VZCZCXYZ0008
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #9529 3450032
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 100025Z DEC 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 4088
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 2970
RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT IMMEDIATE 5064
UNCLAS STATE 129529
SIPDIS
USUN FOR GERMAIN AND KUJAWINSKI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: TALKING POINTS FOR UNSC CONSULTATIONS ON KUWAITI
PROPERTY AND MISSING PERSONS, DECEMBER 10
1.(U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 2.
2.(U) USUN is instructed to draw from the following talking
points during the December 10 consultations on the
Secretary-General's December 4 report on the repatriation or
return of all Kuwaiti and third-country nationals or their
remains and the return of all Kuwaiti property, including
archives, seized by the former regime in Iraq.
3.(U) Begin points:
-- I would like to begin today by thanking Ambassador Tarasov
for his work regarding the repatriation or return of all
Kuwaiti and third-country nationals or their remains and the
return of all Kuwaiti property, including archives, seized by
the former Iraqi regime. I am heartened by both his
diligence and his compassion and I remain confident in his
ability to facilitate the resolution of the difficult and
outstanding issues that remain with us today.
-- Today, I would like to discuss four points on the
developments and progress achieved during the reporting
period.
-- First, allow me to commend the Iraqi government for
welcoming Ambassador Tarasov in his capacity as High-Level
Coordinator, the first visit by a Coordinator since the fall
of the Saddam Hussein regime. I also wish to commend both
the Iraqi and Kuwaiti governments for their cooperation in
resolving the fate of missing persons and the work of
identifying human remains. We extend our condolences to the
families of all those who are still missing and those who
have been identified. In light of the markedly improved
security situation in Iraq, I am hopeful that search and
assessment operations will increase in the future, as will
the pace of exhumation activities at sites identified as
containing the remains of Kuwaiti POW's. Visits to burial
sites in Iraq are of paramount importance, as is the
cooperation of witnesses and local residents. I suggest that
every effort be made to reach out to these individuals; their
cooperation will be critical to achieving a successful
conclusion.
-- Second, I wish to note the helpful offer of technical and
capacity building assistance that has been offered by UNAMI
in regard to exhumation activities. We look forward to
seeing this project come to fruition.
-- Third, I regret that the case of our own missing Navy
pilot, Captain Michael S. Speicher, has not been
resolved. The United States continues to investigate the
loss of Captain Speicher, who has been missing from action in
Iraq since January 17, 1991. The government and people of
the United States share a common bond and a lasting
commitment with other nations and families seeking answers to
the fate of their missing personnel. Efforts to
conclusively determine the circumstances or fate of Captain
Speicher have not yet been successful and the
United States desires all efforts possible to be taken until
he is recovered and returned to his family and loved
ones. We look forward to the resolution of this case and are
grateful for the cooperation of the Kuwaiti and Iraqi
governments in this regard.
-- Finally, I am disappointed by the lack of progress made in
the retrieval of Kuwaiti national archives and am
particularly disappointed that, despite the Iraqi
government's discovery and promise to return hundreds of
Kuwaiti radio and television tape recordings, this has not
yet occurred. I urge the governments of Iraq and Kuwait to
coordinate the transfer expeditiously, utilizing the good
offices of the Coordinator as necessary.
RICE