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.

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ICRC OPERATIONS IN IRAQ
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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
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.

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RELEASE AND TRANSFER OF USG DETAINEES
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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

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released to their communities or tribal leaders rather than
to local police.

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NEED FOR CONTINUED MONITORING OF MEK
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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