ANBAR GOVERNOR CITES POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003875 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER IZ SUBJECT: ANBAR GOVERNOR CITES POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS ON SECURITY FRONT Classified By: Anbar IPAO Hureta for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an Anbar PRT cable. ¶2. (C) Summary: Recent meetings between GOI and Anbar officials suggest progress in cooperation between the national and provincial leadership. MNF-I and PRT leadership attended a meeting where Anbar Governor Ma'amoun Sami Rasheed Al-Awani gave a readout of his exchange with PM Maliki the previous day. According to Al-Awani, Maliki's expressed desire for better coordination between national and provincial government, and appeared determined to find ways to help the tribes fight AQI. Separately, the Iraqi NSC conveyed an offer to the Anbar government, through the PRT, for an opportunity of Iraqi reconstruction funds to be invested in Anbar. End Summary. -------------- Meeting with Governor Al-Awani -------------- ¶3. (C) Anbar Governor Ma'amoun Sami Rasheed Al- Awani gave an optimistic assessment on administration, projects and security in Anbar Province at an October 1 meeting in Baghdad with MNF-I Deputy CG LTG Grahame Lamb (UK), MNF-W Deputy CG BG David Reist, newly arrived PRT leader, and the deputy PRT leader. The Governor was in Baghdad attending the bi- monthly gathering of key Anbar officials and the Deputy Minister of Industry and Minerals, who is the GOI coordinator for Anbar reconstruction. The Governor was accompanied by the Chairman of the Anbar Provincial Council (PC),Dr. Abdulsalam Abdullah Mohammad. Much of the 90-minute meeting turned on reviewing progress on some half-dozen infrastructure and commercial projects. However, additional matters were discussed which conveyed a sense of momentum in bringing a greater measure of stability to the province: - Al-Awani and Abdulsalam met with PM Maliki, MOD Abdul Qader Al-Obeidi and MOI Al-Bolani in Baghdad on Sept. 30 to review recent developments in the Anbar province. In Al- Awani's words, the meeting was a "positive development" and laid the foundation for future security coordination between the province and the central government authorities, a key piece of the local scene that has long been missing. - Al-Awani also said he has opened lines of communication with local tribal leaders regarding the latter's recently announced ;determination to confront AQI and local insurgents. He indicated a meeting has been scheduled between provincial officials and several tribal leaders now residing in Amman to further their discussions on local security. Al-Awani did not elaborate as to the timing or the identities of the persons who would take part in the meeting. (Note: This issue was in part precipitated by the agitating of the local sheiks who reportedly met with Maliki to express both a desire to fight AQI and their dissatisfaction with the current Anbar provincial administration.) - In an unexpected move, Al-Awani introduced Anbar's new Chief of Police, IP BG Abdul Salam Obeidi, who will assume a post that has been vacant since the detention of the former provincial police chief a few months ago. (Note: Obeidi is an unknown to MNF-W. It appears that MOI provided Al-Awani with a list of potential candidates for the post, indicating some level of coordination among the Iraqis taking place without Coalition Force knowledge.) - Al-Awani and the PC Chair expressed their desire to hold a full-fledged PC meeting in Ramadi at an early date, signalling their determination to conduct normal business at the Government Center in Ramadi. (Comment: The PC has been unable/unwilling to conduct normally BAGHDAD 00003875 002 OF 002 scheduled meetings in Ramadi since April 2006 because of insurgent violence and intimidation. Meetings have previously taken place at more secure locations outside Anbar province.) -------------- Iraqi NSC's Possible Support -------------- ¶4. (C) In a separate meeting on Oct 1 between Iraqi Deputy National Security Advisor Safa A. Hussain discussed GOI outreach with Anbar PRT IPAO. Safa began by querying Pol Off on his impressions on Anbar Province, admitting discretely that the Shia-dominated GOI has no first-hand information on this Sunni-majority province. As such, he eagerly welcomed any ground truth on this problematic province. ¶5. (C) Pol Off conveyed recent complaints expressed by Al-Awani that the GOI had so far not provided tens of millions of reconstruction funds promised to Anbar. These funds were, according to Al-Awani, offered in January 2005 by the previous PM, Ibrahim Ja'afari, and that PM Maliki had subsequently agreed to honor this pledge. Safa responded that the GOI was aware of these uncommitted funds, but due to Anbar's severe security problems, any reconstruction projects would likely be unable to be completed. He added the Anbar Provincial Government had not proposed any specific development projects with associated costs, timelines, etc. As such, the GOI did not feel that these Iraqi funds would be used efficiently or effectively. Safa then proposed that if a section of Anbar where there is developed infrastructure, such as along a major highway, could be adequately secured, the GOI would provide some reconstruction funds for the Anbar Provincial Government to use as it saw fit. He then asked for the PRT to convey this offer to Al-Awani. ¶6. (C) Safa then turned the conversation to insurgent activity, noting the recent public announcement of the most influential Anbari tribal sheikhs offering to fight against local insurgents. He opined that Anbaris were fed up with the continual violence and the lack of economic opportunity - which the violence exacerbates. While Safa stated this unified effort was a positive development, he cautioned the sheikhs may not be as truly influential as they portray themselves, with radical Islamists gaining greater sway among Anbari youth. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) The outcome of these meetings suggests that provincial and central government officials are pushing ahead on local administration, project funding and security issues. Al-Awani's positive meetings with with Maliki and top GOI security ministers and Safa's comment on releasing GOI reconstruction funds for secure areas within Anbar may signal the national government's intention to be more responsive to provincial concerns. (Note: An announcement regarding GOI approval these funds was made during the October 7 Anbar Tribes Conference held in Baghdad to be reported septel. End note.) The current security situation in the Anbar province has limited the PRT's ability to reinforce such patterns of cooperation between Anbar and the central government. Nonetheless, we continue to make interventions where practical, and, as future security conditions improve, we will be ready to push forward on a range of programs. KHALILZAD