Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DAMASCUS72
2008-01-31 15:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
CHILEANS TO RESETTLE IRAQI PALESTINIAN REFUGEES
how-toVZCZCXRO6292 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHDM #0072 0311541 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 311541Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4588 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 5451 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0762 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 3536 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0036 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0378 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0404 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 7936 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO PRIORITY 0004 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0598 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0344
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000072
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR JORDAN, LONDON FOR TSOU
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/I, PRM/ANE
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2018
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL SY IZ
SUBJECT: CHILEANS TO RESETTLE IRAQI PALESTINIAN REFUGEES
FROM SYRIA
REF: 2007 DAMASCUS 285
Classified By: Charge D'Affairs Todd Holmstrom for reasons 1.4 b/d
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000072
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR JORDAN, LONDON FOR TSOU
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/I, PRM/ANE
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2018
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL SY IZ
SUBJECT: CHILEANS TO RESETTLE IRAQI PALESTINIAN REFUGEES
FROM SYRIA
REF: 2007 DAMASCUS 285
Classified By: Charge D'Affairs Todd Holmstrom for reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (C) On January 22, PolOff met with Deputy Head of the
Chilean Mission to Syria, Arturo Giadala, who confirmed
reports that his country would be resettling over 100 Iraqi
Palestinian refugees currently residing in the Al-Tanf
refugee camp. (Note: There three camps near the Iraqi border
where Iraqi-Palestinians are currently settled -- al Tanf
(roughly 500 individuals),al Waleed (approximately 2,000) on
the Iraqi side of the border, and al Hol (approximately 300).
The refugees at Al-Tanf are stuck in a no man's land area
located between Iraq and Syria. UNHCR reports that this camp
has neither water nor electricity service and is unsuited for
human settlement. The Syrians have, until now, opposed the
resettlement of Iraqi Palestinians dwelling in this camp
(reftel). Additionally, the SARG will not permit the
temporary settlement of these Iraqi refugees within Syrian
borders. End Note.)
2. (C) Giadala reported that a team from Chile had recently
finished interviewing Iraqi-Palestinian refugees in al-Tanf.
Of the 125 individuals interviewed, the Chilean team had
selected 100 (consisting of roughly 40 families) for
resettlement. Giadala reported that his country may be
willing to resettle additional Iraqi Palestinians from
Al-Tanf if the 100 selected assimilate into Chilean society
without incident. Nearly five percent of the Chilean
population was of Palestinian descent, but Chilean
Palestinians speak little to no Arabic and many have
converted to Christianity, Giadala explained. Given this
cultural divide, the Chilean government remained "nervous"
about importing "problems," and it first wanted to conduct a
small resettlement program on a trial basis. He noted that
the interview team selected only those families with
children. Giadala postulated that the SARG was agreeable to
Chilean resettlement due to the substantial existing
Palestinian population within Chile's borders.
3. (C) Giadala said his country hoped to transport the
selected Palestinians to Chile by mid-March. While the
details of how the Chileans were planning to transport the
Iraqi Palestinians remained unsettled according to Giadala,
he did note that his country was exploring the possibility us
using Iranian airlines and was currently discussing with the
Venezuelan government the option of using Caracas as a
lay-over rest/refuel point before commencing on the final leg
to Chile.
4. (C) Comment: The Iraqi Palestinians represent the most
destitute and vulnerable Iraqi refugees. Chile's willingness
to resettle some of them with the potential for more, coupled
with the SARG's acquiescence on the matter, represents a
positive step. Post will continue to monitor the progress of
this initiative.
HOLMSTROM
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR JORDAN, LONDON FOR TSOU
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/I, PRM/ANE
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2018
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL SY IZ
SUBJECT: CHILEANS TO RESETTLE IRAQI PALESTINIAN REFUGEES
FROM SYRIA
REF: 2007 DAMASCUS 285
Classified By: Charge D'Affairs Todd Holmstrom for reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (C) On January 22, PolOff met with Deputy Head of the
Chilean Mission to Syria, Arturo Giadala, who confirmed
reports that his country would be resettling over 100 Iraqi
Palestinian refugees currently residing in the Al-Tanf
refugee camp. (Note: There three camps near the Iraqi border
where Iraqi-Palestinians are currently settled -- al Tanf
(roughly 500 individuals),al Waleed (approximately 2,000) on
the Iraqi side of the border, and al Hol (approximately 300).
The refugees at Al-Tanf are stuck in a no man's land area
located between Iraq and Syria. UNHCR reports that this camp
has neither water nor electricity service and is unsuited for
human settlement. The Syrians have, until now, opposed the
resettlement of Iraqi Palestinians dwelling in this camp
(reftel). Additionally, the SARG will not permit the
temporary settlement of these Iraqi refugees within Syrian
borders. End Note.)
2. (C) Giadala reported that a team from Chile had recently
finished interviewing Iraqi-Palestinian refugees in al-Tanf.
Of the 125 individuals interviewed, the Chilean team had
selected 100 (consisting of roughly 40 families) for
resettlement. Giadala reported that his country may be
willing to resettle additional Iraqi Palestinians from
Al-Tanf if the 100 selected assimilate into Chilean society
without incident. Nearly five percent of the Chilean
population was of Palestinian descent, but Chilean
Palestinians speak little to no Arabic and many have
converted to Christianity, Giadala explained. Given this
cultural divide, the Chilean government remained "nervous"
about importing "problems," and it first wanted to conduct a
small resettlement program on a trial basis. He noted that
the interview team selected only those families with
children. Giadala postulated that the SARG was agreeable to
Chilean resettlement due to the substantial existing
Palestinian population within Chile's borders.
3. (C) Giadala said his country hoped to transport the
selected Palestinians to Chile by mid-March. While the
details of how the Chileans were planning to transport the
Iraqi Palestinians remained unsettled according to Giadala,
he did note that his country was exploring the possibility us
using Iranian airlines and was currently discussing with the
Venezuelan government the option of using Caracas as a
lay-over rest/refuel point before commencing on the final leg
to Chile.
4. (C) Comment: The Iraqi Palestinians represent the most
destitute and vulnerable Iraqi refugees. Chile's willingness
to resettle some of them with the potential for more, coupled
with the SARG's acquiescence on the matter, represents a
positive step. Post will continue to monitor the progress of
this initiative.
HOLMSTROM