US embassy cable - 04AMMAN2751

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002751 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2014 
TAGS: IZ, PREL, JO 
SUBJECT: IRAQ CONSUL AGAIN ISSUING INTERIM TRAVEL DOCUMENTS 
(ITD) 
 
REF: AMMAN 01469 
 
Classified By: Classified by DCM David Hale for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) Iraq Consul Ahmad Jirallah Al-Dabbagh informed ConsOff 
on April 1, 2004 that the Iraq Mission in Amman is back to 
issuing Interim Travel Documents (ITD) to its citizens.  As 
of April 5, 2004, the Iraq Mission has issued a total of 377 
ITDs.  The Iraq Mission does not issue ITDs to those in 
possession of expired passports extended by the Ministry of 
Interior in Baghdad despite the fact that they are not 
recognized by the U.S. as valid for travel.  The Mission 
determines identity and citizenship based on the presentation 
of the old Civil Affairs identification card or the Iraq 
Nationality/Citizenship Certificate--without one of the two 
documents, no ITD is issued. 
 
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ITD numbers 
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2. (C) Contrary to earlier reports (See Reftel) of an order 
to stop ITD issuance, Iraq Consul Jirallah Al-Dabbagh told 
ConsOff on April 1, 2004 that he is providing Interim Travel 
Documents (ITD) to Iraqi citizens.  He believes that the 
majority of Iraqis who receive the ITD have been residing 
illegally in Jordan and want to return to Iraq.  He opined 
that most either destroyed or discarded their passports for 
the purpose of hiding their nationality and to avoid 
deportation if caught.  As of April 5, 2004, the Mission had 
issued a cumulative total of 377 ITDs.  The Mission does not 
issue ITDs to Iraqis in possession of passports extended by 
the Ministry of Interior in Baghdad despite the fact that 
they are not recognized by the U.S. as valid for travel. 
 
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Establishing Identity and Citizenship 
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3. (C) Identity and citizenship are established by presenting 
either the old Civil Affairs I.D. card or Certificate of 
Nationality/Citizenship.  Dabbagh said the Mission does not 
issue ITDs to those without either of the two documents. 
Dabbagh maintains a handwritten logbook that provides the 
name, address, DPOB, I.D. card or certificate number, ITD 
number and one photograph for each ITD recipient.  The 
Mission provides the individual with the original signed ITD, 
maintains one copy at the Mission for records and sends one 
to the Iraq MFA in Baghdad.  The Mission sends ITDs to the 
MFA every three to four days in batches. 
 
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Comment 
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4. (C) In special circumstances the Mission will issue an ITD 
to an individual in possession of a MOI-extended passport. 
Upon request from Embassy Amman to support the CPA's mission 
in Iraq, Dabbagh recently issued an ITD to an Iraqi in 
possession of an MOI-extended passport for the purposes of 
U.S. visa issuance.  He did so only after speaking directly 
with Consular section staff. 
 
5. (U) CPA Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Visit Embassy Amman's classified website 
athttp://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ 
or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET 
home page. 
Gnehm 
 
 
 
GNEHM