Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN724
2004-01-29 08:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

IRAQI MISSION'S CONSULAR SECTION IN AMMAN RENEWING

Tags:  PREL CVIS IZ JO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

290812Z Jan 04
UNCLAS AMMAN 000724 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CVIS IZ JO
SUBJECT: IRAQI MISSION'S CONSULAR SECTION IN AMMAN RENEWING
PASSPORTS, ISSUING ITDS


UNCLAS AMMAN 000724

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CVIS IZ JO
SUBJECT: IRAQI MISSION'S CONSULAR SECTION IN AMMAN RENEWING
PASSPORTS, ISSUING ITDS



1. (SBU) Summary. Iraqi Consul in Amman Ahmad Jirallah
Al-Dabbagh told EmbOffs that he had recently received
authority to extend Iraqi passports and issue Interim Travel
Documents (ITDs). He reported a constant demand from Iraqis
for more consular services, including issuance of new
passports. End Summary.

--------------
PASSPORT EXTENSION AUTHORITY, NOT FAR ENOUGH
--------------


2. (SBU) PolOff met January 14 with Iraqi Consul General in
Amman Ahmad Jiralla Al-Dabbagh to discuss recent consular
developments. Al-Dabbagh said his staff had been busy ever
since receiving instructions from CPA Baghdad, one week
earlier, authorizing them to extend Iraqi passports and
provide notarial services. Al-Dabbagh noted that the Mission
had posted a notice on its front door upon receipt of
instructions and said that word had spread immediately.
Al-Dabbagh mentioned that the Mission processed an average of
200-300 passport extensions per day, and a limited number of
notarizations. He added that his staff had been working
until midnight daily to allow Iraqis seeking passport
extensions to receive their renewed passports on the
following day. He reported that they had already witnessed a
substantial decrease in demand, to an average of between
20-30 applicants per day, after the initial surge.

-------------- --------------
AMMAN-BASED IRAQIS CLAMORING FOR PASSPORT ISSUANCE SERVICES
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) Al-Dabbagh told PolOff that the ITD, was of limited
use to Iraqis living in Jordan since few countries were
accepting them. Al-Dabbagh claimed that at present, only the
U.S., U.K., India, Egypt and Jordan, are accepting the ITD as
an official travel document.


4. (SBU) Al-Dabbagh, though happy to see some forward
movement, confided that Iraqis in Jordan were unhappy with
the limited number of consular services offered and were
asking his mission's staff when they would start issuing new
Iraqi passports. He urged the U.S. government to seek the
agreement of European and Arab countries to accept the ITD as
a substitute for an Iraqi passport. He noted that Iraqis
have told him that they have lost job opportunities in other
Arab countries due to their inability to travel. He cited
Jordan as an example of the ITD's limited usefulness, saying
the GOJ does not accept it as a valid identification document
to open a bank account or for residency permit extensions and
added that Iraqis holding it are allowed a maximum of 14 days
in country.


5. (U) CPA Baghdad minimize considered.

Visit Embassy Amman's classified website at
http://www.state.sgov/p/nea/amman/
or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET
home page.
HALE