NEW AFGHAN MINISTER OF REFUGEES AND REPATRIATION

UNCLAS KABUL 003856 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, PRM STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR JWOOD OSD FOR SHIVERS CG CJTF-82, POLAD, JICCENT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREF PREL PHUM AF SUBJECT: NEW AFGHAN MINISTER OF REFUGEES AND REPATRIATION SHEER MOHAMMAD ETEBARI REF: A. KABUL 3520 ¶B. KABUL 3414 ¶1. (SBU) On November 17, the Afghan Parliament confirmed Sheer Mohammmad Etebari as the new Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, replacing the ineffectual Akbar Akbar. UNHCR and the Kabul Refugee Section both see Etebari as a less than perfect but acceptable alternative to Akbar and have worked quietly behind the scenes to support and encourage his confirmation. Etebari was confirmed as part of the package (Governor of the Central Bank and Supreme Court nominee) considered by the Walesi Jirga. All were confirmed. ¶2. (SBU) UNHCR had urged Speaker Qanooni to unblock Etebari's confirmation, which had been held hostage by the disagreement between Speaker Qanooni and President Karzai over Foreign Minister Spanta's future. The Refugee Secton encouraged Etebari's low-key lobbying of important members of parliament. Etebari did not give a strong presentation at the hearing and received only 95 votes out of 168, only ten votes over the 85-vote minimum. Etebari is currently on the National Security Council (NSC) and rumored to be a close friend of the Karzai family. He is not a member of the Itahad-i-Islami party but reportedly has the support of Ustad Abdurab Rasoul Sayyaf, a powerful former warlord and member of parliament who heads the party. ¶3. (SBU) We will need to help Etebari shape a coherent strategy to create sustainable repatriation and resettlement policies. In conversations with the Refugee Section, his enthusiasm has been encouraging but his ideas unrealistic. As he did in his confirmation hearing, he makes sweeping and improbable statements about taking back government-owned agricultural land from local warlords and giving it to returning refugees. He was open to UNHCR and Embassy advice as he prepared for his hearing and said he welcomes continued close collaboration. ¶4. (SBU) Etebari spent some years in Peshawar as a refugee but frequently returned to Afghanistan throughout the conflict years. He worked as a geography teacher, UN and NGO field representative, paramedic, mujahadeen guide, and television cameraman before joining the NSC. He speaks passable (and colorful) English. WOOD