MORE ON EU SUPPORT FOR IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION,

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 008013 SIPDIS USDOC FOR A/S LASH TREASURY FOR OASIA - LARRY MCDONALD E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2009 TAGS: PREL ECON EFIN EAID JO IZ EU SUBJECT: MORE ON EU SUPPORT FOR IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION, UPCOMING ELECTIONS REF: A. BRUSSELS 4025 ¶B. AMMAN 7841 Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES A.I. DAVID HALE, REASONS: 1.4 (B & D) ¶1. (C) European Commission (EC) Iraq Delegation chief Ana Gallo Alvarez provided additional information to us on planned EU support for Iraq reconstruction and elections (ref A) during a meeting in Amman on September 21. According to Alvarez (who resides in Amman pending improvement in the security situation in Baghdad),the EU is prepared to provide Euros 30 million in grants to the International Reconstruction Trust Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) election trust fund. Alvarez said that the grant, to be announced at or before the upcoming October 13-14 Tokyo conference, will consist of Euros 15 million in new funds and Euros 15 million in reprogrammed 2004 IRRFI assistance. ¶2. (C) While confirming that the EC will not send an observer mission to Iraq due to the security situation, Alvarez said that the EU is looking for ways to provide indirect support, e.g., through training of other election observers, NGOs, Iraqi election officials, and/or other election-related assistance to be provided to the UN electoral team in Baghdad. She confirmed that an EC exploratory committee, probably led by a Director General, will come to Amman during the first week of October. In addition to meeting with UN, UNDP, and Iraqi electoral commission members, Alvarez said that the committee (which will not be travelling to Iraq) would appreciate consultations and/or inputs from knowledgeable USG officials in Iraq. We agreed to pass on this request, and offered and to provide whatever assistance we can to facilitate receipt of such information ¶3. (U) Baghdad Minimize Considered. HALE