Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KUWAIT587
2009-06-11 10:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
ICRC'S BRAINSTORMING SESSION ON MISSING PROVIDES
how-toVZCZCXRO6248 PP RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHKU #0587 1621006 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 111006Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3475 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3246 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000587
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP, NEA/I, OSD-DPMO FOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM MARR PGOV IZ KU
SUBJECT: ICRC'S BRAINSTORMING SESSION ON MISSING PROVIDES
VENUE FOR CONTINUED IRAQI/KUWAITI COOPERATION
REF: A. KUWAIT 566
B. KUWAIT 354
ICRC Maintains Embassy Initiative Momentum
-------------------------------------------
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000587
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP, NEA/I, OSD-DPMO FOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM MARR PGOV IZ KU
SUBJECT: ICRC'S BRAINSTORMING SESSION ON MISSING PROVIDES
VENUE FOR CONTINUED IRAQI/KUWAITI COOPERATION
REF: A. KUWAIT 566
B. KUWAIT 354
ICRC Maintains Embassy Initiative Momentum
--------------
1. Capitalizing on the positive atmospherics of the June 1
Tripartite Commission's Technical Subcommittee meeting (ref
A),ICRC assembled a panel of forensics experts for a June 7
"brainstorming session" on ways to accelerate the search for
the missing -- on both sides of the border -- from the
1990-91 Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait, following on
an earlier Embassy initiative (ref B).
Though Finding Remains is not an Exact Science,...
-------------- --------------
2. Discussions during the meeting focused on techniques to
locate the missing and on technologies available to
facilitate such searches. Participants also reviewed some of
the advantages and disadvantages of using equipment such as
ground penetrating radar, metal detectors and probes to help
locate bodies. Participants collectively agreed that
detailed eyewitness accounts -- as opposed to investment into
expensive equipment -- would most likely lead to successful
exhumations. Of key value to the meeting was the experience
and expertise offered by USAF Major Laura Regan (forensic
anthropologist from the US Armed Forces Medical Examiner
System) who stressed the importance of preliminary
investigations prior to exhumation attempts. She suggested
that such investigations should include research through
archives on the military unit to which the victims -- or the
assailants -- belonged.
...Identifying Them Must Be.
--------------
3. The meeting also examined how DNA matching led to the
identification thus far of some 236 Kuwaitis recovered from
mass grave sites in Iraq. Forensics experts from Iraq and
Kuwait shared notes on their respective scientific
capabilities, and the GOK Ministry of Interior (MOI)
expressed a willingness to provide training for Iraqi
scientists. GOK scientists then conducted a tour for all
participants of the MOI's General Department of Criminal
Evidence.
Participants
--------------
4. Along with the meeting's host, ICRC Kuwait's deputy
regional delegate Mr. Moayed Golabi, and ICRC Baghdad's
forensics specialist, in attendance were representatives from
the Iraqi Ministry of Health's Medical Legal Institute Dr.
Munjed al-Dezali and Dr. Falah Hassan Allami. Also
participating was a team of forensics experts from the
Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior, as well as a forensics
pathologist from the US Armed Forces Medical Examiner System,
and representatives from the US Embassy's Naval Criminal
Investigative Service, Defense Attache office and Political
section. The French and UK Embassies also sent
representatives. In total, 19 officials participated in the
meeting.
5. We understand from Embassy Baghdad that the GOI has now
extended an invitation for Kuwait to send a technical team to
Iraq for this purpose. We will follow up accordingly.
********************************************* *********
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it
********************************************* *********
JONES
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP, NEA/I, OSD-DPMO FOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM MARR PGOV IZ KU
SUBJECT: ICRC'S BRAINSTORMING SESSION ON MISSING PROVIDES
VENUE FOR CONTINUED IRAQI/KUWAITI COOPERATION
REF: A. KUWAIT 566
B. KUWAIT 354
ICRC Maintains Embassy Initiative Momentum
--------------
1. Capitalizing on the positive atmospherics of the June 1
Tripartite Commission's Technical Subcommittee meeting (ref
A),ICRC assembled a panel of forensics experts for a June 7
"brainstorming session" on ways to accelerate the search for
the missing -- on both sides of the border -- from the
1990-91 Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait, following on
an earlier Embassy initiative (ref B).
Though Finding Remains is not an Exact Science,...
-------------- --------------
2. Discussions during the meeting focused on techniques to
locate the missing and on technologies available to
facilitate such searches. Participants also reviewed some of
the advantages and disadvantages of using equipment such as
ground penetrating radar, metal detectors and probes to help
locate bodies. Participants collectively agreed that
detailed eyewitness accounts -- as opposed to investment into
expensive equipment -- would most likely lead to successful
exhumations. Of key value to the meeting was the experience
and expertise offered by USAF Major Laura Regan (forensic
anthropologist from the US Armed Forces Medical Examiner
System) who stressed the importance of preliminary
investigations prior to exhumation attempts. She suggested
that such investigations should include research through
archives on the military unit to which the victims -- or the
assailants -- belonged.
...Identifying Them Must Be.
--------------
3. The meeting also examined how DNA matching led to the
identification thus far of some 236 Kuwaitis recovered from
mass grave sites in Iraq. Forensics experts from Iraq and
Kuwait shared notes on their respective scientific
capabilities, and the GOK Ministry of Interior (MOI)
expressed a willingness to provide training for Iraqi
scientists. GOK scientists then conducted a tour for all
participants of the MOI's General Department of Criminal
Evidence.
Participants
--------------
4. Along with the meeting's host, ICRC Kuwait's deputy
regional delegate Mr. Moayed Golabi, and ICRC Baghdad's
forensics specialist, in attendance were representatives from
the Iraqi Ministry of Health's Medical Legal Institute Dr.
Munjed al-Dezali and Dr. Falah Hassan Allami. Also
participating was a team of forensics experts from the
Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior, as well as a forensics
pathologist from the US Armed Forces Medical Examiner System,
and representatives from the US Embassy's Naval Criminal
Investigative Service, Defense Attache office and Political
section. The French and UK Embassies also sent
representatives. In total, 19 officials participated in the
meeting.
5. We understand from Embassy Baghdad that the GOI has now
extended an invitation for Kuwait to send a technical team to
Iraq for this purpose. We will follow up accordingly.
********************************************* *********
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it
********************************************* *********
JONES