VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHUL #3461 3390644
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 050644Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7593
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0106
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP// PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY
UNCLAS SEOUL 003461
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR NEA/SCA/EX (KENNETH MESSNER AND DINKA MASIC) AND
EAP/K (PAUL LOH); EMBASSY BAGHDAD FOR KEVIN WEISHAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KS MARR PARM PREL
SUBJECT: ROKG REPORTS PROGRESS ON CAMP ZAYTUN MOU IN ERBIL
REF: SECSTATE 162518
1. (SBU) On December 3, Poloff delivered reftel points to
Kang Young-shin, Deputy Director, Development Cooperation
Division, and Kang Myung-il, Deputy Director, ROK-U.S.
Security Cooperation Division of the ROK Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (MOFAT). In a follow-up meeting on
December 4, Kang Young-shin told poloff that MOFAT felt that
sufficient progress was being made and provided an update on
the status of the three U.S. requests based on a report he
received overnight from the ROKA at Camp Zaytun.
A. Emergency Medical Treatment: Kang said that the ROK Army
(ROKA) would provide emergency medical assistance to all U.S.
Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) personnel, including
security protection details and third-country national
contractors. Kang noted that the emergency medical services
would be limited to first aid, however, because the ROKA
could no longer provide critical care capabilities, such as
surgery services, due to the planned reduction in ROK troops
(Note: The ROK Zaytun deployment will be cut in half, from
1200 to 600, beginning January 1, 2008). Kang explained that
Camp Zaytun would send all critical cases, including Korean
troops, to a (unnamed) neighboring hospital for such care.
B. Camp Zaytun Base Entry Access: Kang noted that the ROKA
had agreed to issue special IDs for regular RRT personnel
under Chief of Mission authority, including security details,
but not for Iraqi or third-country national contractors due
to security concerns. Kang said that he believed the access
procedures for visitors and for coalition-badged personnel
not permanently assigned to the RRT at Camp Zaytun were
standard for all ROKA facilities, but said he would convey
U.S. concerns to the ROKA.
C. Use of Additional Land and Vacant Buildings: Kang advised
that the ROKA had asked the USG to provide the plans for the
RRT's use of additional land and facilities, but that the USG
had not yet done so. Kang said that once the USG provides
it, the ROKA would carefully review the plans and provide a
response to the U.S. request.
VERSHBOW