reconciliation, cases that fall through
the cracks, displaced refugees from Ivory Coast and DHS
policy issue and practical processing meetings.


4. The Need for New Caseloads - Our Pipeline Runs Dry.
Tinsley mentioned the increased competition for cases
in West Africa by other refugee resettlement countries.
The number of missions now based in Ghana, competing
for the same caseloads as the US Government include the
British and Canadians with the Australians preparing to
establish a presence next year. In identifying new
group referrals, Tinsley urged A/S Dewey to push for
more initial involvement with OPE in order to avoid the
numerous problems associated with the Abidjan
operation. A/S Dewey mentioned the need to move
processing more towards a "rescue mission" as opposed
to bigger P-2 programs of the past. Noting there is
now a more urgent need to have OPE process quickly in
designated places, Tinsley assured A/S Dewey that OPE
was up to the task, as evidenced by its recent trip to
the North of Ghana to pre-screen 400 Sierra Leoneans
from Krisan camp. Tinsley made a pitch to allow OPE to
process Visas 93s in the region as opposed to Accra
only. (Comment: This proposal was presented by Refcoord
to PRM and DHS last year and while plausible to PRM,
appeared a non-starter with DHS Rome and Washington.
End comment).

5) Partner Relations - A Tone of Collaboration.
Expressing appreciation for Refcoord's past efforts,
Tinsley emphasized the need for continuity upon the
appointment of the new refcoord. Outlining the
accomplishments of the current refcoord, Tinsley kindly
attributed the tone for the partner's collaboration to
Nadeau. Specifically, Tinsley outlined partner efforts
to find unlocatable cases (many lost during the Ivorian
civil disturbances) throughout the region that had been
sitting for months and sometimes years. While these
numbers do not represent a significant number of cases,
the effort to locate and process from a wide variety of
locations enforced partners' needs to work
collaboratively to move difficult caseloads.
Discussing how OPE has become the "clearing house" for
data exchange with the partner's given the advent of
WRAPS and the thoroughness of OPE pre/post
efforts, this exchange has encouraged a collegial
approach to processing by all partners.

6) A/S Dewey toured OPE viewing every corner of the
operation and providing strong words of encouragement
to staff along the way. In a general meeting with
senior staff, a question and answer session ensued with
thoughtful discussion on the need to have written
guidance from Washington in a timely manner, the
possibility of resettling Sudanese refugees and the
overall efforts made to increase departures to meet the
fiscal year ceiling of 8,500. The OPE team whole-
heartedly supported the RPC and WRAPS, saying it
simplifies their work efforts tremendously. Dewey
received the new positively stating he was pleased to
see the team embrace WRAPS. The meeting ended with a
mutual note of appreciation from OPE staff for the
Assistant Secretary's visit.

7. Comment. Tinsley and OPE staff were clearly
pleased and appreciative of the A/S's visit, mentioning
at numerous occasions the impact his encouraging words
had on staff. While the pressure has been on West
Africa to bring in numbers, the hurdles presented have
been met at every stage by OPE staff who have worked
tirelessly to overcome them. This was an opportune
time to illustrate those efforts to the Assistant
Secretary. End comment.

SIPDIS