REFUGEE RETURNS TO IRAQ: JORDANIAN RESPONSE

UNCLAS AMMAN 000199 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR NEA/NGA AND PRM/ANE; CPA FOR J.JOHNSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PREL IZ JO SUBJECT: REFUGEE RETURNS TO IRAQ: JORDANIAN RESPONSE REF: A. STATE 350022 ¶B. 03 AMMAN 8608 ¶1. (SBU) Refcoord delivered ref a talking points on January 6 to Mr. Mukhaymer Jamous, Coordinator for UNHCR and Refugee Affairs at the Ministry of Interior. (Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shaher Bak, our previous interlocutor on Iraq humanitarian issues, left with the November change of government.) Jamous expressed appreciation for the difficult security and economic conditions inside Iraq, as well as understanding for the reluctance of UNHCR and CPA to consider large-scale, organized returns at this time. He confirmed that the GOJ would not rush to organize its own return programs, noting the GOJ had just agreed to keep the Ruweished refugee camp on the Iraqi-Jordanian border open until April 9 (ref b). Jamous added that the GOJ continues to support the voluntary return of "hundreds" of Iraqis from Europe, who transit Jordan as part of IOM's Assisted Voluntary Return program. (NOTE: CPA receives information on these returns directly from IOM.) He welcomed the upcoming visit to Jordan of Iraqi Minister for Displacement and Migration Al-Otbee. ¶2. (U) Refcoord also provided ref a talking points to Foreign Minister Muasher's private office. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: Our discussions with Jamous were somewhat rushed, as he was the MOI's Acting Secretary General on the day we met. We will follow up with more detailed discussions after development of the regional refugee return and reintegration strategy. Also, based on our discussions with CPA, we understand that Iraqi Minister for Displacement and Migration Al-Otbee will be in Amman January 13 for UNHCR training and again February 10-11. We assume that the Iraqi embassy will arrange his GOJ meetings; please advise if our assistance is needed. ¶4. (U) CPA Baghdad minimize considered. GNEHM