MEETING OF THE BAGHDAD GENERAL SECRETARIAT (BGS)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000265 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM IZ SUBJECT: MEETING OF THE BAGHDAD GENERAL SECRETARIAT (BGS) DISAPPOINTS; ENTITY LIKELY TO FADE INTO INSIGNIFICANCE Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. On January 28, the BGS met with a proposed agenda including discord among its members, the group's purpose, upcoming provincial elections, and a future meeting of all provincial councils. Instead the BGS Members discussed the absence of some members, salaries, and the need to raise money for the potential future conference of councils. Based on past actions and probable future trends, this group will likely fade away into insignificance when the Baghdad Provincial Council convenes its own conference of Baghdad councils. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) BGS Membership is comprised of all the chairmen of the district councils in the City of Baghdad and was created to provide a united voice for all of the councils. This was the seventh meeting of the group. Though the original meeting was attended by all council chairpersons, members of the Baghdad Provincial Council (BPC) and the local media, the meeting was attended by only six of the councils. (NOTE: Meetings in the past have been attended by as few as four of the council members. Karadah District Advisory Council (DAC) has totally withdrawn from the process. Members of the Karadah DAC believe the BGS undermines the authority of the BPC.) ¶3. (C) The meeting was called for the dual purpose of discussing problems between the BGS members and crystallizing the group's objectives. The group had also planned to address the need to provide recommended provincial election procedures to the National Assembly's Election and Constitutional Committees. Finally, the group had planned to discuss a future conference of all the neighborhood and district councils in Baghdad Province. ¶4. (C) Except for asking the Embassy to financially support the conference of councils, the group addressed none of their agenda items. Instead they criticized members of the group who failed to attend the meeting. The members from the Al-Rashid DAC, who had been delayed by traffic, walked through the door shortly after the group remarked on their absence. The group spent most of its time discussing automobiles and guns. The BGS members said that members of the Baghdad City Council (BCC),which was dissolved in April by the BPC, should return any items received from the USG while serving as BCC members. PolOff said the Embassy would consider the issue on a case-by-case basis. The meeting then turned to salaries paid to BCC members. There was no further discussion of objectives, policies, or projects to improve essential services for the citizens of Baghdad. ¶5. (C) COMMENT. The Baghdad General Secretariat (BGS), though launched with the intent of improving government representation from the districts, has slipped into constant discussions about pay and incentives. Though quick to criticize other councils and group members, it seems impossible for the BGS to move past the stage of discussion into planning and execution of any topic or project. Based on past actions and probable future trends, this group will likely fade away into insignificance when the BPC convenes its own conference of Baghdad councils. By stealing the issues and thunder of the BGS, the provincial council will ultimately cause the group to lose its political base for existence. It will cease to exist with little fanfare. END COMMENT. KHALILZAD