ICRC REVERSES PLANS TO OPEN PERMANENT MISSION IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003748 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2017 TAGS: PHUM PREF SOCI ICRC IZ SUBJECT: ICRC REVERSES PLANS TO OPEN PERMANENT MISSION IN BAGHDAD; NOTES DIFFICULTIES WITH MEK REF: BAGHDAD 03480 BAGHDAD 00003748 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Political-Military Minister-Counselor Marcie B. Ries for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: ICRC representatives from Amman and Geneva told Pol-Mil Minister Counselor (PMMC) Ries that ICRC had decided not to establish a permanent presence in Baghdad at this time. ICRC Near East and North Africa Director Beatrice Megevand-Roggo said that, after a security review, the Geneva office had decided not to assign international staff on a permanent basis to Baghdad. She lamented the trouble ICRC has with the Mujahideen-e Khalq (MEK) supporters, particularly in Geneva, and requested USG assistance to persuade the Government of Kuwait to open a second border crossing to facilitate ICRC travel to Camp Bucca. End Summary. Temporary Quarters Only -------------- ¶2. (C) ICRC's Head of Operations for Middle East and North Africa, Beatrice Megevand-Roggo, told PMMC that ICRC would not establish a permanent presence of foreign staff in Baghdad, due to concerns for staff security. This is a reversal of outgoing ICRC-Iraq Head of Delegation Karl Anton Mattli's stated intentions to Ambassador on October 21 (reftel). Megevand-Roggo noted that ICRC has 76 Iraqi staff in Baghdad and other areas of the country to run ICRC operations. Citing security concerns raised by ICRC's Geneva-based security staff, she said it would be impossible for ICRC to operate in Baghdad without armed protective security details, something inimical to ICRC's spirit and traditions. In response to PMMC's question about the ForMin's offer of a building in the Foreign Ministry's compound on the edge of the International Zone (IZ), Megevand-Roggo observed that while the location was safer, ICRC had to be present in the city and move around regularly within it. She characterized the checkpoints as dangerous places. ¶3. (C) Shifting ground somewhat, Megevand-Roggo repeated her point that ICRC was present in Baghdad via its locally engaged staff, adding that ICRC international staff would be present in a semi-permanent way through regular visits of several days at a time from their Amman office, likely using the building offered by the Formin for this purpose. In this vein, she asked for Embassy assistance to obtain IZ access badges for ICRC staff, both international and locally engaged staff. She specifically asked that the badges allow ICRC to escort others into the IZ. Camp Bucca -------------- ¶4. (C) Regarding visits to MNF-I detainees at Camp Bucca in southern Iraq, Megevand-Roggo said that several options were being considered to facilitate more regular visits. MG Stone was exploring the possibility of a landing strip at the camp that would accommodate the ICRC's Pilatus aircraft, which needs only a relatively short runway. Megevand-Roggo was not optimistic about this option, given the funding and time needed to construct a landing strip. ICRC was also considering using a Skylink helicopter from Kuwait. The best option in Megevand-Roggo's opinion was to open an additional checkpoint on the Kuwaiti border farther west of the only currently operating checkpoint and closer to Camp Bucca. This would allow ICRC to drive to Bucca in about 30 minutes, according to Megevand-Roggo. She asked us to contact the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait to use its good offices with the Kuwaiti authorities to open this additional checkpoint. MEK --- ¶5. (C) Regarding the proposed move by Task Force-134 of several hundred refugees formerly affiliated with MEK to Northern Iraq, Megevand-Roggo said ICRC had no objections and had already held discussions with MG Stone, the GOI, and UNHCR. She did not foresee any trouble. However, on the idea of turning over security for the Ashraf refugee camp from MNF-I to Iraqi Security Forces (ISF),she expressed strong concerns about the reaction of the MEK, or more importantly, MEK supporters in Europe. She described a sit-down strike at ICRC headquarters in Geneva that MEK had organized, apparently in only a few hours. She spoke at length on the lobbying power of the MEK and the need to handle them carefully lest their European supporters "terrorize" the ICRC. IDP Numbers BAGHDAD 00003748 002.2 OF 002 -------------- ¶6. (C) Megevand-Roggo closed out the meeting with an observation that the Iraqi Red Crescent's figures on the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) showed an increas of 500,000 in one month. She added was seeing Iraqi Red Crescent Director Dr. Hakki that evening and would raise the matter with him. She also mentioned that she would see Foreign Minister Zebari that afternoon and PM Maliki the next day. Bio Note -------------- ¶7. (C) Megevand-Roggo was clearly in command of the delegation, which included outgoing ICRC-Iraq Head of Delegation Karl Anton Mattli and his successor Juan-Pedro Schaerer. While Mr. Schaerer had been lively when informally chatting with the notetaker before meeting PMMC Ries, he said barely five words in the meeting. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) ICRC's decision is disappointing, to say the least, and confusing. While protesting the need for security for international staff, Megevand-Roggo had decided not to place any staff in the relatively safe building offered by the ForMin, citing a need to be in the midst of the city. ICRC's aversion to armed escorts is well known, but its decision not to establish a permanent presence in Baghdad due to the need for such escort will certainly hamper its effort to effectively pursue its mission here. ¶9. (C) It is very important that the ICRC visit Camp Bucca. In a separate conversation with UK DCM and visiting FCO Iraq Chief, they agreed. The UK is interested in supporting an effort to persuade the Kuwaitis to open a border entrance, even for half an hour at a pre-arranged time, to facilitate a visit to Bucca. We suggest Embassy Kuwait get in touch with UK colleagues, who would be interested in a joint approach to the GOK on this issue. CROCKER