US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT3529

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003529 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MOPS, PREL, ELAB, EG, KU, IZ 
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR BAGHDAD'S ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING 
DEATH CERTIFICATES FOR MISSING EGYPTIAN DRIVERS 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 3413 
 
     B. CAIRO 7326 
 
1.  This is an action request for Embassy Baghdad; please see 
para 4. 
 
2.  As reported in Ref A, Embassy Kuwait received a letter 
from Major General Gary D. Speer, Deputy Commanding General 
of the Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC), 
requesting post's assistance in resolving the cases of three 
Egyptian drivers presumed to have been killed while driving 
in Iraq (text repeated in para 4).  CFLCC is asking for 
Government of Egypt (GOE) help in providing death 
certificates for the three men, so that a death benefit of 
approximately $34,000 may be paid to each man's next-of-kin. 
 
3.  Post is grateful for Embassy's Cairo's assistance in 
raising this issue with the GOE (Ref B).  Both Embassy Cairo 
and the Egyptian Embassy in Kuwait, however, have advised us 
that the Egyptian Embassy in Baghdad is responsible for 
issuing the death certificates. 
 
4.  ACTION REQUEST.  Post requests that Embassy Baghdad 
approach the Egyptian Embassy regarding the death of their 
nationals in Iraq, and convey CFLCC's request for official 
death certificates.  END ACTION REQUEST. 
 
5.  (U)  BEGIN TEXT OF LETTER. 
 
September 15, 2004 
 
Department of the Army, Coalition Forces Land Component 
Command 
United States Army Central Command 
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait 
 
Office of the Deputy Commanding General 
 
Matthew H. Tueller 
Charge d'Affaires 
Embassy of the United States of America 
Kuwait City, Kuwait 
 
Dear Mr. Tueller: 
 
Thank you for the Country Team's continued support of the 
Coalition Forces Land Component Command.  Embassy involvement 
in the foreign national driver crisis has been critical in 
moving this issue forward.  As a related matter, request your 
assistance in the cases of three Egyptian drivers who were 
killed in action while driving in Iraq for our host nation 
contractors. 
 
Missing since April 11, 2004, Egyptian truck drivers, Mr. 
Ibrahim Moussa, PP Number 792387, and Galal El Sayet Osman, 
PP Number 488960, worked under United States Army Contract 
Number W912D1-04-D-0001 for Ahamadah General Trading and 
Contracting Company.  Also, Habshy Elsayed, PP Number 
1438858, worked under United States Army Contract Number 
W912D1-04-D-004 for IAP, Incorporated and has been missing 
since April 26, 2004. 
 
These men have been missing since the convoys they were 
traveling in came under hostile fire from anti-coalition 
forces.  Although their bodies were not recovered, the nature 
of the attack and the extent of the damage to these 
individuals and their vehicles were such that they are 
presumed to be dead.  Our deepest sympathy and sorrow is 
respectfully given to their families. 
 
These drivers' employment contracts provided for a death 
gratuity in the amount of 10,000 Kuwaiti Dinar per person. 
Request assistance with the Egyptian Embassy in obtaining 
Government of Egypt death declarations (death certificates) 
for these men, so the death gratuities can be provided to 
their next of kin. 
 
Respectfully, 
Gary D. Speer 
Major General, US Army 
Deputy Commanding General 
 
END TEXT OF LETTER 
 
6.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
(U) Visit Embassy Kuwait's classified website 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
LeBaron