IOM BAGHDAD'S UNCLEARED VISIT JEOPARDIZES EXPANDED

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000630

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/FO, NEA/FO/ELA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL SY IZ
SUBJECT: IOM BAGHDAD'S UNCLEARED VISIT JEOPARDIZES EXPANDED
RESETTLEMENT OPS IN SYRIA

REF: A. SEPTEMBER 2-3 POUNDS-HARRIS EMAIL EXCHANGE

B. DAMASCUS 496

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Maura Connelly per 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action request, see para 8.


2. (C) Summary: During a discussion on the possibility of
allowing IOM Damascus to host a trainer from outside Syria,
Husam Alaa, Syrian MFA Chief of Staff for D/FM Faisal Miqdad,
informed Charge September 3 that two IOM officials had
entered Syria and participated in a meeting in Damascus with
the Iraqi Minister of Displacement and Migration (MoDM)
without knowledge of or permission from the Syrian
government. In light of the SARG's well-known sensitivities
to IOM operations, this protocol breach could jeopardize USG
plans to expand Iraqi resettlement operations in Syria. End
Summary.


3. (C) In response to a question by Charge regarding the
SARG's willingness to consider granting permission for an IOM
trainer to visit Damascus in the near future (ref A),Alaa
said the SARG had developed a positive working relationship
with IOM management in Damascus over the last 12 months and
that confidence in IOM's credibility had grown. However, the
unauthorized presence of IOM personnel in Syria had again
raised concerns within the SARG about IOM's operations here.
Alaa said he had personally demarched IOM in Damascus and the
Syrian Ambassador in Geneva was under instructions to raise
the issue with IOM there.


4. (C) Alaa acknowledged the SARG had agreed to consider
such requests on a case-by-case basis, as part of a larger
agreement to allow the USG to expand its Iraqi resettlement
operations in Syria (Ref B). The SARG, Alaa continued, would
honor its commitment if it received a formal note from IOM.
However, the SARG first was demanding from IOM explanation
why IOM employees from outside Syria had entered the country
without proper clearance.


5. (C) Pol/Econ Chief followed up September 4 with Damascus
IOM Chief Maria Rummon (strictly protect). Rummon explained
that IOM Baghdad COM Rafiq Tschannan had informed her late
last week that the Iraqi Minister of Displacement and
Migration wanted to travel to Damascus on August 30 for
meetings with IOM and UNHCR on facilitating the return of
Iraqi refugees to Iraq. Tschannan asked Rummon to send an
IOM car to pick up the minister at the airport, and informed
her he would be accompanying the minister. (Note: According
to Rummon, IOM Baghdad is providing capacity building
services to the Ministry.)


6. (C) Rummon replied that the Iraqi Embassy was the proper
address to take care of the Minister, and that it was too
late to receive MFA permission for Tschannan's participation.
Tschannan said he understood and would not travel, but then
contacted Rummon the next day (August 29, a holiday) to say
he would be coming via land-route through Amman at the
request of the minister. According to Rummon, Tschannan, a
Swiss national, entered Syria on a tourist passport,
traveling in an IOM car. He and the Iraqi minister
participated in a meeting at IOM headquarters in Damascus
along with UNCHR reps from Amman and Damascus. The two men
departed together via an IOM vehicle en route to Amman after
the meeting, Rummon reported.


7. (C) According to Rummon and UNHCR rep Laurens Jolles, the
focus of the discussions was facilitating the return of Iraqi
refugees. The Minister sought IOM and UNCHR assistance in
Syria to transport refugees. IOM made no commitments to do
so, said Rummon. UNHCR told us that it will set up a
registration desk at its Duma facility to register and
arrange assistance for voluntary return cases. According to
the Iraqi Embassy, the Minister held no meetings with Syrian
officials.


8. (C) Action request: Request PRM consider making a
approach to IOM Geneva at the appropriate level to clarify
the SARG's sensitivities regarding IOM operations in Damascus
and register our concern that IOM Baghdad's unauthorized
presence in Syria jeopardizes ongoing Iraqi resettlement
operations and our plans to expand them in the coming fiscal

year. PRM may also want to consider whether to approach the
Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration on how best to
deconflict its efforts to promote refugee returns with our
own Iraqi refugee resettlement program.
CONNELLY