Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07STATE147332
2007-10-22 23:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

RESPONSE TO SARG "DEAL" RE DHS REFUGEE

Tags:  IZ PHUM PREF PREL SY 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 147332 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2017
TAGS: IZ PHUM PREF PREL SY
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO SARG "DEAL" RE DHS REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT INTERVIEWS

REF: DAMASCUS 1032

Classified By: NEA A/S DAVID WELCH FOR REASONS 1.4 B and D

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 147332

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2017
TAGS: IZ PHUM PREF PREL SY
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO SARG "DEAL" RE DHS REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT INTERVIEWS

REF: DAMASCUS 1032

Classified By: NEA A/S DAVID WELCH FOR REASONS 1.4 B and D


1. (U) This is an action request. See paras 2-4.


2. (C) Department appreciates Post's engagement with the
SARG on the important subject of allowing resumption of
DHS/USCIS interviews of Iraqi refugees in Syria. The "deal"
proposed by the SARG is clearly unacceptable and we find it
hard to believe that it is serious. While we have been
generous with humanitarian assistance, and have urged others
to do so, we will not make any assurances to the Asad
government to solicit funds on its behalf. Likewise, we will
not alter our standard refugee procedures at Syrian behest.
Nevertheless, the opportunity to get DHS adjudicators into
Syria is something we should continue to pursue. Department
requests that Charge present an appropriate Diplomatic Note
confirming agreement that the Foley/Scialabba visit will take
place October 29-31. Set forth below in para 4 are the names
of the persons who will be visiting Syria.


3. (C) Department also requests that Charge deliver the
following points:

-- The U.S. appreciates Syria's willingness to receive the
Foley/Scialabba delegation to discuss Iraqi humanitarian
issues and to engage on the issue of resumption of DHS
circuit rides.

-- Regarding the request that the U.S. seek increased
international assistance to Syria by encouraging other
countries to increase their donations (preferably directly to
the Syrian government): The USG has worked and will continue
to work with Gulf and European countries to encourage them to
respond generously to UN appeals targeting Iraqi refugees.
Ambassador Foley intends to continue the USG's diplomatic
effort to increase contributions to regional humanitarian
assistance efforts by meeting with UN and donor country
officials in Geneva following his trip to the region.

-- It should be noted that the USG has been the largest
international donor to humanitarian assistance programs for
displaced Iraqis to date. In 2007, the USG provided almost
$200 million to the UN, other international organizations and
NGO programs assisting displaced Iraqis. A significant
portion of our assistance has reached Iraqi refugees in
Syria: $67 million was contributed to UN and UNHCR programs
implemented in countries hosting displaced Iraqis, including
Syria; $4 million went to the International Federation of the
Red Cross and Red Crescent appeal which supports the Syrian
Arab Red Crescent and Jordanian Red Crescent Societies to
implement health programs on behalf of displaced Iraqis; and
more than $8 million went to six NGOs in Syria to expand
health and education services to vulnerable Iraqis and
Syrians.

-- Regarding the SARG request that Government of Iraq,
Government of Syria and UNHCR representatives be present at
the DHS interview: It is contrary to international norms on
refugee processing, as well as to DHS policy and procedure,
to allow officials of other governments at the DHS
adjudication. As a matter of policy and practice, the DHS
refugee adjudication is designed to protect the individual's
confidentiality, and there is no historical precedent for

SIPDIS
observation of individual DHS interviews by officials of
either the host government or of the government of the
individual's country of origin. Nor are we aware of other
countries permitting a third country presence during their
refugee interviews in Syria or anywhere else. We understand
that UNHCR has informed the SARG that such government
observation of UNHCR interviews is also prohibited by its own
policy on conducting refugee status determinations.

-- The U.S. reiterates its commitment to UNHCR vulnerability
criteria. As the SARG may know, UNHCR has established eleven
profiles of Iraqi refugees who will be prioritized for
resettlement submission. All DHS interviews in Syria are
based on a referral from UNHCR according to one of the eleven
criteria. Syria should address concerns about transparency
to UNHCR. We are only interviewing candidates referred to us
by UNHCR. If Syria wants to verify this fact, we believe it
can confirm an individual's status with UNHCR at the time of
the exit permit application.

End Points.


4. (C) The U.S. delegation will consist of Ambassador James
Foley, Lori Scialabba, Terry Rusch, June Tancredi, Mary
Doetsch, and Norm Hastings. The DHS adjudicators are Brett
Lassen, Leila Bongato, Steve Lindsay and David Marchick.
RICE