MINISTER BOLANI TELLS CODEL BURR OF MOI REFORM

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003558 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MOPS IZ SUBJECT: MINISTER BOLANI TELLS CODEL BURR OF MOI REFORM Classified By: Charge d,Affaires Daniel Speckhard for reasons 1.4 (b) a nd (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During Iraqi Minister of Interior Jawad al-Bolani's September 9 discussions with CODEL Burr, he highlighted the success of the Baghdad Security Plan and explained his efforts to reform the corrupt Ministry of Interior (MOI). Bolani said the MOI's efforts to "win the Iraqi peoples' trust" would include retraining several units and equipping them with new uniforms that will be more difficult for insurgents and death squads to counterfeit. Bolani noted that MOI provides many non-security related services including passport issuance, births registration, and licensing. This activity amounts to nearly two million transactions per month. END SUMMARY -------------- Baghdad Security Plan Is Succeeding -------------- ¶2. (U) Senators Richard Burr (R-NC),David Vitter(R-LA),and Thomas Coburn (R-OK) met with Iraqi Minster of Interior Jawad al-Bolani. While providing an overall situation update, Minister Bolani touted the success of the Baghdad Security Plan stating that it has sharply reduced the number of sectarian attacks in the areas where it has been implemented. -------------- Police: Retraining, Oaths, and New Uniforms -------------- ¶3. (C) Bolani told the delegation that MOI is progressing well in training, operations and reform. He touted his ministry as being the first in the Iraqi government to submit to the Council of Representatives a strategic reform plan. While not elaborating on the plan's metrics, he emphasized three tenets: loyalty, responsibility, and performance. The ministry, Bolani added, will carefully vet its personnel and take "appropriate measures" against those who are criminal, corrupt, or have membership in sectarian militias. Bolani did not, however, offer specifics on arrests or suspensions of MOI personnel accused of criminal offenses. ¶4. (U) In October, several units will receive re-training, take a loyalty oath, and receive the new MOI uniform. Bolani considers the new initiative important to MOI's credibility because death squads and insurgents now frequently disguise themselves in the police uniforms. It is hoped that the new uniform's distinctive camouflage pattern will be more difficult to counterfeit. -------------- MOI's Size and Wide Ranging Duties -------------- ¶5. (U) Bolani stated that MOI occupies 640 police stations, 258 border stations, and thirteen border crossing points. These are located in throughout the country and along Iraq's border. He added that nearly fifty percent of the police stations currently have modern equipment and that he hoped to have all the stations completely fitted by the end of 2007. Bolani noted that MOI is a "busy ministry" with many non-security transactions including births registration, passport issuance, and licensing. These transactions amount to nearly two million transactions per month. SPECKHARD