Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAGHDAD3748
2007-11-14 14:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

ICRC REVERSES PLANS TO OPEN PERMANENT MISSION IN

Tags:  PHUM PREF SOCI ICRC IZ 
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VZCZCXYZ0037
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGB #3748/01 3181446
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 141446Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 0295
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0205
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
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).

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