DEMARCHE DELIVERED: WORLD BANK ON-SITE PRESENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004979 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2015 TAGS: EFIN PREL KU SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: WORLD BANK ON-SITE PRESENCE IN IRAQ REF: STATE 215616 Classified By: Economic Counselor Stephen Carrig for reasons 1.4 (b) an d (d). (C) On December 3, Econcouns and Econoff met with Americas Department Director Ambassador Khalid Al-Babtain and his deputy, Mohammad Shamlan, to deliver the demarche relating to the proposal to establish World Bank (WB) offices in the International Zone (IZ) in Baghdad (Reftel). Econcouns congratulated Al-Babtain on the GOK's election as an Executive Director of the WB. Econcouns then stated that the U.S. is seeking GOK support for these new offices, as they will become increasingly important in support of WB programs after the new Iraqi government is elected in December 2005. In response to Al-Babtain's question about why the WB needed offices in Baghdad, especially since it regionalizes its offices in many parts of the world, Econcouns replied that offices in the IZ would be crucial to support WB programs ongoing in Iraq and to provide policy advice to the Iraqi Government. Al-Babtain stated that he will relay the request for support and will respond later with more information. LEBARON