ICRC PRESIDENT DISCUSSES SECURITY, DETAINEES, MEK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000797 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2019 TAGS: PHUM KREF KJUS IO IZ SUBJECT: ICRC PRESIDENT DISCUSSES SECURITY, DETAINEES, MEK WITH CHARGE AND CG BAGHDAD 00000797 001.5 OF 002 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Patricia Butenis for reason 1.4 (b) an d (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Visiting Iraq for the first time since May 2003, ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger praised relations with the Embassy and Multinational Forces-Iraq (MNF-I) in a meeting with the Charg and MNF-I CG Odierno on March 17. Kellenberger noted that ICRC is involved in many protection and assistance programs in Iraq and remarked that security has improved dramatically over the years. Kellenberger expressed concern about the safety of USG-held detainees who are scheduled to be transferred to GOI custody or released at the point of capture. He asked for continued USG monitoring of the Mujahedin e-Khalq (MEK) residents at Camp Ashraf to ensure they are treated humanely by the GOI. End Summary. ¶2. (C) ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger voiced his appreciation for good cooperation with the Embassy and Multinational Forces-Iraq (MNF-I) in a meeting with the Charg and MNF-I CG Odierno on March 17. The ICRC delegation consisted of Batrice Megevand-Roggo, head of Middle East Operations, Alexandre Liebeskind, personal advisor of the President, Juan-Pedro Schaerer, head of ICRC Iraq Delegation, and Patrick Yousef, head of the Baghdad sub-delegation. The delegation had been in Najaf earlier that day where they met with Ayatollah Sistani and visited the newly established ICRC sub-delegation in Najaf. -------------- ICRC OPERATIONS IN IRAQ -------------- ¶3. (C) Kellenberger said Iraq is a priority-interest country for ICRC; the program here is ICRC's second-largest operation (after Sudan). Kellenberger noted that since his last visit to Iraq in May 2003, the overall security atmosphere seemed almost normal, a development which will allow ICRC to increase its activities. The CG remarked that while security was returning to normal in Baghdad, there are still trouble areas in Mosul and eastern Diyala. (Note: Schaerer noted to PolOff on February 19 that Kellenberger's visit was intended to prove to Geneva that security had improved enough to further expand ICRC activities. End Note.) ¶4. (C) The delegation said ICRC is continuing its assistance programs around the country. Currently, ICRC provides food assistance for about 17,000 IDP families who �A;cannot access PDS rations. Schaerer said ICRC is conducting an assessment to see if the food program should continue past its scheduled end in April 2009, and assured that ICRC is willing to keep the program if there is a need. Kellenberger noted that Sistani acknowledged and thanked ICRC for its assistance and protection programs, but said the government needs to provide more assistance through basic services. -------------- RELEASE AND TRANSFER OF USG DETAINEES -------------- ¶5. (C) Kellenberger asked what MNF-I does if a USG-held detainee who is to be transferred to GOI custody does not want to be held in GOI detention facilities. The CG answered that this has not been fully addressed yet, but detainees who do not want to be transferred generally stay in USG custody. Those detainees will likely be incarcerated at MNF-I's Taji facility (currently under construction) which will be eventually turned over to the Iraqis. The CG acknowledged that MNF-I is currently transferring very few detainees to the GOI, mainly due to the overcrowding and conditions of Iraqi detention facilities. ¶6. (C) Kellenberger agreed that conditions in Iraqi detention facilities are of concern and highlighted problems Qdetention facilities are of concern and highlighted problems with overcrowding, health, and judicial processing. He said ICRC is visiting more facilities and is working on reaching an agreement with the MFA that will give ICRC formal permission to visit all GOI detention facilities. (Note: ICRC has separate verbal agreements with the ministries allowing access to detention facilities, and the Prime Minister issued an order allowing ICRC unrestricted access to all detention facilities. End Note.) ¶7. (C) Kellenberger then questioned the standard process for release of USG-held detainees, claiming that some detainees fear being released at the point of capture. The CG said this issue is being discussed, and that detainees who fear that their lives will be in danger if they are released at the point of capture are released at different locations in coordination with the Ministry of Human Rights . MNF-I is also assessing if detainees can be released elsewhere. The CG noted that detainees are now being BAGHDAD 00000797 002.5 OF 002 released to their communities or tribal leaders rather than to local police. -------------- NEED FOR CONTINUED MONITORING OF MEK -------------- ¶8. (C) The delegation briefly raised the issue of the Mujahedin e-Khalq (MEK) and asked the USG to continue monitoring Camp Ashraf. Kellenberger emphasized that it is closely monitoring to ensure that the GOI is fulfilling its humanitarian commitments to the camp residents, particularly regarding non-refoulement. He noted that ICRC does not have a formal responsibility to monitor this issue but is morally involved. He said he would raise this issue in his meeting with PM Maliki (Note: We heard from the PM that Kellenberger made a point of raising ICRC concerns over the MEK in their meeting. End Note.) Schaerer said ICRC is working with the Iranian Embassy and Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through ICRC's Iran delegation to try to get former MEK members repatriated to Iran. ICRC met with Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Qomi, and Qomi was allegedly supportive of returning defectors to Iran. The Iranian Embassy has been working to repatriate one of the current MEK defectors and is issuing passports for those who wish to resettle in third countries (septel). BUTENIS