VZCZCXRO9293
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3008/01 3201526
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 161526Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5445
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0361

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003008 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018 
TAGS: PHUM KREF KJUS IO IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HILL DISCUSSES SECURITY, DETAINEES, AND 
MEK WITH ICRC 
 
REF: A. BAGHDAD 377 
     ¶B. BAGHDAD 797 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert S. Ford for reason 1.4 (b 
) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C)  Summary:   In a November 10 meeting between the 
Ambassador and ICRC Head of Iraq Delegation Juan Pedro 
Schaerer, the latter provided an overview of the ICRC's 
activities related to detainees and the MEK, and introduced 
his replacement, Magne Barth.  Schaerer praised the close 
cooperation between the organization and Multi-National 
Force-Iraq (MNF-I), and thanked the Embassy for its support. 
He also announced the ICRC's plans to relocate its regional 
headquarters in the region from Amman to Baghdad and shared 
his views on current security conditions across Iraq with the 
Ambassador.   End summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
ICRC CONCERNS ABOUT GOI TREATMENT OF DETAINEES, MEK 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
 ¶2.  (C)  ICRC head Juan Pedro Schaerer relayed his 
observations from a visit the preceding day to Taji, where 
the ICRC delegation noted that of the 4,000 individuals 
detained there, only 1,000 had been charged under Iraqi law. 
He expressed his concerns that the challenges of charging the 
remaining 3,000 individuals in the next two months would 
likely exceed the capacity of Iraqi authorities. He added 
that the ICRC has no legal basis for intervening since the 
individuals must be interned under Iraqi law, but that the 
ICRC is currently working to determine what type of 
recommendation it can make to Iraqi authorities to remedy the 
situation.  Schaerer also communicated hesitation about the 
GOI's ability to bear the operating costs of maintaining 
Taji, which amount to an estimated USD6 million per month. 
 
 ¶3.  (C)  The ICRC delegation to Iraq passed copies of a 
report on the conditions of individuals detained by MNF-I 
since January 1, 2009 to the Ambassador and to MNF-I, 
mentioning that the ICRC met with 150 detainees at Cropper 
and Taji to assess whether they were given access to lawyers 
and detained under predetermined procedures.  Schaerer 
intimated to the Ambassador that the findings of the report 
were less than desirable, and conveyed the ICRC's 
recommendation that U.S. authorities continue mentoring Iraqi 
authorities to make sure judicial guarantees are protected. 
Despite the suboptimal findings of the ICRC report, Schaerer 
lauded the decrease in total detainee numbers, stating that 
between Taji and Cropper, there has been a decline from 
16,000 to 7,000 detainees since the beginning of the year. 
 
 ¶4.  (C)  Schaerer expressed the ICRC's concerns about the 
GOI's intended approach to moving MEK residents, and the 
possibility that the GOI might need to use force to move 
these individuals.  He announced that the ICRC delegation 
intends to meet with officers in Iraqi PM Maliki's office to 
discuss these issues and recent MEK-related developments in 
the coming days. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
THE FUTURE OF THE ICRC AND VIEWS ON SECURITY 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 ¶5.  (C)  Following a successful August 4 Technical 
Subcommittee meeting in Kuwait, the GOI petitioned the ICRC, 
which oversees the process, to hold the November Tripartite 
Committee in Baghdad.  Schaerer mentioned that due to 
resistance from Saudi Arabian stakeholders involved in the 
decision, the ICRC opted to hold the meeting, which is 
scheduled for next week, in Kuwait.  He added that the ICRC 
Iraq delegation's participation in the meeting will mark the 
beginning of his transition to his replacement, Magne Barth, 
Qbeginning of his transition to his replacement, Magne Barth, 
who will assume leadership at the end of November.  Barth 
added that, thanks to Schaerer's strong leadership efforts, 
the ICRC is poised to begin its transition from Amman to a 
permanent base in Baghdad, and expects the relocation to be 
complete by the end of 2010. 
 
 ¶6.  (C)  In response to a question about the ICRC's view of 
current security conditions across Iraq, ICRC Head Juan Pedro 
Schaerer noted that in the southern part of the country 
police and Iraqi forces have security concerns under control. 
 The ICRC feels comfortable operating there.  In contrast, 
the ICRC is closely watching Iraq's disputed territories in 
anticipation of a possible decline in security and stability. 
 Schaerer offered that in his view, the security outlook in 
Baghdad remains in question, and that the ICRC is monitoring 
conditions to determine whether international organizations 
become increasingly attractive targets for terrorists. 
 
BAGHDAD 00003008  002 OF 002 
 
 
Incoming ICRC Head Magne Barth added that the ICRC's strategy 
is to keep a low profile through elections, play no role in 
political issues, and focus on training and transferring 
expertise to Iraqi authorities.  Ambassador Hill agreed that 
the high profile explosions that have devastated GOI 
ministries in recent months have spurred speculation and a 
level of uncertainty about what buildings may become ripe 
targets in the future. The Ambassador expressed hope that the 
overall trend of decreasing violence in Iraq portends a 
greater level of safety for all. 
HILL