IRAQ - BRUSSELS CONFERENCE AND JEC: CHARGE,S

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002457

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2015
TAGS: ECON PREL IZ ECON
SUBJECT: IRAQ - BRUSSELS CONFERENCE AND JEC: CHARGE,S
MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER

REF: STATE 106124

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James F. Jeffrey for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Following up DCM's meeting with Finance Minister
Allawi (see SEPTEL),Charge on June 9 delivered REFTEL
demarche to Prime Minister Ja'afari. (NOTE: Charge stressed
donors' concerns about five-cent gasoline and free food, and
provided REFTEL talking points in a non-paper verbally, but
did include verbal points in the paper. END NOTE).


2. (C) Ja'afari nodded vigorously in affirmation of Charge's
points on the need for reform of its fuel subsidy system, but
did not commit to any specific date.


3. (C) Noting the importance of Iraq putting into place a
cohesive structure for donor assistance coordination, Charge
also stressed the critical role to be played by Minister of
Planning Saleh in the country's reconstruction efforts.


4. (C) With regard to JEC deliverable agreements, Ja'afari
asked for a detailed briefing. Embassy will follow up
soonest.
Jeffrey