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Viewing cable 07BERLIN524, MURAT KURNAZ: ANOTHER BUNDESTAG REQUEST FOR

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07BERLIN524 2007-03-15 11:14 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Berlin
VZCZCXRO6148
PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHLZ
DE RUEHRL #0524/01 0741114
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151114Z MAR 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7489
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJC/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0331
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 0627
RHMFISS/CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ USAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/HQ USEUCOM LO WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 000524 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KJUS KLIG PREL GM
SUBJECT: MURAT KURNAZ: ANOTHER BUNDESTAG REQUEST FOR 
INFORMATION 
 
REF: A. BERLIN 317 
     B. 06 BERLIN 3555 
     C. BERLIN 61 
     D. BERLIN 92 
 
1. (SBU) On March 2, 2007 Ambassador Timken received another 
letter from the chairman of the Bundestag's Committee of 
Inquiry looking into allegations of renditions, the 
activities of the German intelligence services related to the 
war in Iraq, and the detention in Guantanamo of the 
German-born Turkish national Murat Kurnaz.  The letter is in 
German with an English translation supplied by the Bundestag 
(text in para 6 below).  In the letter, Chairman Siegfried 
Kauder (CDU/CSU) asks the USG to provide all documents of the 
U.S. Department of Defense, CIA, and the CTC in Guantanamo 
pertaining to Murat Kurnaz. 
 
2. (SBU) This is the most recent of several letters Committee 
Chairman Kauder has sent to the Ambassador requesting the USG 
either to produce testimony or evidence for the Committee's 
investigation.  Post has transmitted the previous letters 
(refs A and B) to Washington with a request for advice on how 
or whether the Ambassador or another Embassy Berlin official 
should respond to the Chairman of the Bundestag's Committee 
of Inquiry.  To date the Embassy has not received responses 
to any of the earlier requests. 
 
3. (SBU) We understand that Kauder does not expect a 
favorable response from the USG, but that he would appreciate 
an acknowledgment of receipt of the letters and perhaps an 
explanation of why the USG chooses not to comply with the 
committee's requests.  The Embassy requests some guidance on 
whether or how to respond. 
 
4. (SBU) In a separately but related development, the German 
State Prosecutor's Office in Tuebingen has contacted the 
Staff Judge Advocate, Stuttgart Law Center, with requests 
regarding Kurnaz (refs C and D).  As above, the Mission and 
the Staff Judge Advocate would appreciate some guidance on 
whether or how to respond. 
 
5. (SBU) For Washington's reference regarding previous 
requests: 
 
-- Berlin 317: Chairman Kauder requests the testimony of 
American official "Steve H." who allegedly accompanied German 
officials who interviewed Kurnaz at Guantanamo. 
 
-- 06 Berlin 3555: Chairman Kauder requests copies of any 
videotapes made of German officials interviewing Kurnaz at 
Guantanamo. 
 
-- Berlin 61: Tuebingen Chief Public Prosecutor Michael Pfohl 
requests information about trucks that clean latrines in 
Khandahar and someone who could testify on the subject. 
 
-- Berlin 92: Tuebingen Prosecutor Pfohl clarifies and 
expands his request in Berlin 61. 
 
6. (SBU) Following is the text of the February 28 letter: 
 
(begin text of letter) 
 
The Honorable 
Mr. William R. Timken, Jr. 
Ambassador of the United States of America. 
Neustaedtische Kirchstrasse 4-5 
10117 Berlin 
 
- By courier - 
 
28 February 2007 
 
Dear Mr. Ambassador, 
 
On 7 April 2006, the German Bundestag adopted a resolution 
establishing the 1st Committee of Inquiry of the 16th 
electoral term.  Under the mandate established by Parliament, 
the Committee of Inquiry is to clarify still unresolved 
questions, make assessments and draw the necessary 
 
BERLIN 00000524  002 OF 002 
 
 
conclusions, among other things "in connection with a report 
presented by the German Federal Government on events relating 
to the Iraq War and combating international terrorism." 
 
Please refer to enclosure 1 for details of the Committee of 
Inquiry's mandate. 
 
At its meeting on 22 February 2007, the Committee of Inquiry 
decided to cordially request the Government of the United 
States of America to support the parliamentary work of the 
Committee. 
 
On behalf of the members of the Committee, I would like to 
express the hope that you will find yourself able to provide 
information of importance for the Committee of Inquiry in 
fulfilling its mandate. 
 
In line with the Committee's Decision to take Evidence, which 
I also enclose for your information (Decision to take 
Evidence 16-266, enclosure 2), we request your assistance 
regarding the questioning of Mr. Murat Kurnaz by German 
officials in Guantanamo. 
 
In this context, the Committee of Inquiry requests all 
documents of the US Department of Defense, CIA headquarters 
and the CTC in Guantanamo pertaining to Murat Kurnaz, in 
particular regarding the question of his possible release, as 
well as all documents relating to communication with German 
offices about this case. 
 
I would like to thank you for your readiness to receive and 
examine the requests of the German Bundestag. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Sgd. Siegfried Kauder 
Chairman of the 1st Committee of Inquiry 
 
 
GERMAN BUNDESTAG 
16th electoral term 
1st Committee of Inquiry 
The Chairman 
 
11011 Berlin, 22 February 2007 
Platz der Republik 1 
 
(end text of letter) 
 
(begin text of attachment) 
 
At its 31st meeting, on 22 February 2007, the 1st Committee 
of Inquiry adopted: 
 
Decision to take Evidence 16-266 
 
In accordance with Section Ill of the Committee of Inquiry's 
mandate (Bundestag printed paper 16/990, 16/1179 and 16/3028, 
16/3191), evidence is to be taken by obtaining the following 
documents: 
 
All documents of the US Department of Defense, CIA 
headquarters and the CTC in Guantanamo pertaining to Murat 
Kurnaz, in particular regarding the question of his possible 
release, as well as all documents relating to communication 
with German offices about this case. 
 
The Committee of Inquiry asks that the government of the 
United States of America be cordially requested via 
diplomatic channels to transmit the requested documents to 
the German Bundestag. 
 
Siegfried Kauder 
Chairman of the Committee of Inquiry 
 
(end text of attachment) 
TIMKEN JR