Cablegate: Refugee Returns to Iraq: Jordanian Response

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

081723Z Jan 04

UNCLAS AMMAN 000199

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR NEA/NGA AND PRM/ANE; CPA FOR J.JOHNSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL IZ JO
SUBJECT: REFUGEE RETURNS TO IRAQ: JORDANIAN RESPONSE

REF: A. STATE 350022

B. 03 AMMAN 8608

1. (SBU) Refcoord delivered ref a talking points on January
6 to Mr. Mukhaymer Jamous, Coordinator for UNHCR and Refugee
Affairs at the Ministry of Interior. (Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs Shaher Bak, our previous interlocutor on Iraq
humanitarian issues, left with the November change of
government.) Jamous expressed appreciation for the difficult
security and economic conditions inside Iraq, as well as
understanding for the reluctance of UNHCR and CPA to consider
large-scale, organized returns at this time. He confirmed
that the GOJ would not rush to organize its own return
programs, noting the GOJ had just agreed to keep the
Ruweished refugee camp on the Iraqi-Jordanian border open
until April 9 (ref b). Jamous added that the GOJ continues
to support the voluntary return of "hundreds" of Iraqis from
Europe, who transit Jordan as part of IOM's Assisted
Voluntary Return program. (NOTE: CPA receives information
on these returns directly from IOM.) He welcomed the
upcoming visit to Jordan of Iraqi Minister for Displacement
and Migration Al-Otbee.

2. (U) Refcoord also provided ref a talking points to
Foreign Minister Muasher's private office.

3. (SBU) Comment: Our discussions with Jamous were somewhat
rushed, as he was the MOI's Acting Secretary General on the
day we met. We will follow up with more detailed discussions
after development of the regional refugee return and
reintegration strategy. Also, based on our discussions with
CPA, we understand that Iraqi Minister for Displacement and
Migration Al-Otbee will be in Amman January 13 for UNHCR
training and again February 10-11. We assume that the Iraqi
embassy will arrange his GOJ meetings; please advise if our
assistance is needed.

4. (U) CPA Baghdad minimize considered.
GNEHM

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