Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE23141
2009-03-11 22:47:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Secretary of State
Cable title:
RESPONSE TO AUSTRALIAN QUESTIONS ON IRAQI WMD
how-toVZCZCXRO6913 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHPT DE RUEHC #3141 0702304 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 112247Z MAR 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 1038 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 3764 RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 6869 RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH PRIORITY 0731 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 3518 INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 4726 IRAQ COLLECTIVE
S E C R E T STATE 023141
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2034
TAGS: AS IZ PARM PINR PINS PREL PTER
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO AUSTRALIAN QUESTIONS ON IRAQI WMD
SCIENTIST
REF: A. 09 CANBERRA 000121
B. 08 CANBERRA 309
C. 07 CANBERRA 1795
D. 07 STATE 169818
E. 07 CANBERRA 1651
F. 07 STATE 157364
G. 07 CANBERRA 1217
H. 07 STATE 84894
I. 12/20/2007 CROWLEY-KUCHINSKY E-MAIL AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: ISN/CTR Acting Director PHIL DOLLIFF
Reasons: 1.4 (b) & (d)
S E C R E T STATE 023141
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2034
TAGS: AS IZ PARM PINR PINS PREL PTER
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO AUSTRALIAN QUESTIONS ON IRAQI WMD
SCIENTIST
REF: A. 09 CANBERRA 000121
B. 08 CANBERRA 309
C. 07 CANBERRA 1795
D. 07 STATE 169818
E. 07 CANBERRA 1651
F. 07 STATE 157364
G. 07 CANBERRA 1217
H. 07 STATE 84894
I. 12/20/2007 CROWLEY-KUCHINSKY E-MAIL AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: ISN/CTR Acting Director PHIL DOLLIFF
Reasons: 1.4 (b) & (d)
1.(S//NF) SUMMARY: Since 2006, ISN/CTR's Iraq Scientist
Engagement Program (ISEP) has engaged former Iraqi WMD
scientist Ali Abdul Rahman al-Za'ag through an ISEP-sponsored
fellowship at the Jordan University of Science and
Technology. With ISEP's encouragement, al-Za'ag applied for
an Australian visa in early 2008. The Government of
Australia (GOA) denied this visa application. In January
2009, al-Za'ag reapplied for an Australian visa.
Subsequently, the GOA inquired whether the USG had any role
in al-Za'ag's decision to reapply for an Australian visa.
While ISEP currently engages al-Za'ag on a fellowship in
Jordan, the USG had no role in al-Za'ag's decision to reapply
for an Australian visa.
2.(S//NF) Background: Since 2006, ISN/CTR's Iraq Scientist
Engagement Program (ISEP) has engaged Iraqi biologist Ali
Abdul Rahman al-Za'ag through an ISEP-sponsored fellowship at
the Jordan University of Science and Technology. In early
2008, ISEP sought to relocate al-Za'ag to Australia so that
he could work at Victoria University. At the time, the
Government of Australia declined the USG's request to grant
al-Za'ag a visa, citing "a range of compelling security,
immigration and legal reasons." According to CANBERRA
000121, on February 4 the GOA notified Embassy Canberra that
al-Za'ag reapplied for an Australian visa at the Australian
Embassy in Amman, Jordan on January 21, 2009. The GOA
inquired about whether the USG had any role in al-Za'ag's
decision to reapply for an Australian visa and al-Za'ag's
recent activities.
3.(SBU) Information for the GOA: The State Department's Iraq
Scientist Engagement Program continues to support several
former Iraqi scientists through temporary relocation
fellowships. While ISEP currently engages al-Za'ag on a
temporary relocation fellowship in Jordan, the USG had no
role in al-Za'ag's recent decision to reapply for an
Australian visa. Al-Za'ag's most recent ISEP-sponsored work
has focused on developing a report on rebuilding Iraq's
scientific infrastructure and developing an Arabic language
biosafety checklist. With other funding sources, Al-Za'ag is
also pursuing work related to DNA forensics.
CLINTON
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2034
TAGS: AS IZ PARM PINR PINS PREL PTER
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO AUSTRALIAN QUESTIONS ON IRAQI WMD
SCIENTIST
REF: A. 09 CANBERRA 000121
B. 08 CANBERRA 309
C. 07 CANBERRA 1795
D. 07 STATE 169818
E. 07 CANBERRA 1651
F. 07 STATE 157364
G. 07 CANBERRA 1217
H. 07 STATE 84894
I. 12/20/2007 CROWLEY-KUCHINSKY E-MAIL AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: ISN/CTR Acting Director PHIL DOLLIFF
Reasons: 1.4 (b) & (d)
1.(S//NF) SUMMARY: Since 2006, ISN/CTR's Iraq Scientist
Engagement Program (ISEP) has engaged former Iraqi WMD
scientist Ali Abdul Rahman al-Za'ag through an ISEP-sponsored
fellowship at the Jordan University of Science and
Technology. With ISEP's encouragement, al-Za'ag applied for
an Australian visa in early 2008. The Government of
Australia (GOA) denied this visa application. In January
2009, al-Za'ag reapplied for an Australian visa.
Subsequently, the GOA inquired whether the USG had any role
in al-Za'ag's decision to reapply for an Australian visa.
While ISEP currently engages al-Za'ag on a fellowship in
Jordan, the USG had no role in al-Za'ag's decision to reapply
for an Australian visa.
2.(S//NF) Background: Since 2006, ISN/CTR's Iraq Scientist
Engagement Program (ISEP) has engaged Iraqi biologist Ali
Abdul Rahman al-Za'ag through an ISEP-sponsored fellowship at
the Jordan University of Science and Technology. In early
2008, ISEP sought to relocate al-Za'ag to Australia so that
he could work at Victoria University. At the time, the
Government of Australia declined the USG's request to grant
al-Za'ag a visa, citing "a range of compelling security,
immigration and legal reasons." According to CANBERRA
000121, on February 4 the GOA notified Embassy Canberra that
al-Za'ag reapplied for an Australian visa at the Australian
Embassy in Amman, Jordan on January 21, 2009. The GOA
inquired about whether the USG had any role in al-Za'ag's
decision to reapply for an Australian visa and al-Za'ag's
recent activities.
3.(SBU) Information for the GOA: The State Department's Iraq
Scientist Engagement Program continues to support several
former Iraqi scientists through temporary relocation
fellowships. While ISEP currently engages al-Za'ag on a
temporary relocation fellowship in Jordan, the USG had no
role in al-Za'ag's recent decision to reapply for an
Australian visa. Al-Za'ag's most recent ISEP-sponsored work
has focused on developing a report on rebuilding Iraq's
scientific infrastructure and developing an Arabic language
biosafety checklist. With other funding sources, Al-Za'ag is
also pursuing work related to DNA forensics.
CLINTON