BUNDESTAG SENDS REQUEST FOR VIDEOS OF QUESTIONING

UNCLAS BERLIN 003555 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KJUS PTER KLIG PGOV GM SUBJECT: BUNDESTAG SENDS REQUEST FOR VIDEOS OF QUESTIONING OF GUANTANAMO DETAINEE ¶1. (U) This cable contains an Action Request. Please see para 4. ¶2. (SBU) On December 19, Post received the following letter addressed to Ambassador Timken from Siegfried Kauder, Chairman of the Bundestag Investigating Committee looking into allegations of renditions and the activities of the German intelligence services related to the war in Iraq. The letter is in German with an English translation supplied by the Bundestag. ¶3. (SBU) Begin Text of the Bundestag's Courtesy English Translation: Dear Mr. Ambassador: On 7 April 2006, the German Bundestag adopted a resolution establishing the 1st Committee of Inquiry of the 16th electoral term. Under the mandate established by Parliament, the Committee is to clarify still unresolved questions, make assessments and draw the necessary conclusions in connection with a report presented by the German Federal Government "on events relating to the Iraq War and combating international terrorism". Please refer to enclosure 1 for details of the Committee of Inquiry's mandate. At its meeting on 14 December 2006, the Committee of Inquiry decided to cordially request the Government of the United States of America to support the parliamentary work of the Committee. On behalf of the members of the Committee, I would like to express the hope that you will find yourself able to provide information of importance for the Committee of Inquiry fulfilling its mandate. In line with the Committee's Decision to take Evidence, which I also enclose for your information (Decision to take Evidence 16-219, enclosure 2),we request your assistance regarding the questioning of Murat Kurnaz by German officials in Guantanamo. The Committee would be grateful if the Government of the United States of America were prepared to send the specified video recordings. I would like to thank you for your readiness to receive and examine the requests of the German Bundestag. Sincerely, Siegfried Kauder Chairman of the 1st Committee of Inquiry End Text of the Bundestag's Courtesy English Translation. ¶4. (U) Action Request: Post requests guidance on how to respond to the letter. Note: Embassy's Econ/Global affairs section is emailing the enclosures regarding the committee's mandate and the decision to take evidence to L/LEI and EUR/AGS. End Note. KOENIG