Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BERLIN421
2008-04-03 12:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
GERMANY INCREASES CONTRIBUTIONS TO ASSIST IRAQI
how-toVZCZCXRO2203 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHRL #0421 0941249 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 031249Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0824 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0215 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0209 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0183 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1412 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0591 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0210 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000421
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PRM/ANE ADRIENNE NUTZMAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2018
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL IQ GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY INCREASES CONTRIBUTIONS TO ASSIST IRAQI
REFUGEES
REF: A. STATE 30028
B. BERLIN 325
Classified By: ACTING POL MC STAN OTTO. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000421
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PRM/ANE ADRIENNE NUTZMAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2018
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL IQ GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY INCREASES CONTRIBUTIONS TO ASSIST IRAQI
REFUGEES
REF: A. STATE 30028
B. BERLIN 325
Classified By: ACTING POL MC STAN OTTO. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) POLOFF delivered Ref A points to Iraq Unit head Dr.
Ruediger Lotz and desk officer Thomas Lenferding on March 31.
Dr. Lotz expressed appreciation for the information and
noted that in the coming days, a number of announcements
regarding assistance for Iraqi refugees would be made. Lotz
added that record numbers of Iraqis sought asylum in the EU
in 2007, and that Germany had granted asylum to roughly 80%
of them, despite the reduction in violence. He also
reiterated earlier points (Ref B) that Germany has noted an
increase in the number of illegal Iraqi immigrants arrested
in the country last year, and that he expects the problem to
increase during 2008.
2. (U) On April 2, the MFA announced that Germany would be
increasing its financial assistance for Iraqi refugees by 2.5
million Euros. The funds will primarily be allocated to the
UN High Commissioner for Refugees to be used for refugees in
Syria and Jordan, as well as for IDPs living in Iraq. This
brings Germany's total financial contribution for Iraqi
refugee assistance to 3.7 million Euros in 2008.
3. (C) In a conversation April 3, Lenferding stated that
roughly one million Euros will be allocated to the refugee
work of the ICRC, along with a number of German NGOs. The
money will be used for projects in Syria and Jordan in the
health care sector as well as providing refugees with food
and household goods directly. Regarding IDPs, Lenferding
said the MFA has allocated money to the communities to
provide medical support as well as water and food supply
assistance. When asked if the lack of official German
personnel on the ground in Iraq made the delivery of such
assistance difficult, Lenferding demurred.
4. (SBU) Lenferding went on to confirm reports that the
German government is considering a special refugee status for
a large number (perhaps as many as 30,000) of Iraqi
Christians who are currently being persecuted in Iraq. In
the past days, both the Council of Protestant Churches and
the Catholic Church in Germany have made pleas for action to
assist this minority to escape the "ethnic cleansing"
currently occurring in Iraq. This matter will be taken up by
the Bundestag (Parliament) Committee for Human Rights and
Humanitarian Aid on April 9. Post will report on any future
decisions as appropriate.
TIMKEN JR
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PRM/ANE ADRIENNE NUTZMAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2018
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL IQ GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY INCREASES CONTRIBUTIONS TO ASSIST IRAQI
REFUGEES
REF: A. STATE 30028
B. BERLIN 325
Classified By: ACTING POL MC STAN OTTO. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) POLOFF delivered Ref A points to Iraq Unit head Dr.
Ruediger Lotz and desk officer Thomas Lenferding on March 31.
Dr. Lotz expressed appreciation for the information and
noted that in the coming days, a number of announcements
regarding assistance for Iraqi refugees would be made. Lotz
added that record numbers of Iraqis sought asylum in the EU
in 2007, and that Germany had granted asylum to roughly 80%
of them, despite the reduction in violence. He also
reiterated earlier points (Ref B) that Germany has noted an
increase in the number of illegal Iraqi immigrants arrested
in the country last year, and that he expects the problem to
increase during 2008.
2. (U) On April 2, the MFA announced that Germany would be
increasing its financial assistance for Iraqi refugees by 2.5
million Euros. The funds will primarily be allocated to the
UN High Commissioner for Refugees to be used for refugees in
Syria and Jordan, as well as for IDPs living in Iraq. This
brings Germany's total financial contribution for Iraqi
refugee assistance to 3.7 million Euros in 2008.
3. (C) In a conversation April 3, Lenferding stated that
roughly one million Euros will be allocated to the refugee
work of the ICRC, along with a number of German NGOs. The
money will be used for projects in Syria and Jordan in the
health care sector as well as providing refugees with food
and household goods directly. Regarding IDPs, Lenferding
said the MFA has allocated money to the communities to
provide medical support as well as water and food supply
assistance. When asked if the lack of official German
personnel on the ground in Iraq made the delivery of such
assistance difficult, Lenferding demurred.
4. (SBU) Lenferding went on to confirm reports that the
German government is considering a special refugee status for
a large number (perhaps as many as 30,000) of Iraqi
Christians who are currently being persecuted in Iraq. In
the past days, both the Council of Protestant Churches and
the Catholic Church in Germany have made pleas for action to
assist this minority to escape the "ethnic cleansing"
currently occurring in Iraq. This matter will be taken up by
the Bundestag (Parliament) Committee for Human Rights and
Humanitarian Aid on April 9. Post will report on any future
decisions as appropriate.
TIMKEN JR