TFIZ01: UPDATE ON FAO AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 002102 SIPDIS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 02102 01 OF 04 141628Z AIDAC FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME SENSITIVE STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, EUR/NE, EUR/WE, SA/INS, IO/EDA SWINNICK USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LPANASUK USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS JOINT STAFF FOR JE/J4/J5 GENEVA FOR RMA BRUSSELS FOR USEU NSC FOR JDWORKEN USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR UN WFP EAID UN WFP EAID UN WFP EAID UN WFP SUBJECT: TFIZ01: UPDATE ON FAO AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS IN IRAQ REF: (A) ROME 00409 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. NOT SUITABLE FOR INTERNET POSTING. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 02102 01 OF 04 141628Z ¶1. (SBU) US MISSION REVIEWED WITH FAO ON MAY 6 THE STATUS OF FAO PLANS TO RESUSCITATE ITS INTERVENTIONS IN IRAQ, AND PARTICULARLY IN THE NORTHERN GOVERNORATES. FAO INTERNATIONAL STAFF IS BEING REDEPLOYED IN INCREASING NUMBERS - SOME 50 WILL BE POSITIONED IN THE NORTHERN SECTOR BY-MID JUNE. FAO (AS A RESULT OF UNSC 1472 AND 1476) HAS REVIEWED SOME USD 1.5 BILLION IN CONTRACTS RELATED TO IMPORTATION OF AG- RELATED GOODS, BUT HAS PRIORITIZED ONLY USD 81 MILLION AS CONTRACTS "DOABLE" BEFORE THE JUNE 3 DEADLINE. IN ADDITION, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE "13 PERCENT ACCOUNT," FAO HAS APPROXIMATELY USD 215 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR EXPENDITURE, SUBJECT TO AN OIP "GO-AHEAD" FROM THE UNSC. US MISSION WILL ENDEAVOR TO HELP ADDRESS FAO-USG COMMUNICATION ISSUES AND IDENTIFY THE PRIME ENTITIES ON THE U.S. SIDE TO SERVE AS CONDUITS FOR FAO INFORMATION/INQUIRIES. END SUMMARY. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (SBU) ON MAY 6, 2003, FODAG MISSION REPS TIM LAVELLE (USAID),ANITA MENGHETTI (USAID),AND KATIE NISHIURA (USDA/FAS) MET WITH LAURENT THOMAS, CHIEF, SPECIAL EMERGENCY PROGRAMMES SERVICE, EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AND REHABILITATION DIVISION, FAO, REGARDING FAO'S ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION IN IRAQ AND PROSPECTS FOR RENEWED FAO ACTIVITIES IN THAT COUNTRY. THOMAS SAID IT WAS TIME FOR FAO TO GET "BACK IN BUSINESS IN IRAQ" AND EXPRESSED EAGERNESS FOR HIS FIELD STAFF TO RESUME ACTIVITIES ON THE GROUND. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT FAO WAS BEGINNING TO PREPARE FOR HANDING OVER RESPONSIBILITY FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT TO THE NEW UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 02102 01 OF 04 141628Z GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR. ¶3. (SBU) THOMAS PROVIDED A SNAPSHOT OF FAO'S FINANCIAL PICTURE VIS-A-VIS IRAQ. THOMAS REPORTED THAT UNDER THE OIL- FOR-FOOD PROGRAM, FAO (AS A RESULT OF UNSC 1472 AND LATER 1476) HAS REVIEWED SOME USD 1.5 BILLION IN CONTRACTS RELATED TO IMPORTATION OF AG-RELATED GOODS, BUT HAS PRIORITIZED ONLY USD 81 MILLION AS CONTRACTS "DOABLE" BEFORE THE JUNE 3 DEADLINE. THOMAS COMMENTED THAT IF THERE IS AN EXTENSION OF UNSC 1476 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2003, THEN FAO WOULD BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF "DOABLE" CONTRACTS UP TO AROUND USD 200 MILLION IN AGRICULTURAL OFF IMPORTS. BEYOND THIS, FAO, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE "13 PERCENT ACCOUNT," HAS APPROXIMATELY USD 215 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR EXPENDITURE, SUBJECT TO AN OIP "GO-AHEAD" FROM THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL (UNSC). NOTE: FAO IS CONCERNED THAT THESE FUNDS CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE SO AS NOT TO DISRUPT ON GOING AND PLANNED AGRICULTURAL INTERVENTIONS. AS PER FAO, MOST OF THE LOCAL NORTHERN GOVERNORATE AUTHORITIES SHARE THIS VIEW. END NOTE. ¶4. (SBU) IN SUMMARY, IT SEEMS FAO HAS AVAILABLE TO IT (OR UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ0070 PAGE 01 ROME 02102 02 OF 04 141628Z ACTION AID-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 INL-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 VCE-00 NEA-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 PER-00 IRM-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 SA-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 PRM-00 DRL-01 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W -------------- 64FD36 141635Z /38 P 141417Z MAY 03 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9877 INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY AMMAN AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS AMEMBASSY KUWAIT AMEMBASSY NICOSIA AMEMBASSY CANBERRA USEU BRUSSELS 3226 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USNATO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK JOINT STAFF WASHDC USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 ROME 002102 SIPDIS AIDAC UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 02102 02 OF 04 141628Z FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME SENSITIVE STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, EUR/NE, EUR/WE, SA/INS, IO/EDA SWINNICK USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LPANASUK USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS JOINT STAFF FOR JE/J4/J5 GENEVA FOR RMA BRUSSELS FOR USEU NSC FOR JDWORKEN USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR UN WFP EAID UN WFP EAID UN WFP EAID UN WFP SUBJECT: TFIZ01: UPDATE ON FAO AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS IN IRAQ WILL LIKELY BE ABLE TO ACCESS) SOME FAIRLY SIZEABLE RESOURCES TO CONTINUE ITS AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, PARTICULARLY IF OFF IS EXTENDED. NOTE: WE DID NOT DISCUSS THE SCENARIO OF OFF NOT BEING EXTENDED. END NOTE. ¶5. (SBU) THOMAS EXPRESSED A STRONG DESIRE TO STREAMLINE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN FAO AND THE USG AND TO COOPERATE WITH U.S. AGRICULTURAL AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS IN IRAQ. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT HE WAS INTERESTED IN GOING TO WASHINGTON UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 02102 02 OF 04 141628Z TO MEET WITH APPROPRIATE USG OFFICIALS AND NGO REPRESENTATIVES THERE ON AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES. -------------- NORTHERN IRAQ -------------- ¶6. (SBU) AN INITIAL GROUP OF FAO INTERNATIONAL STAFF ENTERED NORTHERN IRAQ THIS PAST WEEK AND BY MID-JUNE FAO PLANS TO HAVE 50 INTERNATIONALS IN PLACE. DUE TO THE LACK OF DAMAGE DURING THE WAR, ESTABLISHED RELATIONS BETWEEN FAO STAFF AND LOCALS, AND THE EXISTING FAO INFRASTRUCTURE, THOMAS EXPECTS RESUMPTION OF WORK IN THE NORTHERN GOVERNORATES TO BE "AN EASY JOB." ¶7. (SBU) FAO PLANS TO RELEASE A THREE-YEAR BLUEPRINT FOR THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN THE NORTH THIS WEEK. THE PLAN REPRESENTS THE ACCUMULATED KNOW HOW OF THE FAO IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY, AND FAO HOPES TO STIMULATE ACTION WITH ITS "ROLL OUT." FAO ALSO PLANS TO RELEASE OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS A SERIES OF REPORTS ON A VARIETY OF AGRICULTURAL TOPICS, E.G., THOMAS SHOWED US A TWO-INCH THICK DRAFT REPORT ON THE HYDROGEOLOGY OF NORTHERN IRAQ. SIMILAR STUDIES ENCOMPASS THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR, AGRICULTURAL SECTOR REHABILITATION, AND SO ON. ¶8. (SBU) FAO ACTIVITIES IN THE NORTH PRESENTLY DEPEND UPON OIL-FOR-FOOD (OFF) RESOURCES. THOMAS HOPES FOR/ANTICIPATES AN EXTENSION OF SCR 1472/76 FUNDING FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AT PRE-WAR LEVELS THROUGH THE END OF 2003, WITH CONTINUING FUNDING INTO 2004 TO ALLOW FOR PROPER "HAND OVER" UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 02102 02 OF 04 141628Z OF THE EFFORT BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR. -------------- SOUTH/CENTRAL IRAQ -------------- ¶9. (SBU) FAO OFFICE IN BAGHDAD WAS LOOTED AND MUST BE ENTIRELY REBUILT/REFURBISHED. FAO HAS NOT HAD A PERMANENT PRESENCE IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CENTER/SOUTH. FAO'S PLAN IS TO HAVE APPROXIMATELY 20 INTERNATIONAL STAFF IN SITU BY SEPTEMBER. ¶10. (SBU) REPORTEDLY, USD 500 MILLION IN WAREHOUSED AGRICULTURAL INPUTS WERE LOOTED, BUT FAO HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY THIS. ¶11. (SBU) FAO HAS BEEN DISCUSSING WITH WFP A PLAN FOR A JOINT CROP/FOOD ASSESSMENT MISSION IN FIRST WEEK OF JUNE. THERE IS SOME QUESTION, HOWEVER, AS TO WHETHER ADEQUATE SECURITY WILL BE IN PLACE BY THEN. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ0071 PAGE 01 ROME 02102 03 OF 04 141628Z ACTION AID-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 INL-00 USNW-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 NEA-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 IRM-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 SA-00 ECA-00 PRM-00 DRL-01 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W -------------- 64FD3D 141636Z /38 P 141417Z MAY 03 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9878 INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY AMMAN AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS AMEMBASSY KUWAIT AMEMBASSY NICOSIA AMEMBASSY CANBERRA USEU BRUSSELS 3227 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USNATO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK JOINT STAFF WASHDC USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 ROME 002102 SIPDIS AIDAC UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 02102 03 OF 04 141628Z FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME SENSITIVE STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, EUR/NE, EUR/WE, SA/INS, IO/EDA SWINNICK USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LPANASUK USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS JOINT STAFF FOR JE/J4/J5 GENEVA FOR RMA BRUSSELS FOR USEU NSC FOR JDWORKEN USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR UN WFP EAID UN WFP EAID UN WFP EAID UN WFP SUBJECT: TFIZ01: UPDATE ON FAO AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS IN IRAQ -------------- 2003 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION OUTLOOK -------------- ¶12. (SBU) THE LATE SPRING/EARLY SUMMER 2003 CROPS FORECAST FOR IRAQ IS AS FOLLOWS: 850,000 - 1 MILLION METRIC TONS (MT) OF WHEAT; 600,000-700,000 MT BARLEY. NOTE: BARLEY PRODUCTION TREND IS UPWARDS FOR THE NORTHERN REGION DUE TO INCREASING DEMAND FOR ANIMAL FEED, AND POOR PRICES FOR WHEAT (ALLEGEDLY DEPRESSED BY OFF DISTRIBUTIONS). FALL 2003 CROPS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 02102 03 OF 04 141628Z FORECAST: 100,000 MT RICE; 80,000 MT CORN (ASSUMES SEEDED AREA SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR, AND IRRIGATION RESTORED). HARVESTING PROGRESS: SECURITY SITUATION IN THE SOUTH IS LIKELY TO DISRUPT USUAL PATTERN OF "RENTAL" COMBINES, WHO BEGIN TO WORK FIRST IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY AND GRADUALLY FOLLOW THE HARVEST NORTHWARD. ¶13. (SBU) ON THE PRESSING ISSUE OF AERIAL SPRAYING OF DATE PALMS IN THE CENTER/SOUTH GOVERNORATES, THOMAS INFORMED THAT FAO IS COMMITTED TO "MAKE THIS HAPPEN," WITH THE CAVEAT THAT THE SPRAYING BE CONDUCTED AT THE RIGHT TIME, BE DONE PROPERLY, AND BE ACCOMPANIED WITH APPROPRIATE GROUND SURVEYS. ¶14. (SBU) THOMAS SUGGESTED USG/FAO ESTABLISH SPECIFIC CONTACT POINTS TO MANAGE INFORMATION FLOW. FAO IS PRESENTLY BESET BY INQUIRIES FROM MANY POINTS WITHIN THE USG AND WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE DESIGNATION OF A PRIME CONTACT. THOMAS APPRECIATED THE REFERENCE TO FAO IRAQ ACTIVITIES IN THE RECENT U/S FAS J.B.PENN/DAN AMSTUTZ PRESS CONFERENCE. HE BELIEVES FAO CAN WORK CLOSELY WITH MR. AMSTUTZ. ¶15. (SBU) THOMAS FORESEES A ONE YEAR "EXIT STRATEGY" FOR THE HANDOVER OF FAO'S ROGRAM TO NEW GOVERNMENT/PRIVATE SECTOR AND RETUR TO THE USUAL FAO ROLE OF PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASISTANCE. NOTE: FAO HAS JUST HIRED A VERY KNOWLEDGEBLE EX- FAO REP IN IRAQ, AMIR KAHLIL (SUDANESE),WHO WILL NOW SERVE AS AN ADVISER BASED IN NEW YOK CITY. FAO IS ALSO ATTENDING THIS WEEK IN NEW YOK A UN DEVELOPMENT GROUP (UNDG) MEETING ON IRAQ,WITH DAUD KHAN OF THE ORGANIZATION'S INVESTMENT CENTER REPRESENTING FAO. END NOTE. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 02102 03 OF 04 141628Z ¶16. (SBU) THOMAS PROPOSED COMING TO WASHINGTON TO MEET W/USG, AND SUGGESTED IT MAY BE GOOD FOR FAO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR TECHNICAL COOPERATION HENRI CARSALADE (FRENCH CITIZEN) TO ALSO VISIT AT A LATER DATE. THOMAS ALSO PROPOSED MEETING WITH NGOS WHILE IN U.S. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶17. (SBU) US MISSION WILL ENDEAVOR TO HELP ADDRESS FAO-USG COMMUNICATIONS ISSUE AND IDENTIFY THE PRIME ENTITIES ON THE U.S. SIDE TO SERVE AS CONDUITS FOR FAO INFORMATION/INQUIRIES. WE WOULD ALSO BE HAPPY TO ARRANGE THOMAS' VISIT TO WASHINGTON, PREFERABLY WHEN THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE ARE IN TOWN, AND SHORTLY AFTER THE OFFICIAL FAO RELEASE OF ITS AG PLANS FOR THE NORTH. WE HAVE COUNSELED FAO THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO HOLD OFF ON THE HIGHER-LEVEL CARSALADE VISIT FOR THE TIME BEING - SUGGESTING THAT A TECHNICAL-LEVEL CONSULTATION AT THIS JUNCTURE IS PREFERABLE. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ0072 PAGE 01 ROME 02102 04 OF 04 141628Z ACTION AID-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 INL-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 VCE-00 NEA-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 IRM-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 SA-00 PRM-00 DRL-01 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W -------------- 64FD41 141636Z /38 P 141417Z MAY 03 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9879 INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY AMMAN AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS AMEMBASSY KUWAIT AMEMBASSY NICOSIA AMEMBASSY CANBERRA USEU BRUSSELS 3228 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USNATO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK JOINT STAFF WASHDC USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 ROME 002102 SIPDIS AIDAC UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 02102 04 OF 04 141628Z FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME SENSITIVE STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, EUR/NE, EUR/WE, SA/INS, IO/EDA SWINNICK USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LPANASUK USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS JOINT STAFF FOR JE/J4/J5 GENEVA FOR RMA BRUSSELS FOR USEU NSC FOR JDWORKEN USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR UN WFP EAID UN WFP EAID UN WFP EAID UN WFP SUBJECT: TFIZ01: UPDATE ON FAO AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS IN IRAQ HALL UNCLASSIFIED > 2003ROME02102 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED