Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAGHDAD2034
2008-07-02 12:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

ICRC REGRETS DYSFUNCTION AND POSSIBLE CORRUPTION

Tags:  PHUM ICRC IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8092
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #2034 1841201
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 021201Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8085
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0248
RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 0029
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0248
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002034 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2018
TAGS: PHUM ICRC IZ
SUBJECT: ICRC REGRETS DYSFUNCTION AND POSSIBLE CORRUPTION
IN THE IRAQ RED CRESCENT ORGANIZATION

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Patricia A. Butenis for reasons
1.4(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002034

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2018
TAGS: PHUM ICRC IZ
SUBJECT: ICRC REGRETS DYSFUNCTION AND POSSIBLE CORRUPTION
IN THE IRAQ RED CRESCENT ORGANIZATION

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Patricia A. Butenis for reasons
1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Senior Refugee Coordinator met with ICRC Iraq Head of
Delegation Juan Pedro Schaerer and Delegate Bryan Tisdall in
Amman June 17 to discuss ICRC,s difficult relations with the
Iraq Red Crescent Organization. Schaerer noted that he had
met with IRCO President Dr. Said al Hakki on June 11 in
Baghdad in an effort to break the ice. He described their
lunch as largely non-substantive. Hakki,s one apparent nod
to ICRC,s mandate was to acknowledge ICRC,s unique role
with regard to detainees. But following the meeting, Hakki
requested a meeting with MNF-I,s ICRC liaison to discuss
issues related to detainees and families. That meeting is
pending.


2. (C) Schaerer expressed great concern about the damage
that IRCO leadership was inflicting on the organization and
the resulting sectarianism in what had been one of Iraq,s
last non-sectarian national organizations. Schaerer noted
the corruption allegations against Hakki, the arrest of IRCO
VP Jamal Karbouli two months ago and his subsequent exile to
Jordan and the long term presence of Second VP Adnan al
Kadami in Dubai.


3. (C) Schaerer stated that he had deflected Hakki,s
attempt to force ICRC to operate in Iraq via IRCO. Hakki had
gotten VFM Hamoud to write a note directing ICRC to work
through IRCO. Schaerer subsequently took up the matter with
Hamoud, who backed off, stating that if ICRC could not work
with IRCO, so be it. Schaerer said that ICRC had minimized
its cooperation with IRCO to very limited distribution of
humanitarian relief items via branches in Basra and Mosul
during recent security operations and to family tracing
activity, which IRCO HQ continues to manage effectively.
ICRC provides no funds to IRCO. Other UN organizations,
however, such as UNICEF and WFP are working with IRCO on
humanitarian assistance. UNICEF intermittently contracts use
of IRCO branch office staff to implement quick impact
projects and reimburses the branches directly for their
services. WFP compensates IRCO HQ for services it provides
in distributing relief supplies, a standard practice
internationally. IRCO distributes foods for WFP in five
Iraqi governorates. WFP compensates IRCO at the rate of
$100 per ton, which based on expected deliveries, should
amount to $4 million in 2008. So far, however, WFP has only
paid IRCO $100,000. ICRC and another UN agency in Amman
informed us that Dr. Hakki had requested via private email,
that WFP deposit funds due to IRCO in an account at the
National Bank of Abu Dhabi. (Swift NBADAEAAKHF; #6200309356)
WFP reportedly viewed this request for offshore payment as
highly irregular and had no intention of making payments to
it.


4. (C) IRCO,s main source of funding appears to be two
appropriations from the GOI. According to the chair of the
Council of Representatives Displacement Committee, IRCO
received USD 83 million in the 2008 annual budget and USD 25
million in a supplemental. IRCO also receives some funding
from other national societies via the International
Federation of the Red Cross. Hakki told ICRC that IRCO was
not in need of funding. Schaerer commented that Hakki/IRCO
was paying the Carmen Group in Washington $80,000 per month
to lobby Congress for funding on his/its behalf. Schaerer
said he planned to raise his concerns about IRCO with Hakki
and was contemplating raising with the GOI, given the
latter,s responsibility to ensure that IRCO,s use of GOI
appropriations complies with Iraqi law.
CROCKER