Cablegate: Prm a/S Sauerbrey Visit to Turkey: Continued Quick

Dianne Wampler 09/06/2007 11:54:51 PM From DB/Inbox: Dianne Wampler

Cable
Text:

UNCLAS ANKARA 02258

SIPDIS
CX:
ACTION: CONS
INFO: ECON POL DCM AMB RSO PA

DISSEMINATION: CONS
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: A/DCM:DSREEBNY
DRAFTED: CONS:SJSHIPSHOCK/PCU
CLEARED: NONE

VZCZCAYI409
RR RUEHC RUEHAM
DE RUEHAK #2258 2471449
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041449Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3620
INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0926

UNCLAS ANKARA 002258

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF TU IZ
SUBJECT: PRM A/S SAUERBREY VISIT TO TURKEY: CONTINUED QUICK
PROCESSING OF IRAQI REFUGEES

1. Summary: In an August 22-24 visit to Turkey, PRM Bureau Assistant
Secretary Ellen Sauerbrey expressed thanks to Government of Turkey

SIPDIS
counterparts for their cooperation in issuing exit permission to
in-country Iraqi refugees being resettled to the United States, and
requested that this cooperation continue in the coming months.
Government of Turkey interlocutors indicated that the cooperation
will continue, but voiced concern that news of large numbers of
Iraqis leaving for the U.S. from Turkey could attract additional
Iraqi asylum-seekers into their country.
End summary.

GOT Calls Cordial
-----------------

2. A/S Sauerbrey met with Sertac Sonmezay, the Deputy Director
General of the Migration, Asylum and Property Office at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs. She expressed appreciation to the GOT for being
a generous host to Iraqis needing temporary asylum, and for their
fast-tracking the issuance of exit permits. Sonmezay remarked that
this is the first time in recent history the GOT has agreed to
process such a large number of refugees in such a short time.

3. He continued by repeating a key concern of the Turkish government
about Turkey becoming a magnet for additional Iraqi refugees seeking
a quick way to the west. Sonmezay observed that an Iraqi refugee in
Turkey has a much higher percentage chance of resettlement to
western countries than Iraqi refugees in other countries in the
region. He expressed particular concern about Iraqis currently in
Syria crossing into Turkey. The A/S responded that the USG does not
support or encourage secondary movement to Turkey.

Message to Interior Ministry: No quotas
---------------------------------------

4. A/S Sauerbrey made two calls on top officials with the Turkish
National Police (TNP), which is responsible for issuing exit
permits, and which falls under the Ministry of Interior. During her
meeting with Oguz Kagan Koksal, Director General of the TNP, she
dispelled the prevailing belief that the U.S. has a quota system
that governs refugee admissions. She indicated that the U.S. would
be willing to accept for resettlement as many of the Iraqi refugees
in Turkey as possible. She also emphasized that when conditions in
Iraq further stabilize, the USG would be happy to see these same
refugees returning to help build their country. In an additional
meeting, she met with Kadir Ay, Acting Director of Foreigners,
Border and Asylum Department, who provided firm assurances of
continued cooperation.

NGOs poised for action
----------------------
5. A/S Sauerbrey visited International Catholic Migration Commission
(ICMC) offices in Istanbul and observed a pre-screening interview
with an Iraqi applicant family. In addition, she dropped in on a
pre-departure cultural orientation session. ICMC staff briefed her
on the time line of processing refugees and the multiple steps
involved.

6. In Ankara, the assistant secretary met with representatives of
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and
International Organization for Migration (IOM). UNHCR country
representative Ana Liria Franch indicated they are registering
approximately 100 new Iraqis a week; some quite newly arrived,
others who have been in Turkey studying or working. UNHCR indicated
that there are refugees coming forward that they are not submitting
because they have come into Turkey from Syria and Jordan. UNHCR is
carefully holding to a commitment it has made to the GOT to not
handle secondary movement cases.

7. At the IOM, Director Maurizio Busatti reiterated his
organization's readiness to play a continuing role in the
resettlement effort. They have been particularly involved in
arranging travel for the refugees. Busatti observed that he has
heard concerns from the MFA that refugee inflow is an ingredient for
instability. The challenge to NGOs, he said, is to convince Turkey
that the nominal number of refugees in-country do not pose a threat
to Turkey's stability. Busatti does fear, however, that the Turks
are approaching the "enough is enough" stage.

Seeing Off the Refugees
-----------------------
8. The A/S spent 25 minutes with a group of refugees, mostly
Chaldean Christians, departing for the U.S. from Istanbul airport on
August 22. After speaking with the group as a whole, she shook
hands with each refugee and heard anecdotes from each family group.
A spokesperson from the group expressed gratitude to the Turkish
government for their hospitality. The A/S reminded the refugees
that while we hope they thrive in the U.S., the goal was for them to
be able to return to a stable, peaceful and democratic Iraq.

9. A/S Sauerbrey did not have an opportunity to clear this message
before traveling.

WILSON

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