Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD3812
2006-10-13 13:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
PRIME MINISTER SEEKS ADVISOR'S HELP IN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0064 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHGB #3812 2861335 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 131335Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7403 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003812
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2016
TAGS: ECON EINV PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER SEEKS ADVISOR'S HELP IN
ACCELERATING ECONOMIC REFORM
REF: A. BAGHDAD 3797
B. BAGHDAD 3789
Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor Daniel Weygandt for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003812
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2016
TAGS: ECON EINV PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER SEEKS ADVISOR'S HELP IN
ACCELERATING ECONOMIC REFORM
REF: A. BAGHDAD 3797
B. BAGHDAD 3789
Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor Daniel Weygandt for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Dr. Mehdi Hafedh, Member of the Council of
Representatives (CoR),has been asked by Prime Minister al
Maliki to work on accelerating the pace of economic reform.
Dr. Hafedh also discussed the investment law and the
international compact, considering both good steps forward.
End Summary.
--------------
Slow Economic Reform
--------------
2. (C) Economic reform is still slow, said Dr. Hafedh in an
October 11 meeting with econoff. "I'm not satisfied with the
pace." Dr. Hafedh is acting as an unofficial advisor to Prime
Minister al Maliki. "He is not happy with his team of
advisors now. I think that there are too many advisors who
are picked to have a political balance instead of sound
economic advice." The Prime Minister has asked Dr. Hafedh to
convene a conference to examine the bottlenecks in economic
reform projects. Dr. Hafedh has stated before to emboffs his
concern that "petty partisan politics paralyze the
government." (Note: Dr. Hafedh played a key role in passing
the region formation law on October 11. He was one of the few
members of the Iraqiyya party not to boycott the session,
allowing a quorum to be achieved and a vote on the law to
proceed (ref B). End Note.)
-------------- ---
The Investment Law and the International Compact
-------------- ---
3. (C) Dr. Mehdi Hafedh said that the Investment Law is a
good start. "I wanted some of the articles to be more
precise," he said, but some members of the committee, and
indeed the CoR as a whole, were not ready for more change.
(Note: Mr. Hafedh, a member of the CoR Economic Committee,
played a large role in presenting the Investment Law during
the open debate of the Council of Representatives (ref A).
End Note.) Dr. Hafedh has been following the talks of the
International Compact. He describes it as "an effort to
bring, in particular, the Gulf countries back into more
normal relations with us." In principle, he said, the
International Compact sounded like a good idea.
--------------
Bio-Note
--------------
4. (SBU) Dr. Medhi Hafedh is a moderate, and often
independent, member of the Iraqiyya party. He is Shi'a. He
served as Minister for Planning and Development Cooperation
during the Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) under PM Ayad
Allawi. He is the founder and chairman of the Iraqi Centre
for Development and International Dialogue. He was born in
1937. End Bio-note.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2016
TAGS: ECON EINV PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER SEEKS ADVISOR'S HELP IN
ACCELERATING ECONOMIC REFORM
REF: A. BAGHDAD 3797
B. BAGHDAD 3789
Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor Daniel Weygandt for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Dr. Mehdi Hafedh, Member of the Council of
Representatives (CoR),has been asked by Prime Minister al
Maliki to work on accelerating the pace of economic reform.
Dr. Hafedh also discussed the investment law and the
international compact, considering both good steps forward.
End Summary.
--------------
Slow Economic Reform
--------------
2. (C) Economic reform is still slow, said Dr. Hafedh in an
October 11 meeting with econoff. "I'm not satisfied with the
pace." Dr. Hafedh is acting as an unofficial advisor to Prime
Minister al Maliki. "He is not happy with his team of
advisors now. I think that there are too many advisors who
are picked to have a political balance instead of sound
economic advice." The Prime Minister has asked Dr. Hafedh to
convene a conference to examine the bottlenecks in economic
reform projects. Dr. Hafedh has stated before to emboffs his
concern that "petty partisan politics paralyze the
government." (Note: Dr. Hafedh played a key role in passing
the region formation law on October 11. He was one of the few
members of the Iraqiyya party not to boycott the session,
allowing a quorum to be achieved and a vote on the law to
proceed (ref B). End Note.)
-------------- ---
The Investment Law and the International Compact
-------------- ---
3. (C) Dr. Mehdi Hafedh said that the Investment Law is a
good start. "I wanted some of the articles to be more
precise," he said, but some members of the committee, and
indeed the CoR as a whole, were not ready for more change.
(Note: Mr. Hafedh, a member of the CoR Economic Committee,
played a large role in presenting the Investment Law during
the open debate of the Council of Representatives (ref A).
End Note.) Dr. Hafedh has been following the talks of the
International Compact. He describes it as "an effort to
bring, in particular, the Gulf countries back into more
normal relations with us." In principle, he said, the
International Compact sounded like a good idea.
--------------
Bio-Note
--------------
4. (SBU) Dr. Medhi Hafedh is a moderate, and often
independent, member of the Iraqiyya party. He is Shi'a. He
served as Minister for Planning and Development Cooperation
during the Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) under PM Ayad
Allawi. He is the founder and chairman of the Iraqi Centre
for Development and International Dialogue. He was born in
1937. End Bio-note.
KHALILZAD