VZCZCXRO2404
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0698/01 1701402
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181402Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1696
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 1255
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 3148
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1486
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1157
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 2518
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1242
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000698 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/ARP, NEA/I, OSD-DPMO FOR A.CRONAUER, COL D.ELLIS, 
J.BASHAM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MARR PHUM PREL KUWAIT IRAQ KU
SUBJECT: TRIPARTITE COMMISSION TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE 57TH 
SESSION 
 
REF: A. 2008-05-01 BASHAM-ROSENBERGER CLASSIFIED EMAIL 
     ¶B. 2008-04-21 CRONAUER-ROSENBERGER EMAIL 
     ¶C. KUWAIT 285 
 
Summary 
---------- 
 
¶1. Kuwait hosted the 57th session of the Tripartite 
Commission's Technical Subcommittee (TSC) on May 27, 2008, 
with representatives from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the 
United Kingdom, the United States, and the International 
Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC).  Per Kuwaiti request, USG 
delegation delivered results of USG imagery analysis on Iraqi 
zones suspected to contain grave sites.  Imagery did not 
reveal any discernible indications of mass graves that would 
warrant additional excavation.  Saudi, Kuwaiti and Iraqi 
cooperation resulted in the repatriation to Iraq of 63 sets 
of human remains.  Delegates reported that security concerns 
still hamper locating and contacting witnesses and conducting 
investigations into reports of burial sites.  There was no 
new information on CAPT. Speicher. His DNA profile remains in 
the Kuwaiti database and continues to be checked against all 
newly received profiles. The next TSC meeting will take place 
in Kuwait on Monday, November 10, 2008.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) 
held the 57th session of the Technical Subcommittee (TSC) in 
Kuwait on May 27, 2008.  The TSC is composed of delegates who 
manage POW and/or unaccounted-for files from Iraq, Kuwait, 
Saudi Arabia, the UK and the U.S. (the French delegation 
failed to show). 
 
Imagery Analysis Request Status 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  The USG delegation informed TSC participants that, 
per ref C request by the Kuwaiti National Committee for the 
Missing and POW Affairs (NCMPA) to review 1990-1991 imagery 
of sites in Iraq, a review of data did not reveal any 
discernible indications of mass graves that would warrant 
additional excavation.  NCMPA,s Dr. Ibrahim Al-Shaheen 
promised to provide further relevant information that might 
be useful in continuing analyses. 
 
Witnesses 
--------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Kuwaiti delegation confirmed that a witness with 
supposed knowledge of grave sites in Kuwait (AKA "the Jahra 
witness") is ready to meet with TSC members in Aleppo, Syria. 
 According to the witness, who is currently in Mosul, Iraq, 
he is unable to travel to Syria due to present security 
conditions.  ICRC remains on standby to arrange and 
participate in the interview as necessary. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The Kuwaiti delegation reopened the files of 
Mohammed Al-Dakhil and Faleh Al-Gharib (files that date to 
the 40th-53rd TSC sessions), and requested that the Iraqi 
delegation find a witness to help in determining the burial 
sites, in Kuwait, of these two unaccounted-for Kuwaitis.  The 
Iraqi delegation replied that it would raise the matter with 
the GOI's Ministry of Human Rights. 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  The Iraqi delegation reported that local residents 
in Ramadi have alleged that the remains of 13 Kuwaiti 
officials are buried at a grave site in the town.  The 
delegation added that it completed the legal steps related to 
exhumation procedures and was ready to proceed with 
contacting witnesses regarding the exact location of the 
graves, pending assurances of secure movement to Ramadi. 
 
Transfer of Remains 
------------------------ 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  The TSC lauded the high level of cooperation and 
coordination among the parties in preparing, exhuming, 
transferring, and repatriating 63 sets of human remains from 
Saudi Arabia to Iraq.  (A 64th case, Adnan Khalaf Merdas, was 
not located; his case was considered closed.)  This operation 
took place from March 22 through April 3, 2008.  The TSC 
noted for the record, that all Iraqi cases buried in Saudi 
 
KUWAIT 00000698  002 OF 003 
 
 
Arabia, 64 plus a previous 59, are now closed. 
 
Other Activities 
-------------------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The Saudi delegation relayed information on two 
Saudi nationals deemed unaccounted for in Al-Kaffel (in Babel 
governorate).  The Iraqi delegation agreed to investigate and 
report findings. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Per Ref C, the security situation prohibited the 
Iraqi delegation from visiting a cemetery in Salman Pak to 
obtain a copy of a log book believed to have information 
relevant to Kuwaiti remains.  The delegation assured the TSC 
that it will make further attempts to travel to Salman Pak 
and locate the cemetery. 
 
Updates 
--------- 
 
¶10. Other than the para 7 account in Saudi Arabia, the TSC 
conducted no recent exhumation activities.  The Iraqi 
delegation reported that security concerns continue to 
prohibit visits and investigations of Kerbala, Nasseriya, 
Salman Pak and Najaf.  There was no new information on 
potential burial sites or other individual cases. 
 
¶11. There was no new information on CAPT. Michael S. 
Speicher's case. His DNA profile remains in the Kuwaiti 
database and continues to be checked against all newly 
received profiles. The U.S. delegation renewed its commitment 
to continue the effort to resolve CAPT. Speicher's case. 
 
Approaching the Iraqi High Tribunal 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶12.  (SBU)  The Kuwaiti delegation requested the assistance 
of the Iraqi delegation and of ICRC Baghdad in contacting and 
securing the testimony of a witness (unnamed) in the ongoing 
Iraqi High Tribunal.  The witness allegedly made a statement 
about the execution of Kuwaiti POWs during the Iraqi 
occupation of Kuwait.  ICRC and the Iraqi delegation offered 
to investigate and report findings at the next TSC. 
 
Ongoing Cooperation 
-------------------------- 
 
¶13.  In response to Iraqi requests, the Kuwaiti delegation 
offered training for five GOI participants in DNA analysis, 
collection and management of information, and psychological 
care for families. 
 
Next TSC 
-------- 
 
¶14. The next TSC session will take place in Kuwait on Monday, 
November 10, 2008. 
 
¶15.  Delegations: 
 
Republic of Iraq 
------------- 
Mr. Kazem M.K. Al-Anzi, Head of Delegation, Department of 
Missing and POWs, Ministry of Human Rights 
Mr. Yaqoob Kh. Haider 
Mr. Ali M. Thumad 
Ms. Hanan H. S. Showeilia 
Mr. Abbas F. J. Al-Hamrani 
 
State of Kuwait 
--------------- 
H.E. Dr. Ibrahim M. Al-Shaheen, Head of Delegation 
H.E. Ambassador Khalid M. Al-Maqamis 
Mr. Fozan Al-Fozan 
Mr. Rabea Al-Adsani 
Dr. Soltan Al-Khalaf 
 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
----------------------- 
Mr. Zuhair M. Al-Idrissi, Head of Delegation 
MG Dr. Abdelrahman S. Al-Shareif 
 
KUWAIT 00000698  003 OF 003 
 
 
LTC Khalid Al-Treiri 
Mr. Fahad Al-Juraid 
 
United Kingdom 
-------------- 
Mr. Jonathan Layfield, Head of delegation 
 
United States 
------------- 
Mr. Thomas Rosenberger, Head of Delegation 
 
International Committee of the Red Cross 
----------------------------------------- 
Mr. Jean-Michel Monod, Chairman of the TSC, Regional Delegate 
for the GCC Countries 
Ms. Jamila Al-Hammami, Delegate for 'Missing' files for Iraq 
Mr. John Strick van Linschoten, Protection Delegate 
Ms. Dalia Emrazian, Protection Department 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
MISENHEIMER