Categories
WikiLeaks: 2009-12-07: 09BAGHDAD3154: Compensation Finalized...
VZCZCXRO9358
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3154/01 3411247
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 071247Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5649
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003154
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2019
TAGS: KIRF SOCI IZ
SUBJECT: COMPENSATION FINALIZED TO REPAIR "HEART" OF IRAQ'S
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
REF: 2008 BAGHDAD 2326
Classified By: Political Counselor Yuri Kim for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On November 20, a compensation agreement in
the amount of USD $981,405 was finalized between MNF-I and
the Chaldean Church of Iraq for rents incurred from the use
of and damages caused to the Babel College seminary that
Coalition forces occupied from March 1, 2007 until November
5, 2008 as part of efforts to bring stability to Baghdad.
Payment of the agreed sum in the coming days, from U.S. Army
funds, will bring to a close compensation claims made by the
Chaldean Church for Coalition Forces' use of the facility,
which had been a top priority of church leaders in their
meetings with the Embassy. Church leaders tell us that the
money will be used to repair the seminary -- which they view
as the "heart" of Iraq's Christian community because of its
role in training new priests from all rites -- so that it can
be reopened in time for the 2010 fall semester. END SUMMARY.
--------------------------------------------- ---
COMPENSATING THE CHURCH FOR USE OF BABEL COLLEGE
--------------------------------------------- ---
¶2. (C) Within Iraq, Babel College is the only seminary
institution that is accredited to train new priests
domestically to service the country's Christian community.
In January 2007, as a result of the deteriorating security
situation in Baghdad, Church officials decided to close the
Babel College facility and relocate it on temporary basis to
the Ankawa area of Erbil in the Kurdistan Region. Since
2003, Babel College has averaged 15 graduates a year although
only 10 were graduated last year. As the college shut its
doors to students, the First Brigade Combat team of the
Fourth Infantry Division (1st BCT/4th ID) took up residence
at the facility on March 1, 2007 in order to provide security
to the Haidar-Mekaniks neighborhood of Baghdad. When the
Brigade pulled out in November 2008 in response to an
improved security situation, church leaders claimed that
Babel College had suffered damage as a result of the military
presence and that the facility was unusable. The Church also
claimed that Coalition Forces had failed to prevent looting
and vandalism of adjacent church properties.
¶3. (C) In order to bring the matter to an amicable
conclusion, 1st BCT/4th ID recommended to MND-B and higher
headquarters to sign a lease to pay "rent" for the 1st
BCT/4th ID's use of the property from March 1, 2007 until
November 5, 2008 as well as provide money for structural
damage and items damaged during the use of the property and
facilities. The total amount provided as part of the
agreement was USD $981,405, including USD $282,000 for use
and the balance for damages. Due to the large sum and the
multiple federal fiscal years funding required, the process
took longer and needed special approval from Army Central
Command. After a year of waiting, the legal documents for
the lease were finally signed on November 18 with the Dean of
Babel College, Bishop Jacques Isaac. The lease agreement
also represented the last of five compensation claims agreed
to between Coalition Forces and the Church for facilities in
the vicinity of Babel College. The previous four claims were
settled relatively quickly in 2008 for a total of USD
$95,000, and the money was used to repair the church of St.
Peter's/St. Paul's adjacent to Babel College in the
Haidar-Mekaniks neighborhood.
--------------------------------------------- ----
REPAIRING THE HEART OF IRAQ'S CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
--------------------------------------------- ----
Q-------------------------------------------- -----
¶4. (C) At the signing, Bishop Isaac stated that the money
would be used to restore the College building, acquire new
furniture, and rebuild the library which houses a number of
ancient manuscripts maintained by the Chaldean Church.
During a prior engagement, Isaac told Poloff that Babel
College represented the "heart" of Iraq's Christian community
given its role in training priests from all of the various
rites of the Catholic Church present in the country. Papal
Nuncio Francis Chullikat stated that he was very pleased by
the finalization of the compensation agreement and expressed
hope that the repairs could be made in order to have the
facility operational for the fall semester in 2010.
¶5. (C) COMMENT: The issue of compensation for Babel College
was one of the Chaldean Church's primary concerns in its
dealings with the Embassy over the past year, with senior
church leaders raising the issue at every opportunity. The
finalization of the compensation agreement thus represents a
major accomplishment for the Embassy and MNF-I in its
dealings with Iraq's Christian community. Over the
long-term, the repair and reopening of the Babel College
seminary will be another step in improving the conditions for
the Christian community in Iraq. END COMMENT.
BAGHDAD 00003154 002 OF 002
HILL
Do you have any related information or suggestions? Please email them.