ROKG REPORTS PROGRESS ON CAMP ZAYTUN MOU IN ERBIL

UNCLAS SEOUL 003461 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR NEA/SCA/EX (KENNETH MESSNER AND DINKA MASIC) AND EAP/K (PAUL LOH); EMBASSY BAGHDAD FOR KEVIN WEISHAR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KS MARR PARM PREL SUBJECT: ROKG REPORTS PROGRESS ON CAMP ZAYTUN MOU IN ERBIL REF: SECSTATE 162518 ¶1. (SBU) On December 3, Poloff delivered reftel points to Kang Young-shin, Deputy Director, Development Cooperation Division, and Kang Myung-il, Deputy Director, ROK-U.S. Security Cooperation Division of the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT). In a follow-up meeting on December 4, Kang Young-shin told poloff that MOFAT felt that sufficient progress was being made and provided an update on the status of the three U.S. requests based on a report he received overnight from the ROKA at Camp Zaytun. ¶A. Emergency Medical Treatment: Kang said that the ROK Army (ROKA) would provide emergency medical assistance to all U.S. Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) personnel, including security protection details and third-country national contractors. Kang noted that the emergency medical services would be limited to first aid, however, because the ROKA could no longer provide critical care capabilities, such as surgery services, due to the planned reduction in ROK troops (Note: The ROK Zaytun deployment will be cut in half, from 1200 to 600, beginning January 1, 2008). Kang explained that Camp Zaytun would send all critical cases, including Korean troops, to a (unnamed) neighboring hospital for such care. ¶B. Camp Zaytun Base Entry Access: Kang noted that the ROKA had agreed to issue special IDs for regular RRT personnel under Chief of Mission authority, including security details, but not for Iraqi or third-country national contractors due to security concerns. Kang said that he believed the access procedures for visitors and for coalition-badged personnel not permanently assigned to the RRT at Camp Zaytun were standard for all ROKA facilities, but said he would convey U.S. concerns to the ROKA. ¶C. Use of Additional Land and Vacant Buildings: Kang advised that the ROKA had asked the USG to provide the plans for the RRT's use of additional land and facilities, but that the USG had not yet done so. Kang said that once the USG provides it, the ROKA would carefully review the plans and provide a response to the U.S. request. VERSHBOW