IRAQI PRIME MINISTER TO REVIEW PLAN TO RESTORE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004371 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREF PREL PTER TU IZ SUBJECT: IRAQI PRIME MINISTER TO REVIEW PLAN TO RESTORE CIVILIAN CHARACTER OF MAKHMOUR REFUGEE CAMP REF: BAGHDAD 3936 Classified By: RRT Leader James Yellin, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) This is a Regional Reconstruction Team cable. ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting in Erbil with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) on November 24, the Iraqi Minister for National Security Affairs (MNSA),Sharwan Waili agreed to ask the Iraqi PM to approve the use of Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) to restore the civilian character of the Makhmour refugee camp. Waili, UNHCR and the KRG understand that MNF-I will not conduct the military operations required to expel the PKK from the camp, but expect MNF-I to advise the ISF battalion that will conduct the weapons search. Waili will also seek the PM,s approval to create a Working Committee based in Erbil to oversee implementation of the plan. GOI officials asked a representative of the Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) in Iraqi Kurdistan to be an observer in the committee. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) The Erbil meeting follows the October 17 meeting in Baghdad (reftel) in which UNHCR's plan to restore the civilian character of the Makhmour refugee camp was presented to GOI and KRG representatives. The Erbil meeting participants included representatives from the ministry of Displacement and Migration (MODM); the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Minister of State for the Interior, Sanjari; the Minister and Head of KRG Representative Office in Baghdad, Dilshad Miran; the Deputy Governor of Mosul; the Mayor of Makhmour; the Head of UNHCR Sub-Office in Erbil, Haled Sadiqi; the UN Secretary General Special (Military) Advisor to Iraq; and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Area Coordinator, Mark Rutgers. UNHCR and UNAMI officials were pleased that Minister Waili participated in this meeting (he was not involved in the October 17 meeting) and were overall satisfied with the outcome. -------------- -------------- GOI recommendations and request for MNF-I involvement -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) GOI officials will recommend to the Iraqi PM that the Second Battalion of the Iraqi army based in Mosul conduct a weapons search and confiscation at Camp Makhmour. The GOI expects MNF-I will have an advisory role in this operation. The KRG Minister of Interior recommended that one to three MNF-I advisors be available. GOI officials stated that some of the refugees are relatives of Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) members, that the camp is used by PKK fighters for access to medical services and to rest, and that the PKK manipulates and influences refugees in the camp. In response to the PM,s orders to close down PKK offices, the Deputy Governor of Mosul stated two PKK offices closed down (one office inside the Camp and one in the city of Makhmour). The Mayor of Makhmour denied the PKK operate a radio station or security check point at the Camp. ¶4. (C) UNHCR's Sadiqi told the group that UNHCR would conduct a registration of the Camp,s approximately 11,000 Turkish Kurd refugees once its civilian character is restored. UNAMI's Area Coordinator Mark Rutgers added the UN mandate prohibits aid to refugees if military or political activists are present. In response, GOI officials asked UNHCR to provide them with a formal invitation to have Iraqi forces restore the civilian character of the camp. UNHCR replied it will look into the matter and clarified that it is incumbent upon the host government to address security matters. GOI officials insisted they need a UN declaration stating the weapons search is necessary, adding that a UN invitation would demonstrate the GOI,s action is not influenced by Iran or Turkey (Note and comment: Embassy Baghdad Refugee Coordinator will follow-up with Minister Waili and UNHCR to see if this is really required. The meeting participants might not have been fully aware that UNHCR has already communicated in writing to the GOI the need to restore the civilian character of the camp. End note and comment). ¶5. (C) All participants agreed to create a Working Committee based in Erbil to carry out the technical and logistical implementation of the plan to restore the camp's civilian character. The members would be the Governor of Mosul, the Mayor of Makhmour, and a MODM representative. The GOI and KRG representatives asked that UNHCR and the RRT participate as observers in the committee. MNSA would seek the PM,s approval to create the committee. The meeting participants stated that the restoration of the civilian character of the camp and the registration of the refugees should be completed in December. BAGHDAD 00004371 002 OF 002 -------------- Calls for GOT action -------------- ¶6. (C) The Mayor of Makhmour stated that Turkey must issue a general amnesty so refugees can return home safely. MNSA added the UN and the US should put pressure on Turkey to ensure returning refugees will be welcomed and protected under the law. After the registration, the GOI and the KRG will address the plight of refugees who do not want to return to Turkey. ¶7. (C) Comment: The active participation of Minister Waili (who is the GOI counterpart to US Special Envoy to Counter the PKK, Joseph Ralston) in the Erbil meeting is a positive development that should expedite operations to restore the Makhmour's civilian character. Embassy Baghdad will follow-up with Minister Waili and encourage the GOI to produce written confirmation of its commitment to expel the PKK from the camp. KHALILZAD