Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05CAIRO2682, LIBYA - UNHCR TRIPOLI REQUESTS USG HELP

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05CAIRO2682.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05CAIRO2682 2005-04-06 14:59 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Cairo
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 002682 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FROM REGIONAL REFUGEE COORDINATOR 
FOR PRM/A, PRM/AFR, PRM/ANE, PRM/MCE, NEA/ELA, AND AF 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL ASEC EG LI UNHCR
SUBJECT:  LIBYA - UNHCR TRIPOLI REQUESTS USG HELP 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. 
 
1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST.  SEE PARAGRAPH 10. 
 
2. (U) THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN CLEARED BY USLO TRIPOLI. 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
3. (SBU) INCIDENTS OF DETENTION AND DEPORTATION OF ILLEGAL 
MIGRANTS FROM LIBYA ARE INCREASING.  SOME OF THESE 
DEPORTEES COULD BE REFUGEES DESERVING INTERNATIONAL 
PROTECTION.  INSTANCES OF FORCED REPATRIATION ARE BOUND TO 
INCREASE AS THE EUROPEANS AND LIBYANS CONTINUE THEIR 
EFFORTS TO STOP THE USE OF LIBYA AS A CONDUIT FOR ILLEGAL 
MIGRATION TO EUROPE.  LIBYA IS NOT A SIGNATORY TO THE 1951 
UN REFUGEE CONVENTION AND DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE UN HIGH 
COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR), WHICH IS ROUTINELY 
DENIED ACCESS TO DETAINEES.  UNHCR'S TRIPOLI OFFICE HAS 
APPROACHED US, AS A MAJOR UNHCR PARTNER, REQUESTING USG 
SUPPORT IN ITS EFFORTS TO PERSUADE THE LIBYANS TO RECOGNIZE 
ITS STATUS - PERHAPS THROUGH A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 
(MOU) - AND TO ALLOW IT TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY IN LIBYA. 
UNHCR HAS SUGGESTED A BILATERAL U.S.-LIBYA STRATEGY 
INVOLVING GENEVA, THE USLO IN TRIPOLI, THE REGIONAL REFUGEE 
COORDINATOR, AND PRM IN WASHINGTON.  GIVEN THE INVOLVEMENT 
OF THE EU IN THIS ISSUE, WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD ALSO PRESS 
THE CASE THROUGH BRUSSELS, LONDON, AND ROME, ARGUING THAT 
ANY DEALS STRUCK WITH THE LIBYANS FOR THE RETURN OF ILLEGAL 
MIGRANTS SHOULD INVOLVE UNHCR.  WE SUGGEST THAT POSTS IN 
ROME, BRUSSELS, LONDON, AND GENEVA SHOULD JOIN WITH USLO 
TRIPOLI IN MAKING THE CASE FOR UNHCR INVOLVEMENT.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------- 
UNHCR'S GROWING FRUSTRATION 
--------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) THE DEPORTATION LAST MONTH OF 180 PEOPLE FROM THE 
ITALIAN ISLAND OF LAMPEDUSA TO LIBYA AND UNHCR'S INABILITY 
TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE DEPORTEES EITHER IN ITALY OR LIBYA 
ADDED FURTHER FUEL TO UNHCR'S GROWING FRUSTRATION WITH ITS 
IMPOTENCE IN DEALING WITH LIBYA'S EFFORTS TO RETURN 
FORCIBLY THE THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS WHO HAVE COME TO 
LIBYA IN RECENT YEARS WITH THE HOPE OF CROSSING THE 
MEDITERRANEAN TO EUROPE. 
 
5. (SBU) IN ADDITION TO THE FORCED RETURN - WITH EUROPEAN 
COLLABORATION - OF THOSE PICKED UP AT SEA EN ROUTE TO 
PANTELLERIA, LAMPEDUSA, OR OTHER EUROPEAN PORTS, LIBYA IS 
DETAINING AND DEPORTING INTENDING MIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN 
UNABLE TO ATTEMPT THE CROSSING.  UNHCR SUSPECTS THAT SOME 
OF THOSE BEING RETURNED ARE GENUINE ASYLUM SEEKERS IN NEED 
OF INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION.  (NOTE:  THE RISK OF 
REFOULEMENT AND THE SUBSEQUENT NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL 
OVERSIGHT OF DEPORTATIONS WERE GRAPHICALLY ILLUSTRATED LAST 
YEAR WHEN A GROUP OF ERITREANS HIJACKED THEIR DEPORTATION 
FLIGHT AND DIVERTED IT TO KHARTOUM RATHER THAN FACE 
FORCIBLE RETURN TO ASMARA.  END NOTE.) 
 
6. (SBU) LIBYA IS A SIGNATORY TO THE 1969 OAU REFUGEE 
CONVENTION BUT NOT THE 1951 UN CONVENTION.  IT HAS NO 
SPECIFIC ADMINISTRATIVE OR LEGISLATIVE STRUCTURE TO DEAL 
WITH REFUGEES AND ASYLUM ISSUES AND HAS NO LEGAL PROCESS 
FOR DETERMINING REFUGEE STATUS.  SO FAR, THE GOVERNMENT OF 
LIBYA (GOL) HAS RESISTED ANY SUGGESTION THAT IT RECOGNIZE 
THE UNHCR, WHICH FOR THE PAST THIRTEEN YEARS HAS OPERATED 
WITHOUT ANY LEGAL STATUS IN LIBYA.  THE GOL NO DOUBT FEARS 
THAT ACCESSION TO THE 1951 CONVENTION AND/OR RECOGNITION OF 
UNHCR COULD LEAD TO AN EXPECTATION OF LIBYAN RESPONSIBILITY 
FOR THE CARE AND PROTECTION OF ITS MANY ILLEGAL RESIDENTS. 
RECOGNITION OF UNHCR COULD ALSO DENY LIBYA THE FLEXIBILITY 
TO DEPORT THESE PEOPLE AT WILL. 
 
----------------------- 
SITUATION DETERIORATING 
----------------------- 
 
7. (SBU) UNHCR FIRST OUTLINED ITS CONCERNS TO US DURING A 
JUNE 2004 VISIT TO TRIPOLI BY CAIRO-BASED REGIONAL REFUGEE 
COORDINATOR.  AT THAT TIME UNHCR'S FRUSTRATION WAS SUCH 
THAT REPRESENTATIVE LARBI MEBTOUCHE WAS CONSIDERING 
RECOMMENDING THAT UNHCR PULL OUT OF LIBYA ALTOGETHER. 
UNHCR HAS SINCE DISCUSSED THESE CONCERNS WITH USLO TRIPOLI 
ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.  MEBTOUCHE NOW SAYS THE SITUATION 
HAS DETERIORATED MARKEDLY SINCE LAST OCTOBER AND REFUGEES 
AND ASYLUM SEEKERS ARE INDISCRIMINATELY SWEPT UP IN GOL 
EFFORTS TO COMBAT ILLEGAL MIGRATION THROUGH ARBITRARY 
ARRESTS, DETENTION, AND DEPORTATION.   ACCORDING TO UNHCR 
THE GOL HAS MADE NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN POSSIBLE ASYLUM 
SEEKERS AND MIGRANTS AND HAS REPEATEDLY DENIED UNHCR ACCESS 
TO THE DETAINEES.  UNHCR POINTS OUT THAT LIBYA'S FAILURE TO 
RECOGNIZE THE PRESENCE OF REFUGEES IS CONTRARY TO GOL 
INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS UNDER THE 1969 OAU CONVENTION. 
 
------------------------- 
UNHCR PROPOSES A STRATEGY 
------------------------- 
 
8. (SBU) MEBTOUCHE HAS AGAIN RAISED THE ISSUE WITH REFCOORD 
AND WILL NO DOUBT REITERATE UNHCR CONCERNS DURING A PLANNED 
VISIT TO CAIRO ON APRIL 26.  HE IS NOW ACTIVELY SEEKING USG 
SUPPORT, AS A MAJOR UNHCR PARTNER, FOR UNHCR'S EFFORTS TO 
PERSUADE THE LIBYANS TO RECOGNIZE ITS STATUS - PERHAPS 
THROUGH AN MOU - AND TO ALLOW IT TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY IN 
LIBYA.  MEBTOUCHE HAS SUGGESTED THE FOLLOWING STRATEGY: 
 
  -    THE U.S. MISSION IN GENEVA TO LIAISE WITH ACTING HIGH 
     COMMISSIONER CHAMBERLAIN AND TO PRESENT THE CASE FOR RECOGNITION 
     TO THE LIBYAN MISSION TO THE UN; 
-    USLO TRIPOLI TO DEMARCHE THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND 
PERHAPS THE OTHER RELEVANT MINISTRIES, SECURITY AND JUSTICE; 
-    PRM TO APPROACH THE LIBYAN MISSION IN WASHINGTON; 
-    REFCOORD TO JOIN WITH USLO IN ENGAGING THE GOL AT THE 
WORKING LEVEL, PERHAPS IN THE CONTEXT OF AN INFORMAL ROUNDTABLE 
IN TRIPOLI WITH SELECTED PARTICIPANTS, TO HELP CLARIFY THE 
ISSUES. 
 
---------------------------------- 
BUT A BROADER APPROACH IS REQUIRED 
---------------------------------- 
 
9. (SBU) WHILE WE SUPPORT THE UNHCR'S STRATEGY, WE BELIEVE 
OUR APPROACH NEEDS TO BE BROADER.  AS USLO TRIPOLI POINTS 
OUT, THIS ISSUE IS NOT LIBYA-SPECIFIC.  THE GOL SEES IT AS 
A MAJOR REGIONAL CONCERN WITH THE EUROPEANS PLAYING A 
PRINCIPAL ROLE.  THE STRATEGY SUGGESTED BY UNHCR'S 
MEBTOUCHE WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF SUCCESS IF 
REINFORCED BY THE EUROPEANS.  ITALY, IN PARTICULAR, HAS A 
KEEN INTEREST IN THE ISSUE, HAVING RECENTLY REACHED 
AGREEMENT WITH THE GOL AND WITH THE INTERNATIONAL 
ORGANIZATION OF MIGRATION TO FACILITATE THE RETURN OF 
ILLEGAL MIGRANTS.  THE EUROPEANS AND THE LIBYANS BOTH RISK 
INTERNATIONAL OPPROBRIUM IF THEY PROCEED WITH WHOLESALE 
REPATRIATIONS WITHOUT TAKING STEPS TO AVOID POSSIBLE 
REFOULEMENT.  IDEALLY, THE NEED FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY 
WOULD BE RESOLVED WITH LIBYAN ACCESSION TO THE 1951 
CONVENTION.  AS A SHORT-TERM MEASURE WE COULD ASK THE 
EUROPEANS TO JOIN WITH US IN PRESSING THE GOL TO ENTER INTO 
NEGOTIATIONS WITH UNHCR TO ESTABLISH THE TERMS OF AN MOU 
THAT WOULD RECOGNIZE THE TRIPOLI UNHCR OFFICE AND GIVE IT 
FULL ACCESS TO ASYLUM SEEKERS.  AS USLO TRIPOLI NOTES, 
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER COMPLEX ISSUES, WHICH WOULD 
BENEFIT FROM ACTIVE UNHCR PARTICIPATION, SUCH AS ASSISTED 
VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION AND COORDINATION WITH COUNTRY OF 
ORIGIN SUB-SAHARAN GOVERNMENTS. 
 
10. (SBU) ACTION REQUESTED:  IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE 
SUGGEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT APPROVE THE ABOVE PLAN OF 
ACTION AND AUTHORIZE POSTS IN TRIPOLI, ROME, GENEVA (RMA), 
BRUSSELS (EU), LONDON, AND CAIRO (REFCOORD) TO ENGAGE 
APPROPRIATE HOST GOVERNMENTS AND EU COUNTERPARTS TO GAIN 
SUPPORT FOR THE UNHCR IN TRIPOLI AS PER PARAGRAPHS 8-9. 
 
GRAY