US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT731

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000731 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA, IO/UNP, D, NEA/FO 
GENEVA FOR STONECIPHER 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
CPA BAGHDAD FOR AUDREY GLOVER 
TUNIS FOR NATALIE BROWN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2014 
TAGS: PREL, KPOW, PHUM, IZ, KU, ICRC 
SUBJECT: (C) GULF WAR MISSING:  TSC MEETS, NOTES CONTINUING 
PROGRESS 
 
REF: STATE 45910 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: (U) CDA FRANK URBANCIC; REASON 1.4 (D) 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  The Technical Sub-Committee (TSC) of the 
Tripartite Commission on Gulf War POWs and Missing Persons 
(TPC) held its 45th official session in Kuwait March 2.  30 
more remains of Kuwaiti missing have been positively 
identified since the December TPC meeting.  The TSC 
authorized full exhumation of mass graves at Kerbala, Ramadi 
and Amarah.  Kuwait undertook to facilitate Iraqi visits to 
search for burial sites of missing Iraqis.  ICRC and CPA 
urged all parties to emulate the USG in searching for 
information that may be helpful in locating the remains of 
Iraqis killed during the Gulf War.  The next TSC meeting is 
to be held in Kuwait in about two months' time.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
2.  (U) The Technical Sub-Committee (TSC) of the Tripartite 
Commission on Gulf War POWs and Missing Persons (TPC) held 
its 45th official session in Kuwait March 2, with the 
participation of all parties (Kuwait, Iraq - represented by 
CPA - , Saudi Arabia, France, UK, and US).  Charge chaired US 
delegation, accompanied by Pol Chief. 
 
3.  (C) Kuwait reported that since the December TPC meeting, 
30 more human remains have been positively identified as 
belonging to Kuwaiti missing, bringing the total to 75 (of 
605).  Reaffirming the existing procedures for assessment and 
exhumation of burial sites, the TSC decided to authorize full 
exhumation of mass graves at Kerbala, Ramadi and Amarah.  CPA 
provided the coordinates of the Amarah site.  Kuwait 
undertook to provide coordinates of two Iraqi mass graves 
inside Kuwait and to facilitate visits by Iraqis regarding 
those and other burial sites of missing Iraqis.  The TSC 
affirmed the importance of ensuring adequate security in the 
field (the last Kuwaiti mission inside Iraq was aborted after 
its convoy was hit by IEDs).  An Iraqi participant claimed 
that an Iranian campaign to assassinate former Iraqi officers 
was disrupting his efforts to collect information on missing 
Kuwaitis. 
 
4.  (C)  Per reftel, Charge informed the TSC that the US is 
engaged in searching for, retrieving and as needed, 
declassifying, information that may be helpful in locating 
the remains of Iraqis killed during the Gulf War.  ICRC urged 
all parties to do likewise:  even if they had submitted such 
information in the past, it might no longer be available to 
the Iraqis, and might never have been incorporated into the 
official records of the TSC kept by ICRC.  CPA also called on 
all parties to provide any information they can to help 
resolve the fate of Iraqi missing. 
 
5.  (SBU) The TSC decided to hold its next meeting in Kuwait 
in about two months' time, before the transfer of sovereignty 
in Iraq.  ICRC will consult with each party regarding the 
exact date and venue. 
 
6.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
URBANCIC