NOVEMBER 11-13 TRIPARTITE COMMISSION AND TECHNICAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 001676 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/ARP, OSD FOR ASD/DPMO CRONAUER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR PHUM PREL IZ SA KU KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 11-13 TRIPARTITE COMMISSION AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS IN KUWAIT REF: KUWAIT 909 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On November 11 and 13, respectively, Kuwait hosted the 55th session of the Tripartite Commission's Technical Subcommittee (TSC) and the 30th Tripartite Commission (TC) Meeting. Representatives from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, France, the United Kingdom, the U.S., and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were in attendance. At the TSC, Kuwait reiterated its request to the U.S. for assistance with satellite and high altitude imagery research and analysis and requested a meeting with representatives from the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) to discuss cooperative efforts in locating mass grave sites in Iraq. Kuwait, Iraq, the UK and ICRC agreed to coordinate on interviewing several witnesses. There was no new information on CAPT. Speicher. His DNA profile remains in the Kuwaiti database and continues to be checked against all newly received profiles. The next TSC meeting will take place on February 12, 2008 in Kuwait. SIPDIS The next TC meeting will take place in Kuwait on November 12, ¶2008. End Summary. Imagery Analysis Request Status -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The 55th session of the TSC was held in Kuwait on November 11, 2007. The U.S. delegation informed TSC participants that the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) assets were engaged in various operations and unable to provide imagery analysis assistance, as previously requested by the Kuwaiti delegation, to aid in the effort to locate mass grave sites in Iraq. The ICRC, Kuwaiti, and Iraqi delegations reiterated their request for such technical assistances and offered to fly teams to Washington to meet with imagery analysts. The Kuwaiti delegation added that reliable sources have indicated general locations of possible mass grave sites, and that analysis of aerial or satellite imagery taken from the 1990-1991 era over southern Iraq is needed to further pinpoint site locations. Witnesses -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Iraqi delegation reported that its efforts to convince a witness with supposed knowledge of grave sites in Kuwait were to no avail. Kuwait reiterated its assurances that no legal action would be taken against the witness should he come to Kuwait. The ICRC encouraged continued efforts and expressed its hope for a positive result by the next TSC. ¶4. (SBU) ICRC reported contact with a witness in London, but stated that he had no further information to add regarding the location of grave sites. The TSC agreed to follow-up by forwarding written questions penned by the Iraqi delegation to the witness. ¶5. The repatriation of 40 human remains took place successfully on September 5, 2007 and the National Committee for the Missing and PoW Affairs forwarded to the Iraqi delegation DNA profiles of the remains. Updates -------------- ¶6. No exhumation activities were conducted by Kuwait. The Kuwaiti delegation reported that to date, the identification of the remains of the following has been performed: --Remains found 329 remains found in Iraq 18 remains found in Kuwait --Identifications to date 208 Kuwaitis identified 6 Saudis 1 Omani 2 Lebanese 1 Egyptian 3 Iranians 12 unidentified citizenship 233 total New Iraqi Law KUWAIT 00001676 002 OF 003 -------------- ¶7. The Iraqi delegation explained that the GOI has entered into force a law on the protection of gravesites. Since this law is not mentioned in the protocols set by the 25th TC meeting held in Baghdad in June 2003, the Iraqi delegation invited the TSC to establish a legal committee to amend TC protocol to include text of this law. These amendments were adopted by the TC on November 13. Speicher Update -------------- ¶8. There was no new information on CAPT. Michael S. Speicher's case. His DNA profile remains in the Kuwaiti database and continues to be checked against all newly received profiles. The U.S. delegation renewed its commitment to continue the effort to resolve CAPT. Speicher's case. Next TSC Meeting -------------- ¶9. The next TSC meeting will take place on February 12, 2008 in Kuwait. The next Tripartite Commission Meeting will take place in Kuwait on November 12, 2008. ¶10. Activities to be undertaken before the next session are: - The U.S. delegation agreed to relay the request for use of satellite or high altitude imagery analysis to the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and inform the ICRC of the outcome. France and the UK also agreed to investigate with their respective governments whether any technical assistance is available to assist with this matter. - TC members will continue to try to convince suspected witnesses to provide details on mass graves sites. - The Kuwaiti delegation will continue to try to match DNA samples in the effort to resolve the case of CAPT. Speicher's case. ¶11. Delegations: Republic of Iraq -------------- H.E. Dr. Abdelkarim A. Shallal Head of Delegation Mr. Kazem M.K. Al-Anzi Mr. Yaqoob Kh. Haider Mr. Ali M. Thumad Mr. Shorouq H. Obaid State of Kuwait -------------- H.E. Dr. Ibrahim M. Al-Shaheen, Head of Delegation H.E. Ambassador Khalid M. Al-Maqamis Mr. Fozan Al-Fozan Mr. Rabea Al-Adsani Dr. Mohammad Al-Haddad Dr. Soltan Al-Khalaf Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -------------- H.H. Prince Turki Bin Mohammad Bin Saud Al-Kabir, Head of Delegation MG Nasser Bin Saad Al-Hmeidan MG Dr. Abdelrahman Bin Mohammad Al-Sherif Mr. Jamal Bin Hossein Akeel Mr. Zuhair M. Al-Idrissi BG Ahmad M. Omar LTC Khalid Al-Treiri Mr. Fahad Al-Juraid Republic of France -------------- Mr. Frederic Lallier, Head of Delegation United Kingdom -------------- Ambassador Stuart Laing, Head of Delegation Ms. Heidi Minchell KUWAIT 00001676 003 OF 003 United States -------------- CDA Alan Misenheimer, Head of Delegation Mr. Adrian Cronauer Mr. Thomas Rosenberger International Committee of the Red Cross -------------- Mr. Dominik Stillhart, Chairman of the TC, ICRC Deputy Director of Operations Mr. Jean-Michel Monod, Chairman of the TSC, Regional Delegate for the GCC Countries Mr. Raoul Bittel, Desk Officer for the Middle East, ICRC Geneva Mr. Juan Pedro Schaerer, Head of Delegation ICRC Iraq Ms. Jamila Al-Hammami, Delegate for 'Missing' files for Iraq Mr. John Strick van Linschoten, Protection Delegate, ICRC Kuwait Ms. Dalia Emrazian, Protection Department ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * MISENHEIMER