VZCZCXRO0409
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #0797/01 0821315
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 231315Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2354
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000797 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2019 
TAGS: PHUM KREF KJUS IO IZ
SUBJECT: ICRC PRESIDENT DISCUSSES SECURITY, DETAINEES, MEK 
WITH CHARGE AND CG 
 
BAGHDAD 00000797  001.5 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Patricia Butenis for reason 1.4 (b) an 
d (d). 
 
¶1.  (C)  Summary:  Visiting Iraq for the first time since May 
2003, ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger praised relations 
with the Embassy and Multinational Forces-Iraq (MNF-I) in a 
meeting with the Charg and MNF-I CG Odierno on March 17. 
Kellenberger noted that ICRC is involved in many protection 
and assistance programs in Iraq and remarked that security 
has improved dramatically over the years.  Kellenberger 
expressed concern about the safety of USG-held detainees who 
are scheduled to be transferred to GOI custody or released at 
the point of capture.  He asked for continued USG monitoring 
of the Mujahedin e-Khalq (MEK) residents at Camp Ashraf to 
ensure they are treated humanely by the GOI.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (C)  ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger voiced his 
appreciation for good cooperation with the Embassy and 
Multinational Forces-Iraq (MNF-I) in a meeting with the 
Charg and MNF-I CG Odierno on March 17.  The ICRC delegation 
consisted of Batrice Megevand-Roggo, head of Middle East 
Operations, Alexandre Liebeskind, personal advisor of the 
President, Juan-Pedro Schaerer, head of ICRC Iraq Delegation, 
and Patrick Yousef, head of the Baghdad sub-delegation.  The 
delegation had been in Najaf earlier that day where they met 
with Ayatollah Sistani and visited the newly established ICRC 
sub-delegation in Najaf. 
 
----------------------- 
ICRC OPERATIONS IN IRAQ 
----------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C)  Kellenberger said Iraq is a priority-interest 
country for ICRC;  the program here is ICRC's second-largest 
operation (after Sudan).  Kellenberger noted that since his 
last visit to Iraq in May 2003, the overall security 
atmosphere seemed almost normal, a development which will 
allow ICRC to increase its activities.  The CG remarked that 
while security was returning to normal in Baghdad,  there are 
still trouble areas in Mosul and eastern Diyala.  (Note: 
Schaerer noted to PolOff on February 19 that Kellenberger's 
visit was intended to prove to Geneva that security had 
improved enough to further expand ICRC activities.  End Note.) 
 
¶4.  (C)  The delegation said ICRC is continuing its 
assistance programs around the country.  Currently, ICRC 
provides food assistance for about 17,000 IDP families who 
cannot access PDS rations.  Schaerer said ICRC is conducting 
an assessment to see if the food program should continue past 
its scheduled end in April 2009, and assured that ICRC is 
willing to keep the program if there is a need.  Kellenberger 
noted that Sistani acknowledged and thanked ICRC for its 
assistance and protection programs, but said the government 
needs to provide more assistance through basic services. 
 
------------------------------------- 
RELEASE AND TRANSFER OF USG DETAINEES 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C)  Kellenberger asked what MNF-I does if a USG-held 
detainee who is to be transferred to GOI custody does not 
want to be held in GOI detention facilities.  The CG answered 
that this has not been fully addressed yet, but detainees who 
do not want to be transferred generally stay in USG custody. 
Those detainees will likely be incarcerated at MNF-I's Taji 
facility (currently under construction) which will be 
eventually turned over to the Iraqis.  The CG acknowledged 
that MNF-I is currently transferring very few detainees to 
the GOI, mainly due to the overcrowding and conditions of 
Iraqi detention facilities. 
 
¶6.  (C)  Kellenberger agreed that conditions in Iraqi 
detention facilities are of concern and highlighted problems 
Qdetention facilities are of concern and highlighted problems 
with overcrowding, health, and judicial processing.  He said 
ICRC is visiting more facilities and is working on reaching 
an agreement with the MFA that will give ICRC formal 
permission to visit all GOI detention facilities.  (Note: 
ICRC has separate verbal agreements with the ministries 
allowing access to detention facilities, and the Prime 
Minister issued an order allowing ICRC unrestricted access to 
all detention facilities.  End Note.) 
 
¶7.  (C)  Kellenberger then questioned the standard process 
for release of USG-held detainees, claiming that some 
detainees fear being released at the point of capture.  The 
CG said this issue is  being discussed, and that detainees 
who fear that their lives will be in danger if they are 
released at the point of capture are released at different 
locations in coordination with  the Ministry of Human Rights 
.  MNF-I is also assessing if detainees can be released 
elsewhere.  The CG noted that detainees are now being 
 
BAGHDAD 00000797  002.5 OF 002 
 
 
released to their communities or tribal leaders rather than 
to local police. 
 
------------------------------------ 
NEED FOR CONTINUED MONITORING OF MEK 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶8.  (C)  The delegation briefly raised the issue of the 
Mujahedin e-Khalq (MEK) and asked the USG to continue 
monitoring Camp Ashraf.  Kellenberger emphasized that it is 
closely monitoring to ensure that the GOI is fulfilling its 
humanitarian commitments to the camp residents, particularly 
regarding non-refoulement.  He noted that ICRC does not have 
a formal responsibility to monitor this issue but is morally 
involved. He said he would raise this issue in his meeting 
with PM Maliki (Note:  We heard from the PM that Kellenberger 
made a point of raising ICRC concerns over the MEK in their 
meeting. End Note.)  Schaerer said ICRC is working with the 
Iranian Embassy and Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
through ICRC's Iran delegation to try to get former MEK 
members repatriated to Iran.  ICRC met with Iranian 
Ambassador to Iraq Qomi, and Qomi was allegedly supportive of 
returning defectors to Iran. The Iranian Embassy has been 
working to repatriate one of the current MEK defectors and is 
issuing passports for those who wish to resettle in third 
countries (septel). 
BUTENIS