This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 005611 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR D, NEA/FO, NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA, IO/UNP 
GENEVA FOR STONECIPHER 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH 
PARIS FOR OFRIEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2012 
TAGS: PREL KPOW IZ KU ICRC
SUBJECT: (C) GULF WAR MISSING:  KUWAIT'S AGENDA FOR TSC 
MEETINGS 
 
REF: KUWAIT 5482 
 
Classified By: (U) CDA FRANK URBANCIC; REASON 1.5 (B, D) 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION:  This message summarizes 
Kuwait's agenda for the Technical Sub-Committee (TSC) of the 
Tripartite Commission on Gulf War Missing and POWs (TPC). 
Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have agreed to meet in Amman on 
January 8 under ICRC chairmanship, in accordance with the 
temporary rule-suspension approved by the full TPC December 
18 (reftel).  The GOK has proposed (a) that the TSC meet at 
least seven times before the next TPC meeting scheduled for 
April 16, and that most of the meetings take place on the 
border; (b) that all three countries be able to present cases 
as per the quotas in effect before Iraq began boycotting the 
TPC four years ago, namely:  at any TSC meeting, Kuwait can 
raise 24 cases, Iraq 10, and Saudi Arabia 6; and (c) that the 
TSC be able to interview witnesses directly.  ICRC is to 
 
SIPDIS 
inform the GOK within the next day or so of Iraq's response 
to the above proposals.  END SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION. 
 
¶2.  (C) PolChief met December 31 with Rabea al-Adsani, 
Director General of Kuwait's National Committee for Missing 
and POW Affairs (NCMPA).  Adsani summarized Kuwait's 
proposals for the upcoming TSC meeting as above.  He 
explained that his government is keen to have the TSC meet as 
often as possible before the next TPC meeting (at which time 
the temporary rule-suspension will come up for renewal), so 
as to maximize chances of making real progress towards 
resolving some cases, at least those involving mortal 
remains.  While Iraq insisted that the first meeting be held 
in Amman, Adsani said Kuwait hopes the GOI will agree to hold 
subsequent meetings on the border; that could enable the TSC 
to meet a dozen or more times before mid-April.  ICRC Mideast 
Director George Caminos is expected to chair the January 8 
meeting; in accordance with past practice, the ICRC Delegates 
stationed in Kuwait and Baghdad, Michel Meyer and Marcus 
Dolder, are expected to take turns chairing subsequent TSC 
meetings. 
 
¶3.  (C) Meetings at the border would also make it much easier 
for the TSC to interview witnesses directly.  Adsani said all 
parties had agreed to this approach at the last TSC meeting 
(before Iraq began boycotting the TPC four years ago), 
because the existing approach was not working:  ICRC would 
take written questions and pose them to witnesses, then 
report the answers, but without pursuing any leads that 
emerged during the interviews. 
 
¶4.  (C) Adsani was confident that the Saudis would be able to 
raise cases in the TSC, i.e. that they would not be limited 
to observing the discussion between Iraq and Kuwait.  He did 
not waver when PolChief reminded him of the wording of the 
temporary rule-suspension:  "...to allow meetings between 
Iraq and any other Tripartite Commission member to address 
cases previously discussed in the Tripartite Commission in 
the presence of a third Tripartite Commission member mutually 
agreed between Iraq and the other party."  (COMMENT:  while 
nothing precludes the TSC from being a real three-way 
meeting, it will all depend on Iraq's willingness to engage 
with both countries.  END COMMENT.) 
 
¶5.  (C) According to Adsani, Kuwait told ICRC it supports the 
USG's desire to hold TSC meetings with Iraq under the 
temporary rule-suspension, and would like to be the third 
party in those meetings if Iraq agrees.  One reason for this, 
he admitted, is that Kuwait has such a large number of cases 
it would like to be able to raise some in those meetings as 
well. 
 
¶6.  (C)  Adsani mentioned the "parallel approach," in which 
ICRC selected certain Kuwaiti cases unilaterally and raised 
them with Iraq, and vice-versa.  This was a creative attempt 
to make progress during Iraq's boycott of the TPC, but after 
three years it has produced no results.  The GOK therefore 
wants to be able to raise some of the parallel-approach cases 
in the TSC.  ICRC expressed reluctance for fear of breaching 
the confidentiality of the parallel approach, but agreed to 
put this proposal to the GOI after the GOK promised not to 
mention that these files had been associated with the 
parallel approach. 
 
¶7.  (C) UNSYG representative Yuli Vorontsov is expected to be 
in Amman January 8-9, Adsani noted, and the Kuwaitis expect 
to debrief him on the TSC meeting before he goes to Baghdad 
(approx. January 17).  They expect him to visit Kuwait 
immediately after Iraq, approximately January 24-26. 
Vorontsov is due to report to the UNSC in closed session 
January 29, just two days after UNMOVIC reports to the 
Council on Iraq's compliance with UNSCR 1441. 
 
¶8.  (C) COMMENT:  We will of course endeavor to meet with 
Vorontsov while he is here.  We assess that the Kuwaiti 
approach will enable the TSC to make as much progress as Iraq 
allows, and will reveal clearly if the GOI drags its feet. 
URBANCIC