GOI DELEGATION PREPARES FOR BORDER SECURITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 001134 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2018 TAGS: PBTS PREL PTER IR IZ SY SUBJECT: GOI DELEGATION PREPARES FOR BORDER SECURITY WORKING GROUP BAGHDAD 00001134 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Pol-Mil Minister-Counselor Marcie B. Ries, Reasons 1.4(b ) and (d) ¶1. (S) On April 10, Pol-Mil M/C, DHS Attach, MNF-I analysts, and PolMilOffs attended a meeting with the GOI delegation to the Border Security Working Group (BSWG) in order to provide them with an intelligence briefing and USG recommendations for their course of action in Damascus (the latter delivered in the form of the nonpaper in paragraph 5 below). The GOI delegation was led by DFM Labeed Abbawi and included representatives from the MOI, MOD, MFA, Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS),and Counterterrorism Bureau (CTB),as well as Deputy National Security Advisor Mr. Hamza Sharif. The delegation was heavy on intelligence expertise but included no border experts as far as we could tell. The Department of Border Enforcement Director General, MG Mohsen, was unable to join the meeting but is expected to participate in the BSWG. ¶2. (S) Pol-Mil M/C provided Abbawi with a nonpaper highlighting what has been accomplished by the GOI and the Coalition to improve Iraq's border security since the last BSWG in August and outlining specific items which might be mentioned in the BSWG joint communiqu and concrete measures which the BSWG could agree to pursue. MNF-I analysts presented a briefing which focused on the foreign terrorist flow, Syrian actions to stop foreign terrorists, additional actions Syria could take to cut off the flow of such terrorists, and the problem of Iranian weapons and Iranian-trained terrorists entering Iraq, topics which DFM Abbawi specifically requested to be briefed. ¶3. (S) Following the briefing, the GOI delegation held a vigorous, open discussion on what goals to pursue at the BSWG. National Information and Intelligence Agency Director Hussein Ali Kamal set the stage by noting that while the problem of foreign terrorists entering Iraq through Syria had gotten better since the last BSWG, the problem of Iranian weapons had worsened. Iran's role in the recent violence was clear, despite their protestations of innocence, and Iraq should "stop being nice." An animated Kamal called for the formation of a regional or international investigative committee to consider the evidence of Iranian complicity which the GOI now possessed both from weapons seized and Iranian detainees (NOTE: Post has seen media and GOI-sourced reports of Iranians being detained in connection with violence in Basrah, none of which has been confirmed. END NOTE). The BSWG should produce a commitment from Iran to stop sending weapons into Iraq, urged Kamal. ¶4. (S) While there was a consensus that Iranian weapons were a serious problem, a number of voices urged caution in broaching the issue in the multilateral forum of the BSWG in the present circumstances. The GOI needed to consider the reality that elements internal to Iraq were using the foreign terrorists and weapons coming from Syria and Iran, and that the GOI needed to deal with this aspect of the problem, not simply lay the blame on other governments. The GOI also needed to consider the effect of raising accusations against particular governments on the atmosphere of the conference. The BSWG would be unlikely to produce positive outcomes if the GOI used it as a platform for confrontation. The evidence of wrongdoing might instead be presented to a different international body or the UN. MFA Neighboring Countries Director Amb. Taha al-Abassi suggested that the GOI try to maintain a positive atmosphere at the BSWG and seek means of splitting Syria from Iran, such as increasing trade and investment between Iraq and Syria. ¶5. (S/REL IRAQ) Text of nonpaper passed to DFM Abbawi: Introduction: -- Al Qaida in Iraq is still a major challenge, although great progress has been made in our fight against them. -- Illegal armed groups are an increasing problem which our BAGHDAD 00001134 002.2 OF 003 government is determined to resolve, as shown by the Prime Minister's fight against them in Basrah and elsewhere. -- Stopping the flow of weapons into Iraq which supply these illegal armed groups is a critical challenge which cannot be solved without help from Iraq's neighbors. -- Better cooperation with our Syrian counterparts has achieved some reduction in the number of foreign terrorists entering Iraq. -- Similar efforts with our Kuwaiti neighbors have helped reduce smuggling along that border. -- Border security is not only about keeping things out of one's country, it is also about keeping things in, in other words preventing illegal activity from leaving one's country and harming a neighboring country. -- Too often in the past we have focused on keeping this out of our countries without paying sufficient attention to stopping those that would use our territory to cause harm to our neighbors. -- No border can be completely controlled from only one side. Each country must look both inward and outward while working closely with each of its neighbors. -- Iraq values this opportunity to meet with all of her neighbors. While events like this are helpful, they are not a substitute for a permanent diplomatic presence in Baghdad. Iraqi and Coalition Efforts to Improve Border Security since August 2007: -- Installed passport reading systems and biometric tools at all major ports of entry. -- Installed cargo and vehicle x-ray screening equipment at all of our major land ports of entry. -- Opened a state of the art port of entry at al Qaim-Husaybah on the Syrian border in November, enhancing economic development on both sides of the border. -- Hired, trained, and deployed 4,000 additional border officers in the past year. -- Allocated over $158 million this year for border infrastructure improvements such as border forts, enhanced ports of entry, and border barriers. Many of these improvements will improve the flow of commerce and visitors through Iraq's ports of entry. -- Added 25 new patrol boats to the Coast Guard to safeguard southern waterways. -- Exchanged liaison officers with between Iraqi and Syrian border agencies. Proposals: -- A joint communiqu encompassing the following: Commitment to stop terrorists from crossing borders anywhere in the region, especially those coming to and leaving Iraq. Commitment to stop the flow of weapons into Iraq which find their way to illegal armed groups. Commitment to share information on suspected terrorists and criminals which any government has reason to believe may leave its borders in order to enter another country in the region. -- Agreement to exchange liaison officers between interior ministries of neighboring countries in cases where this has not already been done. -- Offer from each government to host training of border/security officials on at least one subject in which it can offer best practices to the other participating governments. -- Establishment of one or more expert-level working groups to address specific areas of concern such as: Developing operational and technological standards for an effective border control system by sharing best practices from among all participants Seeking common standards for travel documents and biometric information to be required of international travelers Import/Export controls to stop the smuggling of weapons, drugs, oil, and other items while speeding the flow of legitimate trade Standards and mechanisms to exchange information regarding foreign prisoners and to extradite or transfer them to their home government BAGHDAD 00001134 003.2 OF 003 BUTENIS