State Department Cable to the overseas US Missions with information and talking points to address questions raised by allies in relation to and over the legal status, treatment and detention of detainees at Guantanamo. Specifically, the cable states that the legal status of the detainees is being reviewed, they are provided with humane treatment, including “culturally appropriate" meals, and that the International Committee for the Red Cross is being given access to the detainees while they are at Guantanamo. The cable reminds the Missions that these are “very dangerous” people and that their crimes are still being investigated.
UNCLASSIFIED /2A--0 ezvi
NotesTele
UNCLASSIFIED
TELEGRAM January 30, 2002
RELEASED IN FULL
To: USMISSION USOSCE - IMMEDIATE
Origin: EUR•
SECSTATE WASHDC (STATE 17756 - IMMEDIATE)
From:
PTER, PREL, SOCI
TAGS:
Captions: None
Subject: GUIDANCE ON ISSUES RELATING TO DETENTION AT GUANTANAMO
Ref:
None
1. SUMMARY: IN OFFICIAL OR INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS OF THE
STATUS OF THESE ISSUES POST SHOULD DRAW ON THE POINTS
CONTAINED IN PARA 3. THE ISSUES RELATING TO USG ACTIONS IN
THE WAKE OF SEPTEMBER 11 ARE EVOLVING QUICKLY AND. ARE THE
SUBJECT OF INTENSIVE INTER-AGENCY DELIBERATION AT THIS
!TIME. WE MUST REASSURE THE OSCE THAT WE ARE ATTENTIVE TO
ITS NEED FOR RESPONSES, BUT IT IS CRUCIAL THAT THE USG
RESPONSE BE AS DEFINITIVE AS THE SITUATION WILL ALLOW AT
THIS TIME. WE MUST ASK THE OSCE AND OUR FELLOW
PARTICIPATING STATES FOR PATIENCE. WHEN WE HAVE RESPONSES
TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING RAISED, INCLUDING
THE STATUS OF MILITARY VERSUS CIVILIAN TRIBUNALS AND THE
STATUS OF ALGERIAN DETAINEES, WE WILL PROVIDE POSTS WITH
THAT INFORMATION. END SUMMARY.
2. THE USG IS SEIZED WITH THIS ISSUE. WE ARE COGNIZANT
OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS AN OSCE MEMBER TO RESPOND TO
THE SERIOUS QUESTIONS POSED TO US. WE FEEL OUR ACTIONS
AND OUR PLANS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE USG'S COMMITMENT TO
RESPECT AND SAFEGUARD INTERNATIONAL LAW. THE USG WELCOMES
THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES WITH ITS PARTNERS,
AND WE WILL KEEP THE PC INFORMED AS THIS ISSUE DEVELOPS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST ASK THE OSCE AND OUR FELLOW
PARTICIPATING STATES FOR PATIENCE. WHEN WE HAVE RESPONSES
TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING RAISED, WE WILL
CONTACT YOU WITH THAT INFORMATION.
3. POST IS AUTHORIZED TO DRAW FROM THE FOLLOWING POINTS
Page 1
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: WILLIAM E LANDFAIRUUNCLASSIFIED
DATE/CASE ID: 04 OCT 2004 200303827
DOS-000013
UNCLASSIFIED
NotesTele
IN RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS RAISED IN RELATION TO
DETENTIONS AT GUANTANAMO:
--THE LEGAL STATUS OF DETAINEES IS CURRENTLY BEING
REVIEWED WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION.
--WHATEVER THE LEGAL STATUS OF DETAINEES, THE INDIVIDUALS
BEING DETAINED AT GUANTANAMO ARE BEING TREATED HUMANELY
CONSISTENT WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS.
--EACH DAY THE DETAINEES ARE GIVEN THREE CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE MEALS.
--IT IS OF COURSE THE CASE THAT THESE DETAINEES ARE VERY
DANGEROUS PEOPLE, AND ALL APPROPRIATE SECURITY PRECAUTIONS
ARE BEING TAKEN.
--WE ARE CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN
THE DETAINEES AND AL QAEDA, AND ARE COLLECTION ANY
RELEVANT INFORMATION CONCERNING CRIMES THAT MAY HAVE
COMMITTED.
--THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE RED CROSS IS BEING
GIVEN ACCESS TO THE DETAINEES AT GUANTANAMO TO INSPECT THE
CONDITIONS THERE.
POWELL
Additional Addressees:
None
cc:
AMEMBASSY LISBON
Distribution:
TED5654
ORIGIN EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00.ACQ-00 CA-01
AID-00 AMAD-00 A-00.
CCO-00 CG-00.
.
CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 INL-00 DODE-00
DOEE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00.ED-01.
EB-00.FAAE-00
FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00.H-01.
HHS-01.TEDE-00 INR-00
INSE-00 L-00.M-00.NRCE-00 NSAE-00
VCE-00.AC-01.
NSCE-00 OCS-03 OMB-01.
PC-01.PRS-00
PA-00.PM-00.
ACE-00 P-00.
SP-00.TEST-00 TRSE-00
SCT-00.SS-00.
T-00.
USIE-00 USSS-00 ASDS-01 SNIS-00 NISC-00 PMB-00
Page 2
UNCLASSIFIED
DOS-000014
UNCLASSIFIED
NotesTele
DSCC-00 DRL-02 iNFAT-00 SAS-00.
.
G-00.
/013R
017756
SOURCE:.
KODAKC.030004
DRAFTED BY: EUR/RPM:GMFREDERICK:GMF -- 01/29/02 67291
APPROVED BY: EUR/RPM:SKINNERC
DRL/ML:ELBINGERL EUR/PPD:WHITMAND L/HRR:ASURENA
L/PM:DKAYE L/EUR:JDOROSIN
.5F2OBA 300126Z /38
O 300119Z JAN 02
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE
INFO AMEMBASSY LISBON IMMEDIATE
OSCE POST COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS STATE 017756
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER, PREL, SOCI,
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE ON ISSUES RELATING TO DETENTION AT
GUANTANAMO
Page 3
UNCLASSIFIED
DOS-000015