LEBANON: UNIIIC SENIOR INVESTIGATOR SAYS STEADY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000414 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KCRM LE SY IS SUBJECT: LEBANON: UNIIIC SENIOR INVESTIGATOR SAYS STEADY PROGRESS CONTINUES REF: USUN 226 Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman. Reason: Section 1.4 (b) . SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) In a 3/19 meeting, UNIIIC chief investigator Peter Nicholson and senior investigator Rosemary Nidiry informed emboff that the Commission is now proceeding on the assumption that their mandate will be extended by the Security Council. Nicholson stated that the investigation has considerable momentum and their lines of inquiry are "targeted" and producing results. In addition, UNIIIC Commissioner Brammertz has brought onto his staff an experienced war crimes prosecutor, whom Nicholson said has been tasked with transitioning the investigation's results into prosecution documents. Nidiry expressed appreciation for the technical assistance rendered during her recent visit to Washington and said that a new, tightly-focused request was being prepared in accordance with the guidelines explained to her during her visit. Lastly, at least by their present intentions, both Brammertz and Nicholson plan to remain in their positions, at least through the summer. End summary. ¶2. (C) UNIIIC chief investigator Peter Nicholson and senior investigator Rosemary Nidiry met with emboff and Embassy LEGATT at UNIIIC headquarters in Monteverde on March 19. (Note: This exchange took place prior to receipt of reftel, and covered many of the same issues. We would summarize that Nicholson and Nidiry gave us a more forward-leaning outlook on the investigation than the ever-cautious Brammertz gave in New York. End Note.) LEGATT attended the meeting to expedite the arrival in Monteverde of two FBI relational database specialists who will assist with evidence analysis at the request of Commissioner Brammertz. Newly-arrived UNIIIC prosecution process expert Hildegard Uertz-Retzhaff also attended the meeting. STATUS OF THE INVESTIGATION -------------- ¶3. (C) A clearly upbeat Nicholson expressed confidence that the Brammertz investigation is steadily closing in on a case that can be brought before a tribunal. He described that the first several months were spent in the necessary, but time consuming process of eliminating false leads, disproving alternative theories, and organizing a considerable amount of evidential data. The summer conflict of 2006, which forced the temporary relocation of most UNIIIC staff to Cyprus, and normal staff changes (the commission is approaching the two-year mark) also played a role in extending the investigation's time horizon. ¶4. (C) But now, Nicholson said, the interviews and re-interviews, evidence analysis, and plain old investigative legwork was producing "substantive, rifle-accurate" results. Nicholson said that he has decided to stay on past his initially scheduled early March departure, because "he's actually enjoying" the current phase of the investigation. Both he and Nidiry (who is also considering staying past her earlier scheduled departure date of early April) believe the investigation has a good chance of being wrapped up in six months, that is, by September 2007. ¶5. (C) The UNIIIC staff is pacing itself on the assumption the UN Security Council will agree to the GOL request to extend the Commission, but does not believe it will need the entire 12 months being discussed. Perhaps as an indicator of their confidence, Commissioner Brammertz has brought in an experienced German prosecutor, Hildegard Uertz-Retzhaff, with whom he previously worked with on war crime trials associated with the former Yugoslavia. Nicholson described her role as building the "procedural bridge" between the investigation and an indictment process. Uertz-Retzhaff, who had just arrived in Beirut two days earlier, indicated she was highly motivated to get down to work and was looking forward to working with the Commission until the establishment of the Special Tribunal allows her to transfer the results of their work. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BEIRUT 00000414 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶6. (C) Nidiry expressed appreciation for her recent meetings in Washington with law enforcement, intelligence community, and Department representatives. Based upon those discussions, she plans to draft a new, highly-focused list of requests for technical assistance. In fact, due to steady progress in the investigation, she expects the new list will be relatively concise, because they are now looking at "specific" events. She indicated the new request would be ready in the next 1-2 weeks. ¶7. (C) Concerning the law enforcement database expertise that Commissioner Brammertz had requested from the USG on February 16, Nicholson said he has instructed his administrative officer to comply with U.S. logistical requirements, because the investigation required the assistance as soon as possible. Nicholson hoped that the two analysts would be on-site in Monteverde by early April. FELTMAN