From:
Der Spiegel
<<156299>>
6/2/2008 8:59
08TIRANA411
Embassy Tirana
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
VZCZCXRO8548
PP RUEHPOD
DE RUEHTI #0411/01 1540859
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 020859Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7128
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 3273
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0001
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1239
RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI 0072
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 0053
RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 0792
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1235
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0295
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 0069
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 5752
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0722
RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE 4501
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 3265
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0929
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0759
RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA 3750
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3518
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2403
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
TAGS: PREF, PHUM, PREL, AL
SUBJECT: UIGHURS (AND OTHERS) IN ALBANIA
REF: 05/08/2008 KOTHEIMER-THIEDE E-MAILS
*** Maschinell erstellte Kleinschreibung, nur Satzanfaenge gross. ***
Unclas section 01 of 06 tirana 000411
Sensitive
sipdis
E.o. 12958: n/a
Tags: pref, phum, prel, al
Subject: uighurs (and others) in albania
Ref: 05/08/2008 kotheimer-thiede e-mails
-------
summary
-------
1. (SBU) The Government of Albania accepted eight former
Guantanamo detainees as refugees -- five Uighurs, and one
each Algerian, Egyptian, and Uzbek. All the refugees now
live XXXXX in apartments
rented for them by the GOA. The GOA is providing language
and vocational training. It pays the refugees a monthly
stipend. The former detainees have faced some bureaucratic
hurdles in documentation and receipt of assistance. The GOA
has appointed a social worker to assist them, but his powers
are limited These benefits ermanent housing, jobs, and documentation
which allows travel. They, their lawyers, and the ICRC have
contacted the Embassy. Poloffs met with two of the refugees
on May 21. END SUMMARY.
------------------------------
current status of the refugees
------------------------------
2. (U) As is publicly known, the GOA has hosted eight
former detainees since their release from Guantanamo. Five
Uighurs arrived in Albania in May 2006. An Uzbek, Algerian
and Egyptian arrived in November of that year. The former
detainees have acquired refugee status XXXXX. Most
have studied Albanian,
and some speak it with some comfort. The Uzbek speaks
excellent English; one Uighur and the Algerian may also speak
English. The GOA has begun a second course of Albanian
language studies for all but the Egyptian, who has requested
an Albanian-Arabic speaker for a teacher. The UNHCR has
agreed to try to find such an individual. Three Uighurs are
taking vocational training as auto mechanics. Two refugees
are regular participants in the XXXXX,
which has a Russian-speaking "club" where they have been
welcomed.
3. (U) One Uighur, the Algerian and the Uzbek are studying
at XXXXX. According
to the Uzbek at a May 21 meeting with Poloffs, the studies of
all three individuals are funded by friends or relatives
outside Albania. The GOA found apartments for the refugees,
who all live in the same building, according to the ICRC.
The GOA recently increased the monthly stipend to the
refugees to 40,000 lek (about $510), which is their allotment
to pay for phone and electricity charges, rent, and all
expenses. (The increase resulted from the increased cost of
living.) The eighth refugee, a Uighur, was able to travel to
Sweden, where he has a sister, and has sought asylum there
according to local media reports. The GOA also appointed a
social worker, Mr. XXXXX, to help the refugees integrate.
Similar benefits are not available to other refugees in
Albania.
4. (SBU) The Egyptian, who has a Sudanese family, is,
according to ICRC representatives, the most challenging case
with a "complicated personality." In a December 2007 meeting
with XXXXX, the ICRC XXXXX
Tirana 00000411 002 of 006
who leads efforts for the detainees, was concerned
that the Egyptian might be unstable. In May 2008, XXXXX
had a longer conversation with the refugee through a
translator and found his condition improved. However, the
Egyptian has few local contacts outside the mosque and is not
seeking work. (Note: XXXXX is not a medical
professional. He has long experience in refugee work and
seeks to be objective. He speaks Russian and Arabic and so
can interact directly with some of the refugees.)
----------------
outside interest
----------------
5. (SBU) The ICRC has helped with reintegration since May
2006, originally visiting approximately every two months with
a small team, including professional Uighur and Arabic
translators. Alternate visits were without interpretation.
We learned of ICRC's involvement and met XXXXX in
December 2007; we saw him again in May 2008. ICRC shares the
findings of its visits with Albanian authorities and the
UNHCR in Albania. The ICRC's interest in the refugees was to
facilitate initial steps of integration into host country
society. XXXXX told us the ICRC would be closing its
Macedonia office. He may remain through 2008, and if so he
would visit the refugees again. However, ICRC contact with
the refugees will decline under any circumstances.
6. (SBU) Post has also been contacted by various lawyers
for the refugees. Asked by some of them to find an
appropriate USG contact point, we learned from Department
(ref) that post should not engage directly with the lawyers.
We shared the Department of Justice contact provided by
Department and informed them of our inability to continue
direct contacts. We have also heard sporadically from
journalists interested in the case and from private citizens
who want to help the refugees. We have been unable to
provide much assistance or information in these cases.
ICRC's XXXXX was pleased to learn of the lawyers'
interest as he said they would be a more appropriate contact
for the refugees now that "ICRC had reached the limits of
mediation." He said the Center for Constitutional Rights in
the U.S. was an organization that had taken interest in
Guantanamo detainees and had helped to collect funds for some
of those in Albania, as well.
----------------------------
from the refugees themselves
----------------------------
7. (SBU) Recently, some of the refugees sought contact with
the Embassy. They showed up unannounced three times asking
to see someone and spoke with the A/RSO. Post was unable to
accommodate the unscheduled demands for a meeting. A/RSO
asked the refugees to put their concerns in writing. (The
text of the letter from the refugees, dated April 21, follows
at para 18.) When they returned and seemed unwilling to
leave, he explained that they could not simply loiter outside
the Embassy; doing so could prompt removal for security
reasons. The Uzbek (XXXXX) then called Pol-Econ section
chief, who met him and one of the Uighurs (XXXXX)
together with Post's Human Rights Officer on May 21.
8. (U) The Uzbek translated for his Uighur companion. Both
were polite and seemed reasonably cheerful, all things
considered. They complained repeatedly of the unhelpful
attitude displayed by the Ministry of Interior's (MOI)
Refugee Director, XXXXX. One complaint was that when
individuals from Europe had arrived to see them and offered
help, XXXXX prevented contact on the ruse that the refugees
did not speak English, but assured the would-be benefactors
that the refugees were well. They said XXXXX had provided
Tirana 00000411 003 of 006
no assistance, made their lives much more difficult and
refused to forward their complaints. They said Mr. XXXXX,
the social worker, was only allowed to bring them their
money, but had no power to resolve their concerns. They
added that the UNHCR shared their frustration with XXXXX,
but told them they were unable to do anything about her.
9. (U) The refugees told us that before departing
Guantanamo, they were told "in two months (from arrival in
Albania), you will have a house, a job, money, documents.
You will have everything." XXXXX added that he asked how
much money he would have and was told he would have enough to
stand on his own two feet. They said they were not asking
for anything for the four and a half years in Guantanamo, but
wanted help to face the future. The charge of terrorism has
made it impossible for them to find jobs or marry, they said.
They referred repeatedly to a "promise from the State
Department" and "an agreement between the U.S. and Albania."
They said that the previous refugee director told them "you
will have more than others and you will have all in the
agreement." (Note: The lawyers have used similar phrasing
in contacts with Embassy.)
10. (U) In the meeting, the refugees pressed three main
concerns: permanent housing, documents that would allow
travel, and jobs. The Uighur also said having their families
or being able to marry would be important. He said one
Uighur had tried to marry twice. The Albanian women's
fathers had rejected him, one for being a terrorist and the
other for having no home to offer. XXXXX said if they had no
homes, they would have to camp in front of the Embassy. (We
discouraged that as an option.) They also referred to the
possibility of starting their own restaurant, but noted the
extremely high cost of buying or investing in a property to
do so. The monthly stipend is not enough for rent,
electricity, food, and savings on top of that, they
explained. XXXXX complained that, despite the fact that he
has not been using electricity in the warm weather, the GOA
still charged $120/month for electricity. (The refugees
attempt to reduce their electricity use in order to have more
money left for other things; what is not spent on electricity
goes to them.) He said when they complained, they were told
that meter readers simply make up amounts to charge
customers. We noted this was unfortunately a common Albanian
experience.
11. (U) At the close of the meeting, the refugees pressed
us for when they would receive a reply from State. While we
promised to convey their concerns, we urged them not to wait
for a reply before beginning to consider how they might best
get their lives in order.
---------------
icrc evaluation
---------------
12. (SBU) XXXXX was somewhat concerned with the
refugees' situation in December 2007. He was frustrated by
an apparent unwillingness by the MOI -- XXXXX, who had
previously been helpful -- to meet,
despite repeated attempts well in advance of his visit to set
an appointment. The refugees were having considerable
difficulty determining where to get their identification
documentation renewed. They believed they were being
overcharged for electricity and could not get receipts for
electricity payments made by the GOA on their behalf. There
were delays in delivery of their monthly stipends. In
subsequent meetings with the GOA, we urged them to live up to
their obligations to these and all refugees, noting that as
well as the moral obligation, embarrassing articles about GOA
treatment of the refugees could be distracting in the (then)
Tirana 00000411 004 of 006
run-up to a potential NATO invitation. We urged the GOA to
meet its responsibilities to important international NGOs
such as the ICRC. We also advised XXXXX to utilize the
ICRC's own contacts in the MOD and MFA (from other projects
and responsibilities) to facilitate the contacts it needed.
13. (SBU) In May 2008, XXXXX reported no further
difficulties making contact with GOA officials. He
characterized the refugees as "reasonably well off." Their
situation was "definitely not about life and death, or strong
suffering." He said there would likely be periodic bouts of
depression and concern; this is not uncommon in similar
situations. He said depression in refugees can come in
waves. Physically, they were well and had adjusted.
XXXXX said he understood the refugees to be deeply
worried about their future. They feared they may end up
sleeping in the streets. Most, he believed, were more or
less willing to integrate. He confirmed (nonjudgmentally)
that the refugees expect assistance from U.S. authorities.
14. (SBU) The refugees had outlined for XXXXX
essentially the same three concerns they did with us. They
want to be able to travel. ICRC had explained, as we did,
that the problem was not strictly one of documentation;
nonetheless, the refugees pressed the ICRC for U.S. help to
obtain expedited Albanian citizenship. XXXXX said that
according to the UNHCR, acquiring Albanian citizenship is
normally a five-year process, unless a person marries an
Albanian. In the case of marriage, the process is reduced to
three years. The refugees had asked the GOA to give them
houses. While with Poloffs the request was for more general
employment, with ICRC they particularly focused on help
getting a restaurant.
15. (SBU) XXXXX noted that this last request indicated
some thought, initiative, and willingness to integrate.
While neither ICRC, UNHCR, nor the GOA (nor, presumably, the
USG) is able to give them money to buy a restaurant, if the
lawyers could tap into private interest and work through a
group like the Center for Constitutional Rights, it might be
possible to raise funds to help the refugees, he mused.
XXXXX observed that when information about the refugees
is shared, the reaction of most people (Albanians and others)
is one of sympathy.
-------
comment
-------
16. (SBU) As ICRC noted, the refugees are not at this time
destitute or suffering. Their monthly stipend is fairly
comfortable by Albanian standards. The bureaucratic hurdles
they have encountered are not uncommon for any Albanian, but
the refugees are at a disadvantage culturally and
linguistically to face them. A poor Albanian might have a
family network for support, live at home, or have a house
with room to grow or raise some supplemental food.
17. (SBU) Post does not have the human or financial
resources to provide full-time social work assistance to the
eight refugees, although we can follow their condition
periodically as a human rights issue. In some of the
communications we have had with private citizens (usually by
e-mail), we have noticed a desire to help these individuals.
Department may want to consider whether to encourage the
lawyers, together with the Center for Constitutional Rights,
to develop a fundraising/support network for the detainees.
(The Center for Constitutional Rights can, according to ICRC,
facilitate delivery of money or goods.) While there are
potentially negative PR considerations to such an idea, the
unfavorable PR from media attention to unhappy refugees also
Tirana 00000411 005 of 006
could be a bar to other countries we may want to consider
future resettlement. The prospect of eight ex-detainees
camping at the Embassy's front door, being dragged away by
the Albanian police, is another PR nightmare to be avoided.
------------------------
letter from the refugees
------------------------
18. (U) Begin text, letter to Embassy from refugees:
April 21, 2008 Tirana
American Consulate:
We, XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX, and
XXXXX, four of us, have been in Albania for two years by
the arrangement of the United States of America. You told us
in Guantanimo (sic) that by two months in Albania you would
help arrange passports, housing and find us work. As of
today Albania has not given us passports (with the documents
that they did give us we are unable to even venture out from
our present place). As for housing they gave us a place to
live for two years. After two years have passed it is still
not settled where we will live.
We told all this to the Albania interior ministry. We told
them if they could not give us work then please give us some
finances so we can start our own business and make a living.
The person there named XXXXX told us that their country
doesn't have any welfare money. So six months ago we gave a
written request to the UNHCR asking for money to open up a
restaurant. At that time XXXXX (UNHCR worker) said they
would help us. But now XXXXX says it takes a lot of money
to open a restaurant and that by themselves they cannot get
enough funds. He told us to write to the American Consulate
and request help, saying he would talk with you also to get
some help.
XXXXX, from the Albania interior ministry, said that they
will only give us rent and money to live on for two years,
and then we are on our own.
To the Head of the Consul:
We originally put great hope in America and Albania, but now
we haven't obtained anything. On the contrary, XXXXX
from the Albania interior ministry has falsely told everyone
that we eight people are doing well. The groups that would
help us have all disappeared and have withheld the things
that would help us. Every month the money we get to live on
comes late. If we don't phone them asking for it for one or
two days they don't bring it.
If after two years Albania doesn't give us the opportunity to
make a living or give us a stable home, where will we live,
what will we eat then? XXXXX has not given us enough funds
to study language and she says that they don't have money.
Three of us ) XXXXX, XXXXX, and XXXXX
have asked for funds to open a restaurant.
If the UNHCR and you do not help us with the things necessary
to live, passports and funds to open a restaurant we will be
unable to make a living because to rent an place for one
month costs from $200-300. Electricity and water are at
least $60. With only $40 left how can we survive?
Dear sir/madam, being taken to Guantanimo (sic) has destroyed
our lives. Although in the end we were acquitted of any
wrong, we still have not been given the opportunity to live a
Tirana 00000411 006 of 006
normal life. On the contrary our lives are turned upside
down by people's prejudices.
So we are asking the American government and the American
Consul to give us the opportunity to live peacefully. Please
help us straighten out our lives. If the United States of
America and Albania are unwilling to help us with getting a
home, passports and work, please move us to a better country.
We are appealing to the American Consulate because the
government of Albania only does what the American government
tells them to do. We've come to understand this very
clearly. They will not help us on their own. From now on we
will not talk with XXXXX at the Interior Ministry
because it doesn't help and we are tired of it. Now we are
seeking the American Consulate to help us.
Sincerely
/s/
XXXXX
End text.
Withers