TRIPARTITE COMMISSION TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE 56TH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000285 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA/ARP, OSD FOR ASD/DPMO CRONAUER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR PHUM PREL KUWAIT IRAQ KU SUBJECT: TRIPARTITE COMMISSION TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE 56TH SESSION REF: A. 2007-12-27 ROSENBERGER-CRONAUER EMAIL ¶B. 2007 KUWAIT 1676 ¶C. 2007 KUWAIT 909 Summary -------------- ¶1. Kuwait hosted the 56th session of the Tripartite Commission's Technical Subcommittee (TSC) on February 12, 2008, with representatives from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC). Kuwait reiterated its request to the U.S. for assistance with satellite and high altitude imagery research and analysis and relayed grid coordinates of supposed mass grave sites for analytical review. TSC delegates reported success in making contacts with potential witnesses and enlisting their assistance in identifying possible mass grave sites. There was no new information on CAPT. Speicher. His DNA profile remains in the Kuwaiti database and continues to be checked against all newly received profiles. The next TC meeting will take place in Kuwait on May 27, 2008. End Summary. Imagery Analysis Request Status -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) held the 56th session of the Technical Subcommittee (TSC) in Kuwait on February 12, 2008. The TSC is composed of delegates from Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UK and the U.S (the French delegation failed to show). The USG delegation informed TSC participants that on December 27, 2007, the Kuwaiti National Committee for the Missing and POW Affairs (NCMPA) provided to the Embassy grid coordinates and other information that may be helpful in locating mass grave sites in Iraq (ref A). NCMPA relayed the information in hopes that the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) assets will review 1990-1991 imagery of the sites to determine if there were changes from month to month in terms of dirt shifting or discoloration or other indicators of mass graves. ¶3. (SBU) The USG delegation confirmed that the NCMPA details were relayed to Washington and that the matter was still under study. The TSC requested further updates for the next meeting. Witnesses -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Kuwaiti delegation reported that it made contact with a witness with supposed knowledge of grave sites in Kuwait (AKA the "Jahra" witness). The Kuwaiti delegation provided assurances to him that no legal action would be taken against him should he come to Kuwait. Although initially reluctant, he agreed, in principle, to meet in Aleppo, Syria in a meeting to be arranged by the ICRC. ¶5. (SBU) The Iraqi delegation confirmed that it has a witness ready to assist in locating a grave site in Ramadi. However, The Iraqis expressed that there may be delays in proceeding with exhumations at this site, citing a new Iraqi law on the protection of mass graves. They said that the details of implementing this new law are still unclear. The TSC members took note of this concern and encouraged the Iraqis to coordinate with relevant governmental agencies to facilitate this mission as soon as possible. Other Activities -------------- ¶6. (SBU) According to TSC discussions, during the liberation of Kuwait, the British Army buried eight Iraqis at locations listed only in code. The Iraqi delegation requested that the British delegation send the coded coordinates to London for decoding. Once the coordinates are known, the ICRC offered, with participation of Kuwaiti and Iraqi delegates, to conduct a preliminary survey of the location. ¶7. (SBU) The TSC reported that effective steps were taken between the Saudi and Iraqi delegations to define the timeframe and logistical aspects of the forthcoming KUWAIT 00000285 002 OF 003 exhumation and repatriation of the remains of 64 Iraqis from sites in Naeriya (58),Hafr El-Baten (5),and Nessab (1). This mission will start on March 22. The Saudi delegation is responsible for moving the remains in Saudi Arabia, and the ICRC will coordinate with the Kuwaiti delegation and the GOK for transport across Kuwait and to the Abdaly-Safwan border crossing into Iraq. ¶8. (SBU) The Iraqi delegation told the TSC that the security situation has worsened in the areas of Kerbala, Nasseriya, Salman Pak, Samawa and Najjaf, making it difficult to continue queries into the disposition of Kuwaiti remains. The delegation promised to attempt to obtain a copy of a log book of a cemetery (exact location not disclosed) in Salman Pak, believing that it might provide information relevant to Kuwaiti remains. Updates -------------- ¶9. No exhumation activities were conducted by the TSC. ¶10. There was no new information on CAPT. Michael S. Speicher's case. His DNA profile remains in the Kuwaiti database and continues to be checked against all newly received profiles. The U.S. delegation renewed its commitment to continue the effort to resolve CAPT. Speicher's case. Next TSC -------------- ¶11. The next TSC session will take place in Kuwait on Tuesday, May 27, 2008. ¶12. Delegations: Republic of Iraq -------------- H.E. Dr. Abdelkarim A. Shallal,Head of Delegation Mr. Kazem M.K. Al-Anzi Mr. Yaqoob Kh. Haider Mr. Arkan J. Mohammad Mr. Ammar A. Abdelkarim State of Kuwait -------------- H.E. Dr. Ibrahim M. Al-Shaheen, Head of Delegation H.E. Ambassador Khalid M. Al-Maqamis Mr. Fozan Al-Fozan Mr. Rabea Al-Adsani Dr. Soltan Al-Khalaf Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -------------- Mr. Zuhair M. Al-Idrissi, Head of Delegation MG Dr. Abdelrahman Bin Mohammad Al-Sherif BG Ahmad M. Omar LTC Khalid Al-Treiri Mr. Fahad Al-Juraid United Kingdom -------------- Mr. Jonathan Layfield, Head of delegation United States -------------- Mr. Thomas Rosenberger, Head of Delegation International Committee of the Red Cross -------------- Mr. Jean-Michel Monod, Chairman of the TSC, Regional Delegate for the GCC Countries Ms. Jamila Al-Hammami, Delegate for 'Missing' files for Iraq Ms. Dalia Emrazian, Protection Department Ms. Loubna Berraho, Chancellery ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s KUWAIT 00000285 003 OF 003 Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * Misenheimer