State Department memo is a press guidance/talking points from the DOS discussing the reasons why the U.S. will not release the ICRC's report on the treatment of Guantanamo detainees.
UNCLASSIFIED
Fib-13T20a2 .11:-42pm From--7-153 P.027/033 P-926
L Press Guidance
RELEASED IN FULL Grid
February 11, 2002
ICRC REPORT ON TREATMENT OF DETAINEES IN
GUANTANAMO
Q: Will we release the Red Cross report to us on the detainees? Why?
— NO. IT HAS LONG BEEN OUR PRACTICE AND THE PRACTICE OF OTHER COUNTRIES NOT TO RELEASE ICRC REPORTS OF TINS KIND. THIS LONGSTANDING PRACTICE HELPS TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE ICRC'S IMPORTANT WORK, AND TO PROTECT THE DIGNITY AND PRIVACY INTERESTS OF THE DETAINEES.
-- WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT AND COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ICRC. WE SUPPORT THEIR IMPORTANT HUMANITARIAN MISSION AND RECOGNIZE THEIR POSITION OF NEUTRALITY ON THESE ISSUES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO RESPECT THE PRIVATE NATURE OF THESE TYPES OF COMMUNICATIONS UNLESS DISCLOSURE BECOMES ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY OR SERVES SOME HUMANITARIAN PURPOSE.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DOS-001834
REVIEW AUTHORITY: CHARLES L DARTS
UNCLASSIFIED
DATE/CASE ID: 14 DEC 2004 200303827
From-T-153 P.028/033 F-926
Fab-13-2002 11:43pmFUNCLASSIFIED
For Background Only:
The ICRC is an impartial, neutral, and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and to provide them with assistance. Its reports are designed to facilitate cooperation with the Detaining country in an effort to ensure proper treatment under the Geneva Conventions and the laws and customs of war. Such reports contain candid views of the ICRC, and may also contain specific and private comments and requests made by the detainees themselves. Public disclosure of such reports could have the effect of discouraging candid discussions and humanitarian cooperation, and therefore, typically is not in the interest of the ICRC or the Detaining country.
DOS-001835
UNCLASSIFIED
From-
Feb-I472002 12:43pmFUNCLASSIFIED T-153 P.020/033 F-926
Drafted:-UPM - DBowker
x76863-Doc 100411 vl-2/11/02
Cleared:-L: ECuitunings ok
DOS-001836
UNCLASSIFIED