Cablegate: Tripartite Commission Technical Subcommittee 51st
VZCZCXRO6126
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #3640/01 2531432
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101432Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6641
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 003640
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP, OSD FOR ASD/DPMO CRONAUER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL MARR IZ SA KU KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS
SUBJECT: TRIPARTITE COMMISSION TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE 51ST
SESSION: 10 NEW SEARCHES, 93 NEW IDENTIFICATIONS.
REF: A. KUWAIT 881
B. 05 KUWAIT 4813
1. Summary: Kuwait hosted the 51st session of the
Tripartitite Commission's Technical Subcommittee (TSC) on
September 5, 2006 with representatives from Iraq, Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait, France, Britain, the International Committee
for the Red Cross (ICRC), and Embassy Kuwait in attendance.
The session closed 93 cases, all involving Iraqi remains
found during a joint assessment mission to Saudi Arabia from
April 29 to May 2, 2006. The Kuwaitis noted that no
investigations into the mass graves sites in Iraq previously
discussed (reftels) had taken place since the 49th session
due to security issues. Kuwait requested the development of
an action plan by the TSC to allow visits to mass gravesites
in Iraq to proceed, specifically identifying the need for
Coalition Forces security assistance. There was no new
information on CAPT. Speicher's case. End Summary.
Mass Graves Update
------------------
2. The 51st session of the TSC was held in Kuwait on
September 5, 2006. The Kuwaitis opened the meeting by
informing the attendees that no assessments or exhumations
had taken place in Iraq, specifically at Al-Kaffel and
Al-Madaen in Salman-Pak, in the period since the 49th TSC
because of security concerns.
Action Plan for Gravesite Visits
--------------------------------
3. The Kuwaitis proposed that TSC members develop, through
bilateral discussions with the ICRC, a plan of action to
allow visits to mass gravesites in Iraq to proceed. The
Kuwaitis specifically identified the need for security
assistance from Coalition Forces in Iraq for visits to the
mass gravesites. The U.S. delegation noted that any visits
should be coordinated through the Government of Iraq.
Tel Al-Laham/Nasseriya
----------------------
4. Iraq said that it had information from the Iraq
President,s office about human remains in Tel Al-Laham but
that Iraq had not been able to identify a specific location.
Kuwait said that it had information about a site in Nasseriya
which could correspond to the information about Tel Al-Laham.
Ramadi/Baghdad/Al-Jahra/Kuwait
------------------------------
5. The Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights reported that
information was obtained from Iraqi witnesses about
gravesites in Iraq and Kuwait, specifically Kuwaiti remains
in Ramadi and on the Baghdad Airport road. Iraq also
reported that information was communicated to Kuwait on other
possible grave sites in Kuwait. Kuwait requested that Iraq
follow up with witnesses mentioned in previous TSC sessions,
specifically Mr. Al-Houli, Mr. Al-Dakhil and Mr. Al-Gharib
for Al-Jahra.
Iraq/Saudi Mission and Closed Cases
-----------------------------------
6. Saudi Arabia reported via verbal note to the ICRC on May
20, 2006, the following results of the joint mission to Saudi
Arabia from April 29 ) May 2, 2006 and delivered 93 death
certificates to Iraq with the recommendation that the files
on these cases be closed.
- Hafr El-Baten: 38 Iraqi remains found with 27 identities
known but exact locations unknown, 5 identities known and
locations known, and 6 cases with unknown identities and
locations.
- Nasab Centre: 7 Iraqi remains with 1 identity and location
known and 6 identities unknown.
- Rafha Public cemetery: 2 identities known, location unknown.
- Nasseriya: 76 Iraqi remains with 57 identities and exact
locations known, 1 &Christian8 remains with identity and
exact location known, and 18 identities known and exact
locations unknown.
Kuwait Searches
---------------
KUWAIT 00003640 002 OF 003
7. Kuwait reported 2 human remains found at Al-Manqish
oilfield and 1 human remains at Ali Al-Salem Airbase. All
were unidentified but believed to be Iraqi because of their
uniforms. The DNA profile did not match any profiles in the
database and Kuwait is ready to hand over the reports and
human remains to Iraq.
8. There was no new information on CAPT. Speicher's case.
His DNA profile remains in the Kuwaiti database and continues
to be checked against all newly received profiles.
Next TSC Meeting
----------------
9. The next TSC meeting will take place on November 13, 2006
in Geneva, Switzerland at the ICRC headquarters and the next
Tripartite Commission meeting will take place on November 15,
2006 also in Geneva at the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia. Activities to be undertaken before the next
session are:
- TSC will develop a plan of action, through bilateral
discussions with the ICRC, to allow further exhumation
missions to Iraq.
- Visits by Iraqi witnesses to assist in locating gravesites
in Kuwait.
- Return of human remains from Kuwait to Iraq.
- Iraq will prepare a list of names of Iraqi dead buried in
Saudi Arabia whose remains should be repatriated.
- U.S. will assist the TSC with conversion of UTM grid
coordinates of grave sites into longitude and latitude
coordinates.
10. Delegations:
State of Iraq
-------------
Mr. Kazem M. Kazem Al-Anzi, Head of Delegation
Mr. Yaqoob Kh. Haider
Mr. Thabit M. Hussain
Mr. Hazem J. Yassin
State of Kuwait
---------------
H.E. Ibrahim M. Al-Shaheen, Head of Delegation
Mr. Forzan Al-Forzan
Mr. Rabea Al-Adsani
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
-----------------------
Mr. Zuhair M. Al-Idrissi, Head of Delegation
Dr. Abdulrahman S. Al-Shareif
Mr. Ahmad M. Omar
Mr. Khalid Al-Treiri
Mr. Fahad Al-Juraid
Republic of France
------------------
Mr. Jacques Corday
Great Britain
-------------
Ms. Jaime Turner
International Committee for the Red Cross
-----------------------------------------
Mr. Jean-Michel Monod, Regional Delegate for the Arabian
Peninsula
Mr. Kedir Awol, Deputy Regional Delegate for the Arabian
Peninsula
Mr. Micha Wedekind, Delegate for Missing, files in Iraq
U.S.
----
Mr. Donald Blome
Ms. Natalie Brown
Mr. DeWitt Conklin
********************************************* *
KUWAIT 00003640 003 OF 003
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
LeBaron