(C) GULF WAR MISSING: TSC MEETS, NOTES CONTINUING

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000731 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA, IO/UNP, D, NEA/FO GENEVA FOR STONECIPHER LONDON FOR GOLDRICH PARIS FOR ZEYA CPA BAGHDAD FOR AUDREY GLOVER TUNIS FOR NATALIE BROWN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2014 TAGS: PREL KPOW PHUM IZ KU ICRC SUBJECT: (C) GULF WAR MISSING: TSC MEETS, NOTES CONTINUING PROGRESS REF: STATE 45910 (NOTAL) Classified By: (U) CDA FRANK URBANCIC; REASON 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Technical Sub-Committee (TSC) of the Tripartite Commission on Gulf War POWs and Missing Persons (TPC) held its 45th official session in Kuwait March 2. 30 more remains of Kuwaiti missing have been positively identified since the December TPC meeting. The TSC authorized full exhumation of mass graves at Kerbala, Ramadi and Amarah. Kuwait undertook to facilitate Iraqi visits to search for burial sites of missing Iraqis. ICRC and CPA urged all parties to emulate the USG in searching for information that may be helpful in locating the remains of Iraqis killed during the Gulf War. The next TSC meeting is to be held in Kuwait in about two months' time. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The Technical Sub-Committee (TSC) of the Tripartite Commission on Gulf War POWs and Missing Persons (TPC) held its 45th official session in Kuwait March 2, with the participation of all parties (Kuwait, Iraq - represented by CPA - , Saudi Arabia, France, UK, and US). Charge chaired US delegation, accompanied by Pol Chief. ¶3. (C) Kuwait reported that since the December TPC meeting, 30 more human remains have been positively identified as belonging to Kuwaiti missing, bringing the total to 75 (of 605). Reaffirming the existing procedures for assessment and exhumation of burial sites, the TSC decided to authorize full exhumation of mass graves at Kerbala, Ramadi and Amarah. CPA provided the coordinates of the Amarah site. Kuwait undertook to provide coordinates of two Iraqi mass graves inside Kuwait and to facilitate visits by Iraqis regarding those and other burial sites of missing Iraqis. The TSC affirmed the importance of ensuring adequate security in the field (the last Kuwaiti mission inside Iraq was aborted after its convoy was hit by IEDs). An Iraqi participant claimed that an Iranian campaign to assassinate former Iraqi officers was disrupting his efforts to collect information on missing Kuwaitis. ¶4. (C) Per reftel, Charge informed the TSC that the US is engaged in searching for, retrieving and as needed, declassifying, information that may be helpful in locating the remains of Iraqis killed during the Gulf War. ICRC urged all parties to do likewise: even if they had submitted such information in the past, it might no longer be available to the Iraqis, and might never have been incorporated into the official records of the TSC kept by ICRC. CPA also called on all parties to provide any information they can to help resolve the fate of Iraqi missing. ¶5. (SBU) The TSC decided to hold its next meeting in Kuwait in about two months' time, before the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq. ICRC will consult with each party regarding the exact date and venue. ¶6. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. URBANCIC