BAGHDAD PD RESULTS (09/01/05 - 12/24/05)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000017 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV OPRC OIIP KPAO IZ SUBJECT: BAGHDAD PD RESULTS (09/01/05 - 12/24/05) ¶1. Summary. Embassy Baghdad PAS programming (09/01/05- 12/24/05) addressed post's MPP themes of Democracy, Stability, Prosperity, and Mutual Understanding. This programming produced positive results from exchange alumni, distribution of books to target audiences in Baghdad and beyond, and a meeting between Iraqi intellectuals and a visiting Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffer. End Summary. -------------- -------------- Exchange Participants Run in December 15 Elections -------------- -------------- ¶2. Dr. Salam A. Mahdi, Ministry for Women's Affairs advisor and an alumna of June 2005 International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) project "Women's Leadership and Advocacy," ran as a candidate in the December 15 elections as part of Dr. Laith Kubba's slate "National Peace." Embassy Baghdad's political section nominated Dr. Mahdi for the program. Mithal Al-Alusi's list "Iraqi Nation Party" included Tamathir Al-Jenabi, director of the Iraqi Business Center. Al-Jenabi expects to go to the United States next January for the IVLP project "Women as Economic and Business Leaders." MPP Goal: Democracy -------------- New Code of Conduct for Iraqi Officials -------------- ¶3. Nadia K. Hessin, Ethics Advisor for the Iraq Commission on Public Integrity (CPI),expressed gratitude for an opportunity to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program project "Accountability in Government and Business" (October 27 - November 17, 2005). Hessin, who is responsible for development, approval, and implementation of the Iraqi government employee "Code of Conduct," told emboff she planned to review the Code of Conduct to ensure that government ministers did not put their political affiliation above their official duties. Nadia also plans to work with CPI's public relations department to publicize the Code of Conduct among the Iraqi public. MPP Goal: Stability -------------- Books for Journalists... -------------- ¶4. On November 15, the Cultural Affairs Office distributed 40 copies of the Arabic version of IIP-produced "A Responsible Press Office: An Insiders Guide" and "Hi Magazine" at a reception for local Arab press. The participants also received feedback forms to allow them to submit their comments and additional book requests. MPP Goals: Democracy/Mutual Understanding -------------- ...Provincial Leaders... -------------- ¶5. At the September Tikrit Provincial Council meeting, Tikrit SET provided "The About America Series" book set to all 42 members of the Council. Many looked at the books, although some were left behind by members who may be reluctant to be identified with the Coalition Forces. The rest of the books may have been taken later, when doing so drew less attention. ¶6. In October, Tikrit SET gave "The About America Series" book set to the 16 members of the Dialogue and Communicating Committee hosted by the U.S. Commanding General. The members from Salad Ad Din, Diyala, Sulaimaniya, and Kirkuk are from various sectors-- education, business, media, health and law. One Kirkuk newspaper owner requested six more copies. The SET also distributed them to various Salah Ad Din sheiks and government employees and found that they were well received. MPP Goals: Democracy/Mutual Understanding -------------- ... and School Children -------------- ¶7. The Cultural Affairs Office delivered 100 copies of "What is Democracy" (60 in Arabic and 40 in English),51 copies of "Hi Magazine," and 20 copies of "Portrait of the USA," to the International Zone-based Optimist Club, a community-service group comprised of Americans and Iraqis. The Optimists distributed the books throughout primary and secondary schools in the International Zone to allow Iraqi students to learn about democracy and life in the United States. The students were encouraged to complete feedback forms with their impressions and requests for future reading materials. The students showed particular interest in "Portrait of America" because of their interest in various environments throughout the United States. MPP Goal: Mutual Understanding -------------- Exchanging Views with Iraqi Intellectuals -------------- ¶8. On November 8, the Public Affairs Counselor (PAC) hosted a dinner in honor of a visiting Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffer, which offered a rare opportunity for Embassy officers and American officials to meet with a group of prominent Baghdad intellectuals in a relaxed social setting and exchange views on major cultural and education issues facing Iraq. The guests, a Ministry of Culture advisor, the University of Baghdad English Department head, a liberal newspaper editor-in-chief, and a leading Iraqi archaeologist, raised important issues dealing with Iraqi national identity and the need to preserve the country's cultural heritage and instill democratic values in the young generation. The Public Affairs Section will follow up on proposals by the Iraqi guests for conferences and book translations with the goal of informing the Iraqi public about U.S. society, values, and culture. MPP Goal: Mutual Understanding -------------- Humphrey Program Returns to Iraq -------------- ¶9. The Cultural Affairs Section interviewed twenty-three applicants for the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program and nominated nine candidates. The nominees' selected fields of study include public administration, human rights, teaching English as a foreign language, journalism, and public health. Five of the nominees are women and three come from outside Baghdad, including the impoverished southern regions. PAS commenced the Humphrey Program in Iraq for the first time this year since the 198Os. MPP Goals: Democracy, Prosperity, Mutual Understanding -------------- What Exchange Alumni Say About Their Programs -------------- ¶10. Lt. Col Abbas, Babil Provincial Deputy Police Commander, recently returned from the IVLP project on "Border and Homeland Security." After his first visit to America, Lt. Col. Abbas told emboff, "In America, there is no discrimination; all of the people are equal. They have a great respect for the rule of law and are respectful of each other. They exhibit Islamic values of honesty, faithfulness and devotion, even if they are not Islamic." MPP Goals: Stability, Democracy ¶11. Sunni Sheikh Majid I. Mohammed, Imam of the Grand Mosque in Sulaimania, spent nearly a month in the United States under an IVLP project "Promoting Interfaith Dialogue." Upon his return in December, the Sheikh told emboff he had immensely enjoyed the opportunity to experience America first-hand: "I was never so free and so happy as I was during my time there." MPP Goal: Mutual Understanding ¶12. Comment: PAS Baghdad's Arabic book program and the IVLP remain instrumental in developing contacts in the diverse spectrum of Iraqi society. Post plans to investigate further the possibilities for greater media interaction with CAO program participants in order to enhance the positive messages they convey to Iraqi society and the region as a whole. End comment. Litt