Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAGHDAD85
2009-01-13 13:59:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
IRAQ PROVIDES ADDITIONAL ASSURANCE TO ALLOW ACCESS
how-toVZCZCXRO3025 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #0085/01 0131359 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 131359Z JAN 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1204 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0070 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 0026 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000085
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/WCI, NEA/I, NEA/PM, NEA-I/PM, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV PHUM PINR KDRG IZ US
SUBJECT: IRAQ PROVIDES ADDITIONAL ASSURANCE TO ALLOW ACCESS
TO GUANTANAMO DETAINEES
REF: A. BAGHDAD 37
B. 08 BAGHDAD 4068
C. 08 BAGHDAD 3512
D. 08 BAGHDAD 3272
E. 07 STATE 100598
Classified By: Acting Political-Military Counselor Philip S.
Kosnett for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000085
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/WCI, NEA/I, NEA/PM, NEA-I/PM, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV PHUM PINR KDRG IZ US
SUBJECT: IRAQ PROVIDES ADDITIONAL ASSURANCE TO ALLOW ACCESS
TO GUANTANAMO DETAINEES
REF: A. BAGHDAD 37
B. 08 BAGHDAD 4068
C. 08 BAGHDAD 3512
D. 08 BAGHDAD 3272
E. 07 STATE 100598
Classified By: Acting Political-Military Counselor Philip S.
Kosnett for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) The Government of Iraq (GOI) provided written security
and humane treatment assurances for the transfer of four
Iraqi detainees from Guantanamo, Cuba January 7 (REF A). Mr.
Hussain Al-Asady, Director of the Prime Minister's National
Operation Center, who had signed the assurances with
authority from and on behalf of the Prime Minister, provided
an additional assurance January 8 allowing USG access to the
detainees while in GOI custody upon request of the Embassy.
2. (S) In order not to inadvertently circumvent the U.S./GOI
Security Agreement regarding the entry and exit of personnel,
PolMilOff explained the detainee movement plan to Al-Asady
January 12 - that the four Iraqi detainees would deplane at
the Coalition Forces side of Baghdad International Airport
(BIAP) for transport to the International "Green" Zone; that
one Algerian detainee would remain on the aircraft for
continued transport to Algeria; and that one Afghani detainee
would change planes for transport to Afghanistan. PolMilOff
noted that all six detainees would remain in USG positive
control at all times and, with the exception of the four
Iraqis, the detainees would not leave the BIAP area.
Al-Asady said that he had reviewed the Security Agreement and
reiterated that as long as the detainees remain in USG
custody and do not leave BIAP, transiting the Afghani and
Algeria via Iraq would not be in violation of Iraqi law nor
in violation of the Security Agreement. In response to
PolMilOff's remark that the detainees should be at BIAP for
less than an hour, Al-Asady said, "Should there be any
problems, contact me. I'm here to support." Al-Asadi was
informed January 13 that the transfer might slip from January
15 to January 16.
2. (SBU) Translated text of the amended assurances follows.
BEGIN TEXT:
Republic Of Iraq
National Security Council
National Operation Center
No: 2C/2/16
Date: 01/08/09
--------------
To: The Embassy of the United States - Iraq
Subject: Receiving of the Suspects
Greetings ...
According to the Prime Minister's approval to receive the
prisoners from the Guantanamo prison, based on the Embassy of
the United States of America's request, we specify the
following:
1. Follow all legal procedures against the suspects and
detain them during an investigation, according to Iraqi law
under the supervision of the judiciary, in order to prevent
the suspects from engaging in any terrorist activity which
threatens Iraq and the international community.
2. Issue order banning the suspects from traveling outside
the country; confiscating their passports and informing the
Iraqi official authorities of these measures.
3. Exchange information and investigation developments, if
any, between the two parties (U.S. and Iraqi) to make an
appropriate judicial decision.
4. The suspects will be dealt with according to Iraqi law, in
accordance with the Iraqi Constitution and its international
commitments under Article VII of the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights.
5. The time and conditions of the transfer from the U.S. side
Q5. The time and conditions of the transfer from the U.S. side
to the Iraqi side in the International Zone (Green Zone) will
be determined.
BAGHDAD 00000085 002 OF 002
6. The Iraqi side permits representatives of the U.S. Embassy
access to the suspects during their detention upon official
request of the Embassy.
///Signature///
Hussain Al-Asadi
Director General of National Operation Center
January 8, 2009
END TEXT
3. (S) While Al-Asady told PolMilOff that he assumed that
access to the detainees while in GOI custody would be covered
under point 3 (exchange of information),he agreed to specify
the additional point. He also clarified that "supervision of
the judiciary" in point 1 means that while investigations
into criminal activity would be conducted by the Ministry of
Interior, the detainees would be under the care and custody
of the Ministry of Justice during the legal period of
investigation.
CROCKER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/WCI, NEA/I, NEA/PM, NEA-I/PM, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV PHUM PINR KDRG IZ US
SUBJECT: IRAQ PROVIDES ADDITIONAL ASSURANCE TO ALLOW ACCESS
TO GUANTANAMO DETAINEES
REF: A. BAGHDAD 37
B. 08 BAGHDAD 4068
C. 08 BAGHDAD 3512
D. 08 BAGHDAD 3272
E. 07 STATE 100598
Classified By: Acting Political-Military Counselor Philip S.
Kosnett for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) The Government of Iraq (GOI) provided written security
and humane treatment assurances for the transfer of four
Iraqi detainees from Guantanamo, Cuba January 7 (REF A). Mr.
Hussain Al-Asady, Director of the Prime Minister's National
Operation Center, who had signed the assurances with
authority from and on behalf of the Prime Minister, provided
an additional assurance January 8 allowing USG access to the
detainees while in GOI custody upon request of the Embassy.
2. (S) In order not to inadvertently circumvent the U.S./GOI
Security Agreement regarding the entry and exit of personnel,
PolMilOff explained the detainee movement plan to Al-Asady
January 12 - that the four Iraqi detainees would deplane at
the Coalition Forces side of Baghdad International Airport
(BIAP) for transport to the International "Green" Zone; that
one Algerian detainee would remain on the aircraft for
continued transport to Algeria; and that one Afghani detainee
would change planes for transport to Afghanistan. PolMilOff
noted that all six detainees would remain in USG positive
control at all times and, with the exception of the four
Iraqis, the detainees would not leave the BIAP area.
Al-Asady said that he had reviewed the Security Agreement and
reiterated that as long as the detainees remain in USG
custody and do not leave BIAP, transiting the Afghani and
Algeria via Iraq would not be in violation of Iraqi law nor
in violation of the Security Agreement. In response to
PolMilOff's remark that the detainees should be at BIAP for
less than an hour, Al-Asady said, "Should there be any
problems, contact me. I'm here to support." Al-Asadi was
informed January 13 that the transfer might slip from January
15 to January 16.
2. (SBU) Translated text of the amended assurances follows.
BEGIN TEXT:
Republic Of Iraq
National Security Council
National Operation Center
No: 2C/2/16
Date: 01/08/09
--------------
To: The Embassy of the United States - Iraq
Subject: Receiving of the Suspects
Greetings ...
According to the Prime Minister's approval to receive the
prisoners from the Guantanamo prison, based on the Embassy of
the United States of America's request, we specify the
following:
1. Follow all legal procedures against the suspects and
detain them during an investigation, according to Iraqi law
under the supervision of the judiciary, in order to prevent
the suspects from engaging in any terrorist activity which
threatens Iraq and the international community.
2. Issue order banning the suspects from traveling outside
the country; confiscating their passports and informing the
Iraqi official authorities of these measures.
3. Exchange information and investigation developments, if
any, between the two parties (U.S. and Iraqi) to make an
appropriate judicial decision.
4. The suspects will be dealt with according to Iraqi law, in
accordance with the Iraqi Constitution and its international
commitments under Article VII of the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights.
5. The time and conditions of the transfer from the U.S. side
Q5. The time and conditions of the transfer from the U.S. side
to the Iraqi side in the International Zone (Green Zone) will
be determined.
BAGHDAD 00000085 002 OF 002
6. The Iraqi side permits representatives of the U.S. Embassy
access to the suspects during their detention upon official
request of the Embassy.
///Signature///
Hussain Al-Asadi
Director General of National Operation Center
January 8, 2009
END TEXT
3. (S) While Al-Asady told PolMilOff that he assumed that
access to the detainees while in GOI custody would be covered
under point 3 (exchange of information),he agreed to specify
the additional point. He also clarified that "supervision of
the judiciary" in point 1 means that while investigations
into criminal activity would be conducted by the Ministry of
Interior, the detainees would be under the care and custody
of the Ministry of Justice during the legal period of
investigation.
CROCKER