TRIPARTITE COMMISSION TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE 51ST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 003640 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/ARP, OSD FOR ASD/DPMO CRONAUER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL MARR IZ SA KU KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS SUBJECT: TRIPARTITE COMMISSION TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE 51ST SESSION: 10 NEW SEARCHES, 93 NEW IDENTIFICATIONS. REF: A. KUWAIT 881 ¶B. 05 KUWAIT 4813 ¶1. Summary: Kuwait hosted the 51st session of the Tripartitite Commission's Technical Subcommittee (TSC) on September 5, 2006 with representatives from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, France, Britain, the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC),and Embassy Kuwait in attendance. The session closed 93 cases, all involving Iraqi remains found during a joint assessment mission to Saudi Arabia from April 29 to May 2, 2006. The Kuwaitis noted that no investigations into the mass graves sites in Iraq previously discussed (reftels) had taken place since the 49th session due to security issues. Kuwait requested the development of an action plan by the TSC to allow visits to mass gravesites in Iraq to proceed, specifically identifying the need for Coalition Forces security assistance. There was no new information on CAPT. Speicher's case. End Summary. Mass Graves Update -------------- ¶2. The 51st session of the TSC was held in Kuwait on September 5, 2006. The Kuwaitis opened the meeting by informing the attendees that no assessments or exhumations had taken place in Iraq, specifically at Al-Kaffel and Al-Madaen in Salman-Pak, in the period since the 49th TSC because of security concerns. Action Plan for Gravesite Visits -------------- ¶3. The Kuwaitis proposed that TSC members develop, through bilateral discussions with the ICRC, a plan of action to allow visits to mass gravesites in Iraq to proceed. The Kuwaitis specifically identified the need for security assistance from Coalition Forces in Iraq for visits to the mass gravesites. The U.S. delegation noted that any visits should be coordinated through the Government of Iraq. Tel Al-Laham/Nasseriya -------------- ¶4. Iraq said that it had information from the Iraq President,s office about human remains in Tel Al-Laham but that Iraq had not been able to identify a specific location. Kuwait said that it had information about a site in Nasseriya which could correspond to the information about Tel Al-Laham. Ramadi/Baghdad/Al-Jahra/Kuwait -------------- ¶5. The Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights reported that information was obtained from Iraqi witnesses about gravesites in Iraq and Kuwait, specifically Kuwaiti remains in Ramadi and on the Baghdad Airport road. Iraq also reported that information was communicated to Kuwait on other possible grave sites in Kuwait. Kuwait requested that Iraq follow up with witnesses mentioned in previous TSC sessions, specifically Mr. Al-Houli, Mr. Al-Dakhil and Mr. Al-Gharib for Al-Jahra. Iraq/Saudi Mission and Closed Cases -------------- ¶6. Saudi Arabia reported via verbal note to the ICRC on May 20, 2006, the following results of the joint mission to Saudi Arabia from April 29 ) May 2, 2006 and delivered 93 death certificates to Iraq with the recommendation that the files on these cases be closed. - Hafr El-Baten: 38 Iraqi remains found with 27 identities known but exact locations unknown, 5 identities known and locations known, and 6 cases with unknown identities and locations. - Nasab Centre: 7 Iraqi remains with 1 identity and location known and 6 identities unknown. - Rafha Public cemetery: 2 identities known, location unknown. - Nasseriya: 76 Iraqi remains with 57 identities and exact locations known, 1 &Christian8 remains with identity and exact location known, and 18 identities known and exact locations unknown. Kuwait Searches -------------- KUWAIT 00003640 002 OF 003 ¶7. Kuwait reported 2 human remains found at Al-Manqish oilfield and 1 human remains at Ali Al-Salem Airbase. All were unidentified but believed to be Iraqi because of their uniforms. The DNA profile did not match any profiles in the database and Kuwait is ready to hand over the reports and human remains to Iraq. ¶8. There was no new information on CAPT. Speicher's case. His DNA profile remains in the Kuwaiti database and continues to be checked against all newly received profiles. Next TSC Meeting -------------- ¶9. The next TSC meeting will take place on November 13, 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland at the ICRC headquarters and the next Tripartite Commission meeting will take place on November 15, 2006 also in Geneva at the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Activities to be undertaken before the next session are: - TSC will develop a plan of action, through bilateral discussions with the ICRC, to allow further exhumation missions to Iraq. - Visits by Iraqi witnesses to assist in locating gravesites in Kuwait. - Return of human remains from Kuwait to Iraq. - Iraq will prepare a list of names of Iraqi dead buried in Saudi Arabia whose remains should be repatriated. - U.S. will assist the TSC with conversion of UTM grid coordinates of grave sites into longitude and latitude coordinates. ¶10. Delegations: State of Iraq -------------- Mr. Kazem M. Kazem Al-Anzi, Head of Delegation Mr. Yaqoob Kh. Haider Mr. Thabit M. Hussain Mr. Hazem J. Yassin State of Kuwait -------------- H.E. Ibrahim M. Al-Shaheen, Head of Delegation Mr. Forzan Al-Forzan Mr. Rabea Al-Adsani Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -------------- Mr. Zuhair M. Al-Idrissi, Head of Delegation Dr. Abdulrahman S. Al-Shareif Mr. Ahmad M. Omar Mr. Khalid Al-Treiri Mr. Fahad Al-Juraid Republic of France -------------- Mr. Jacques Corday Great Britain -------------- Ms. Jaime Turner International Committee for the Red Cross -------------- Mr. Jean-Michel Monod, Regional Delegate for the Arabian Peninsula Mr. Kedir Awol, Deputy Regional Delegate for the Arabian Peninsula Mr. Micha Wedekind, Delegate for Missing, files in Iraq U.S. -------------- Mr. Donald Blome Ms. Natalie Brown Mr. DeWitt Conklin ********************************************* * KUWAIT 00003640 003 OF 003 For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ LeBaron