LEBANON: UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE UPBEAT ON IRAQI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 000359

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2019
TAGS: PREF LE SY SU IR ICJ
SUBJECT: LEBANON: UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE UPBEAT ON IRAQI

REFUGEES IN LEBANON

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Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
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1. (C) Ambassador and Emboffs met with UN High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative Stephane Jaquemet on
March 25, who described the current condition of Iraqi
refugees in Lebanon. Jaquemet reported that he hoped to work
with the Government of Lebanon (GOL) to amend its immigration
law to grant permanent legal recognition to refugees in
Lebanon. Jaquemet also discussed the status of other refugee
groups in Lebanon -- including Sudanese, Syrian and Iranian
refugees -- as well as the impact of the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon and his appreciation for USG funding. End summary.

UPDATE ON IRAQI REFUGEES
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2. (C) Jaquemet lauded the Government of Lebanon (GOL) for
renewing an amnesty decree that allows those Iraqi refugees
living illegally in Lebanon but not in detention to
regularize their status. He said that UNHCR continues to
have a strong working relationship with General Security, the
GOL,s lead agency on Iraqi refugee immigration issues. He
noted that General Security is currently holding in detention
fewer than 100 Iraqis, a significant decrease from the 700
Iraqis in detention this time last year. Also, the duration
of detention has dropped from around six to nine months to an
average of two months, he said.


3. (C) Regarding resettlement, Jaquemet said that 300 Iraqi
refugees have been resettled from Lebanon so far this year
and he expects 2000 refugees to be resettled by the end of

2009. As the first few tranches of the most vulnerable and
at-risk refugees have been resettled, UNHCR is seeing a
decrease in the number of Iraqis offered resettlement. While
the USG has continued to approve over 90% of the cases
referred to it, European countries have approved
approximately 60% to 70% of referred cases for resettlement.
Sweden, which in the past had a very liberal policy in
resettling Iraqis, is approving fewer than 50% of referred
cases. Jaquemet added that UNHCR is also seeing decreased
approval rates in neighboring countries with large Iraqi
refugee populations such as Jordan, Syria and Turkey.

CHALDEAN COMMUNITY SPLIT ON RESETTLEMENT
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4. (C) The Ambassador inquired on the status of Iraqi
Chaldean Christians in Lebanon. She said Lebanese Chaldean
leaders have told her in recent meetings that they are
actively encouraging Iraqi Christians not to leave the Middle
East. These leaders have offered assistance to Iraqi
Christian refugees to persuade them to remain in Lebanon or
return to Iraq. The Ambassador added that non-Chaldean
Christian leaders, like the Maronite Patriarch, have also
taken an interest in the issue of mass migration of
Christians from the Middle East.


5. (C) Jaquemet described the Chaldean community as divided.
Chaldean groups in the United States strongly favor
resettlement of Chaldean Iraqis in the United States and
other Western nations. In contrast, the Chaldean Patriarch
in Iraq is not in favor of mass resettlement of Iraqi
Chaldeans. Jaquemet also added that the number of Iraqi
Christians in Lebanon is rising, as many continue to flee
sectarian violence in Iraq. Unlike other groups, however,
the majority enter Lebanon legally, often flying directly
from Iraq to Lebanon.

AMENDING LEBANON,S LAW REGARDING REFUGEES
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6. (C) Jaquemet said one of UNHCR,s major goals is to change

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the legal status of refugees under Lebanese law. Jaquemet
acknowledged that because of the political sensitivities
surrounding Palestinian refugees, Lebanon would not sign the
1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of
Refugees or its 1967 Protocol. Instead, UNHCR is working to
amend the 1962 immigration law to require the non-deportation
and non-detention of refugees. The ultimate goal would be to
have Lebanon accord non-Palestinian refugees a permanent
formal status and prevent their arbitrary detention.


7. (C) Jaquemet said that Minister of Interior Ziad Baroud
and the Chairman of the Parliament's Administration and
Justice Committee, MP Robert Ghanem, have expressed support
for amending the law. Jaquemet would like to submit a
proposal on this to the Parliament, but he expressed doubt
that any action would be taken in the final weeks leading up
to the June 7 parliamentary elections.

STATUS OF SUDANESE, SYRIAN, AND IRANIAN REFUGEES IN LEBANON
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8. (C) After Iraqis, Sudanese nationals comprise the largest
number of non-Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Jaquemet
estimated there were approximately 700 Sudanese nationals
registered with UNHCR in Lebanon, most of whom entered
Lebanon illegally via Syria. Jaquemet said it was a
challenge to screen legitimate refugees from areas like
Darfur from Sudanese economic refugees who falsely claim to
fear persecution.


9. (C) Jaquemet also discussed Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
He said that UNHCR has registered approximately 200-250
Syrians, with 10 to 15 new registrants per month. Most of
these individuals are high-profile political opponents of the
Syrian regime whose bona fides have been verified by UNHCR or
Syrian Kurds. So far the GOL has not obstructed the
departure of Syrians refugees for resettlement, but Jaquemet
raised the concern that this practice might change as the
relationship between the Lebanese and Syrian governments
improves.


10. (C) UNHCR in Lebanon has also received around 35 Iranian
Ahwazi refugees via Syria. The Ahwazi initially flee to
Syria, where they register with and are processed by UNHCR.
Many of the Ahwazi are eventually offered resettlement to
Western nations, particularly Australia. At the behest of
Iranian authorities, the Syrian government has stopped
issuing these refugees the requisite permits to depart for
resettlement, but they do allow them to cross over to
Lebanon. Once in Lebanon, the Ahwazi refugees have made
their way to the UNHCR office in Beirut to complete the
resettlement process started in Syria, most going to
Australia.

SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON AND UNHCR
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11. (C) Jaquemet also discussed the possible impact on UNHCR
of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL),which is
investigating the assassination of former prime minister
Rafiq Hariri and related cases. He detailed a new case
involving a Syrian national, Ibrahim Jarjoura, who was
arrested nearly three years ago in connection with the
assassination, but was released by Lebanese authorities in
late February. Through his lawyer, Jarjoura has recently
inquired about refugee status with UNHCR in Beirut, although
a formal application has not yet been filed.


12. (C) Jaquemet said that Jarjoura is believed to be a
former Syrian intelligence officer, who might now be aligned
with the anti-Syrian March 14th coalition in Lebanon. While
Jarjoura has not been formally interviewed by UNHCR, if he
had ever participated in any type of human rights abuses he

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would most likely not qualify for status as a refugee or be
offered resettlement. However, if Jarjoura has a credible
fear of torture if he returns to Syria, then Lebanon, which
is a signatory to the UN Convention against Torture, could
not repatriate him back to Syria. Jaquemet said that as the
STL proceeds, other individuals might apply for some sort of
protection status, either asylum or refugee. He said he was
consulting with fellow UN officials on the legal and
political implications of Jarjoura,s and any other future
claims.

SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR USG ASSISTANCE
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13. (C) At the end of the meeting Jaquemet expressed sincere
appreciation and gratitude for the USG,s support of UNHCR.
He said approximately 50% of his overall budget was funded by
the USG, while EU countries contributed only around 5%.
SISON