Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DAMASCUS496
2008-07-10 14:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:  

SYRIAN MFA RESPONDS POSITIVELY ON EXPANDING IRAQI

Tags:  PHUM PREF PREL SY IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0011
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDM #0496 1921456
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 101456Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5175
INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 7360
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0900
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 4957
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 3684
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0435
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0640
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000496 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, PRM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL SY IZ
SUBJECT: SYRIAN MFA RESPONDS POSITIVELY ON EXPANDING IRAQI

REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

REF: DAMASCUS 453

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michael Corbin, per 1.5 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000496

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, PRM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL SY IZ
SUBJECT: SYRIAN MFA RESPONDS POSITIVELY ON EXPANDING IRAQI

REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

REF: DAMASCUS 453

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michael Corbin, per 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Following up on Senior Coordinator for
Iraqi Refugee Issues James Foley's June 24-26 visit (reftel),
Husam Alaa, MFA Chief of Staff for D/FM Faisal Mikdaad, told
Charge July 16 the SARG had decided to respond favorably on
increased resettlement for Iraqi refugees. He reported the
SARG had approved the hiring of additional Syrian staff and
leasing of a new building for conducting DHS circuit rider
interviews so long as the facility was under UNHCR auspices.
Alaa said the SARG preferred to see IOM training accomplished
outside Syria, but when pressed, he replied the SARG would
approve short training visits on a case-by-case basis. Alaa
said IOM would not be allowed to bring in a foreign deputy
but noted he would explore the possibility of periodic visits
on a case-by-case basis. End Summary.


2. (C) Charge met D/FM Faisal Mikdaad's Chief of Staff July
16 to follow-up discussions between Mikdaad and Senior
Coordinator for Iraqi Refugee Issues James Foley on the
possibility of expanding Iraqi refugee resettlement
operations in Syria (reftel.) Alaa reported the SARG had
decided to approve expanded Iraqi refugee resettlement by the
U.S. from Syria. In particular, Alaa said the SARG had no
objections to IOM's hiring of addition Syrian staff or
establishing a medical exam unit within IOM. The SARG also
had no problem with allowing bigger DHS circuit rider teams
as long as they complied with the current arrangement, Alaa
stated.


3. (C) Alaa stated the SARG had agreed to leasing of
additional office space for reprocessing operations
(currently done in UNHCR Headquarters here) so long as the
building remained under UNHCR auspices. He said the details
would need to be worked out, but as long as it was under an
&UNHCR flag,8 there was no problem. The SARG would leave
it to the Embassy to work out details with UNHCR. Charge
noted we might want to lease the building rather than have
UNHCR do it, and Alaa said he did not see a problem with
that (comment: we did not specify we meant IOM but we think
we can finesse that later.) Alaa said we would need to
address security and other issues (probably UNHCR vice IOM
guards.)


4. (C) Alaa said the SARG would most likely reject the
hiring of a Damascus-based, international staff member (for
the IOM deputy position). When Charge pushed back, Alaa
agreed to check whether there might be a willingness to
consider TDY visits to Damascus by the deputy. Alaa
recounted the SARG's resistance to IOM and strongly advised
that pushing too hard would rekindle deep resentment of IOM
in some quarters.


5. (C) Charge pressed Alaa to expedite issuance of visas
for the next DHS circuit rider team. Alaa promised to do
would he could on this matter.


6. (C) Comment: Alaa left us with the unmistakable
impression that the SARG recognized the importance of this
issue to the USG and this was the basis for the decision to
allow expansion of Iraqi refugee resettlement operations.
Embassy will follow up with UNHCR, IOM, and PRM.

CORBIN