DEMARCHE DELIVERED REGARDING GOI REQUEST FOR WORLD

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 004942 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EFIN IZ PREL IBRD SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED REGARDING GOI REQUEST FOR WORLD BANK OFFICE IN BAGHDAD REF: STATE 222676 ¶1. Embassy transmitted demarche talking points to the Special Assistant to Planning Minister Barham Salih on December 11. In a telecon with the advisor, we were told that Barham Salih remains intensely interested in establishing a permanent World Bank (WB) Office here. He also promised to incorporate our points into a letter to WB President Wolfowitz for the Minister's signature. We offered to assist in transmitting the correspondence. ¶2. The Planning Minister is currently travelling in Northern Iraq as compaigning for the national election winds down. Our interlocutor promised to try to get the Minister's approval of the letter text even before his return to Baghdad. Embassy will follow up. KHALILZAD