VZCZCXRO0875
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #2234/01 2001226
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 181226Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8371
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0072

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002234 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2018 
TAGS: PREL PHUM PINS PTER ICRC IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES WAY AHEAD ON MUJAHEDIN 
E-KHALQ (MEK) WITH ICRC IRAQ HEAD 
 
REF: BAGHDAD 2105 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador met July 9 with the Head of the 
Iraq Delegation of the International Committee of the Red 
Cross (ICRC), Juan-Pedro Schaerer, to discuss a way ahead on 
the status of the Mujahedin e-Khalq (MEK) at Camp Ashraf. 
The ICRC is consulting with USG and GOI stakeholders and 
appears willing to explore a role in monitoring Ashraf to 
ensure humane treatment of residents after the transfer of 
authority from MNF-I to GOI.  Schaerer has requested a 
meeting with MEK leadership in Baghdad and hopes to visit the 
camp before the end of July if secure travel can be arranged. 
 ICRC plans to visit Ashraf independently at first, but would 
be agreeable to subsequent joint visits with Minister of 
Human Rights Wijdan.  The ICRC also plans to hold discussions 
with MEK leadership regarding family visits to MEK members in 
the camp.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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Baghdad Meetings 
---------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Juan-Pedro Schaerer, Head of the Iraq Delegation of 
the ICRC met with Ambassador July 9 at Embassy to discuss an 
increased role for the ICRC in Iraq, much of which centered 
on the future of the MEK in Iraq.  Also present were Laurent 
Saugy, ICRC Iraq Delegation Protection Coordinator; POL/MIL 
Counselor and Deputy Counselor; Senior Refugee/IDP 
Coordinator; and POL/MIL Officer (notetaker).  Schaerer was 
in Baghdad to discuss a way ahead on the MEK with USG and GOI 
stakeholders including the Ambassador, MNF-I, the Ministry of 
Human Rights (MoHR), Ministry of Interior, Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Prime Minister Salih.  Although 
Minister of Human Rights Wijdan Salim is currently out of the 
country (see reftel), the ICRC planned to meet with ministry 
staff July 10.  Schaerer told Ambassador that the Minister is 
comfortable discussing the MEK, and that she knows that it is 
not a "one-day solution." 
 
-------------------------------- 
Unilateral Meetings with the MEK 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Noting that the MEK are calling ICRC on a daily basis, 
Schaerer told Ambassador that he was working with MNF-I to 
arrange a meeting with MEK leaders in Baghdad on July 20 or 
¶21.  ICRC was working to arrange a visit to Camp Ashraf 
within the month.  ICRC plans to conduct this visit 
unilaterally, without USG or GOI partnership.  They plan to 
explain the ICRC position that the ICRC must talk with 
individuals without MEK leadership present, during their 
visit. He hoped they would be able to meet with some. 
Schaerer intended to impress on the MEK leadership that the 
principle of non-refoulement can only apply to individuals. 
It is not a collective concept.  Noting that RDML Wright, of 
Task Force 134, was planning to organize a census of the 
Ashraf population, Schaerer wondered whether it would be 
possible to find a way in that process to question 
individuals about their desires.  Illustrating the control 
exerted by the MEK leadership, Schaerer said that ICRC had 
stopped delivering family messages to Ashraf because they 
believed they were not being delivered to the addressees. 
Schaerer noted that the timing of the visit will depend on 
finding safe air and ground travel routes to the camp.  He 
said ICRC would notify MNF-I of its movement plans in 
advance.  After the initial visit, Schaerer said he would be 
prepared for joint visits with GOI and USG representatives. 
At the same time, Schaerer stressed ICRC's sensitivity about 
not wanting to be seen as an implementing agency of the U.S. 
and Iraqi governments.  He added that he does not want ICRC's 
activities publicly mentioned without advance consultation 
with ICRC.  Ambassador replied that he thought that the GOI's 
mention of ICRC had been with good intentions to show its 
assurance to adherence to international standards. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
No Reports of Trouble for Returnees to Iran 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Schaerer told Ambassador that the ICRC has had 
discussions with the Government of Iran regarding the return 
of MEK members to Iran and noted that, to the ICRC's 
knowledge, none of the former MEK members who have returned 
to Iran have reported problems.  Schaerer noted that six of 
the Ashraf Refugee Camp (ARC) refugees who moved to the KRG 
had recently returned voluntarily without ICRC assistance to 
Iran.  Eight other former ARC residents had met with the 
Iranian Consul in Erbil as had ICRC.  At the same time, 
 
BAGHDAD 00002234  002 OF 002 
 
 
Schaerer said that many returnees prefer not to have contact 
with the ICRC and that none were of the "Top 40-50" members 
whom the Iranian authorities have expressed interest in 
prosecuting. 
 
------------------------------ 
Transfer of Authority Timeline 
------------------------------ 
 
¶5. (C) Responding to a question regarding a possible timeline 
for the transfer of authority over the camp from MNF-I to the 
GOI, Ambassador told Schaerer that that the USG must receive 
assurances from the GoI regarding the treatment of Ashraf 
residents before transferring control of the camp to the GOI. 
 Schaerer responded by noting that the Prime Minister's 
office told him that assurances would not be a problem. 
 
------------- 
Family Visits 
------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Regarding family visits to MEK members at Camp Ashraf, 
Schaerer told Ambassador that he plans to raise the issue 
with MEK leadership during his upcoming visit.  In response 
to Schaerer's question as to whether the USG could find 
countries for resettlement, Ambassador noted the USG had 
tried everything possible, but that it could be worth 
additional effort if there were some indications of 
willingness on the part of resettlement countries.  Schaerer 
responded by submitting that France might be a possibility 
for resettlement.  However, the Ambassador noted that France 
may oppose an EU effort to de-list the MEK.  Ambassador 
stated that the U.S. could not resettle former MEK members. 
 
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Comment 
------- 
 
¶7. (C) This was a positive meeting, noteworthy for Schaerer's 
expressions of interest in continuing to work closely albeit 
quietly with the USG and GOI to seek humane treatment and 
resolution of the status of the MEK members inside Iraq.  It 
appears that the organization is willing to consider a role 
in monitoring at Ashraf to ensure humanitarian treatment when 
the GoI takes on a more direct role at the camp. 
CROCKER