PRT WEEKLY SUMMARY FOR THE PERIOD 1 - 7 DECEMBER 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 BAGHDAD 004560 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PTER PINS SOCI KJUS KDEM ECON EFIN EAID, IZ SUBJECT: PRT WEEKLY SUMMARY FOR THE PERIOD 1 - 7 DECEMBER 2006 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: This summary of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) activities for December 1-7, 2006, as provided by PRTs to the National Coordination Team at Embassy Baghdad. This report also includes PRTs' observations, views and assessments of the political, economic, infrastructure, reconstruction and security situation relating to the province during the past week. End Summary -------------- Ninewa Province -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Governor and Provincial Council Chairman indicated that the province received the final 60% or $120 million of GOI reconstruction funds. PC Chairman indicated that he would approach the Provincial Council on the possibility of lending $10 million to the District of Tal' Afar for continued reconstruction efforts until the $37 million promised by the Ministry of Finance is released to Tal' Afar. ¶3. (SBU) The PRT attended a meeting with Chief Judge Medhat regarding the status of the Mosul CCCI. Judge Medhat produced two signed orders for the CCCI to commence, effective immediately. These orders create the CCCI Court of Ninewa and staff it with three judges from Baghdad and a Provincial Chief Prosecutor. In addition, the Judge created a third Investigative Judge Panel exclusively for the CCCI which will be reside at the judicial compound and be capable of processing cases immediately. The trial panel will be prepared to travel as soon as the flight arrangements are rescheduled. The Mosul IJ's are on probation and will be continually monitored for 30 days before reevaluation. At which time, if any violations are noted, then another team will be dispatched from Baghdad. ¶4. (SBU) Fuel imports through Turkey's Habur Gate have increased over the past seven days with 877 fuel trucks crossing the border into Iraq. Approximately 60% of the imported fuel is diesel, 30% is kerosene and the remaining 10% is benzene. Citizens still rank the lack of LPG and kerosene as the biggest issue they are currently facing. LPG is reportedly only available on the black market in many areas of Ninewa Province. Black market prices for these two types of fuel remain high due to high demand. There is a new system being put into place to distribute LPG to the citizens; however citizens complain that the process is long and confusing. ¶5. (SBU) Team Leader Comment: Recent actions and activity by the Provincial council indicate that excellent progress is being made in their ability to respond to issues outside the Mosul area. PRT support in providing training and mentoring to Provincial District Councils and Sub-Districts Councils is beginning to show effect as these government agencies are now beginning to engage with the Provincial Council instead of taking their issues to Coalition Forces contacts. End Comment. ¶6. (SBU) This week's trip to Sinjar confirmed reports that it is a strong KRG outpost and receives support from both the KRG and the provincial government. It is very secure with no reported insurgent presence or incidents. This security is provided by KRG Peshmerga forces that rotate on a regular basis back to the KRG. -------------- Kirkuk Province -------------- ¶7. (SBU) At the reported request of the Provincial Council (PC) Chairman, the boycotting Turkoman PC Bloc issued a document providing further details of their boycott demands, including the extension of their original demand for ethnic parity in Provincial Government executive branch employment to include the legislative branch and the security services. The Arab Advisory Council provided a similar document, but the PC Chairman reportedly rejected it because it was signed by the AAC and not by the Arab members of the Provincial Council. The AAC document included additional demands, such as relief for detainees held in the KRG and the reconsideration of all decisions of the current PC. ¶8. (SBU) The Kirkuk Provincial Council's meeting focused on the FY 2007 budget. Counter to expectations of increased GOI funding because of Kirkuk's project development performance, the GOI recently informed the Provincial Government that it can now expect 114 billion Iraqi Dinars ($ID),rather than the projected 244 billion ($ID) that it had hoped. In response, the PC voted to take three steps: to review the project list they sent to Baghdad; to notify the GOI PM that they "reject" the budget; and to nominate a delegation to send to Baghdad to follow up with the Ministry of Planning on the matter. BAGHDAD 00004560 002 OF 005 ¶9. (SBU) We are awaiting the transfer of reconstruction funds recently deposited by the MOF in the Central Bank of Iraq, to the Provincial Government. This is the remainder (60%) of project funds that the PM and MOF recently promised would not be subject to year-end loss, as was feared, due to non-allocation. ¶10. (SBU) Team Leader Comment: The announcement that the 2007 budget would be only 114 billion Iraqi Dinars rather than the expected 200-244 billion, combined with the failure to deliver the promised remaining 60 percent of the reconstruction funds, fuels existing mistrust and resentment of the central government. We suggested to the Governor that he take the PC Chairman with him next week on his lobbying trip to Baghdad to present a united provincial front to the GOI. He replied firmly that the two would be more effective working their issues in Baghdad separately. The boycott continues and the government's patience continues to hold. End Comment -------------- Salah ad Din -------------- ¶11. (SBU) The primary event this week at the PC meeting was the election of the chairman for the Provincial Development Strategy Committee. The PC meeting included an impressive discussion of the PDS during the election of the PDS Committee Chairman. The Governance Group lead will begin this week a series of one-on-one meetings with the new committee chairman. ¶12. (SBU) The PC Deputy Chairman stated that the balance (60%) of the 2006 GOI Budget allocation under ARDF is expected to be transferred to Salah ad Din (75 B ID or about $50m). He further indicated that the PRDC is working with the DG to identify projects rapidly as try to allocate it before year's end. Still unknown at this time is how the MoF will treat remaining 2006 funds. If these funds are withdrawn by the MoF, it is likely to create a major unfunded liability for the Province. -------------- Diyala -------------- ¶13. (SBU) There was no Provincial Council meeting again this week, though finally not because they failed to reach a quorum. Instead of a normal PC meeting, three main political blocs (Shia, Sunni, Kurd) held separate meetings and then came together to discuss the possible removal of IP Chief MG Ghassan al-Bawi. The parties decided to form a committee comprised of two representatives from each bloc that would decide MG Ghassan's fate. This committee decided to remove Ghassan, which will be voted on by the PC on Monday. However, only 5 of the 6 members were at the final meeting - the SCIRI representative did not attend, so we will have to see what happens on Monday. ¶14. (SBU) The continuing shortage of petroleum products is of growing concern to the people and government of Diyala. Diyala receives most of it product from Iranian imports and they were recently reduced by 60% through a decision by the Ministry of Oil. It has become one of the top engagement points with the senior leaders in the provincial government. The Deputy Governor contacted the Deputy Minister for Oil and convinced him to correct the problem. The PRT will reengage next week to see if there is any change. ¶15. (SBU) Team Leader Comment: After an initially bleak previous week, I assess that indicators are shifting to a positive attitude. Diyala still has significant improvement to make in every area to regain the environment it had 6 months ago, but people are trying. In most areas of the capital, shops are open. In all areas of the province, except the capital, schools are open. There is political activity that demonstrates a desire to work together (albeit within each party's agenda). They have even taken action to fix a major problem on their own... the removal of the Provincial Police Chief, MG Ghassan al Bawi. Security remains the number one line of operation and will remain so until they resume lead for the security of Baqubah. My personal estimate is that this will take at least 60 days. In the meantime, all other lines of operation shape and support this fight. End Comment -------------- Baghdad -------------- ¶16. (SBU) The Government Team concluded that the status of security in the DACs overall is worsening. Recent events indicate that the combination of criminal, terrorist, and sectarian violence is on the BAGHDAD 00004560 003 OF 005 rise. It is not clear that an active campaign may be underway to undermine them collectively. ¶17. (SBU) Recapping the status of ESF for Baghdad, the NET committed $100M. The PRDC approved 28 projects valued at $52M on 9 October. GRC awarded contracts for three projects totaling $6.6M. Another 19 projects are ready to award and are worth $39M. The remaining six projects are in different stages of development and contracting. ¶18. (SBU) Team Leader Comment: I flew to FOB Mahmudiyah for meetings with Governor Tahan's representative in southern Baghdad. During the meeting, the mayor briefed us on his plan to hold a meeting the next day with the sheikhs of the area on security, reconciliation, essential services, the BCT's role in the area, and a meeting to be held on January 10 to find ways to reinvigorate the qada council. Seventy to 80 people attended; he had expected 30. The participants followed the agenda, which included security updates by the 4/6 IA and IP commanders. Several sheikhs supported Moayad's call for national reconciliation. Three participants challenged the IP Commander's assertion that security is better now in the AOR than it was six months ago. Ali took note and said he would assign additional assets to the locales in question, which include the hospital in Mahmudiyah. ¶19. (SBU) Comment Continued: Moayad showed on December 6 that he can bring people together. While he took the initiative to bring the sheikhs and qada council members together, one of the participants bluntly told the others during the meeting that the qada council, of which the speaker is a member, is the paramount Iraqi authority in the southern Baghdad, not the quamaqqam. Moayad seemed unfazed, possibly because an earlier speaker, was more deferential to him than the Chair's fellow council member. -------------- Anbar Province -------------- ¶20. (SBU) Leaders at the Fallujah City Council Meeting emphasized that current sectarianism did not reflect the true tenets of Islam. They continued to focus on the violence in Baghdad. An imam, who works in Baghdad, urged CF to consider ways to assist IDPs who continue to seek refuge in Fallujah. The leaders said that 5,000 families (~30,000 persons) left Baghdad and other areas due to sectarian fighting. The imam said that GOI resources to support these displaced families has not been forthcoming. ¶21. (SBU) Team Leader Comment: The Provincial Council will hold its next meeting on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Al Rasheed Hotel. The PRT had arranged for the Ambassador to address the Council at that time. The PRT attended the Dec. 5 meeting of the "Anbar Reconstruction Committee," a joint GOI-provincial government body chaired by the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals. Two themes emerged from the meeting. The security situation in Fallujah has deteriorated in recent months. Any security backsliding in that city will have negative repercussions throughout the province. Secondly, the Committee signaled the need for fast progress on a high visibility development project. Getting a glass factory in Ramadi up and running, or building a "security zone," similar in concept to Baghdad's International Zone, around the Anbar Government Center in Ramadi, were cited as examples where fast progress would be tangible evidence about the Council's seriousness about moving forward on reconstruction. End Comment. -------------- Babil -------------- ¶22. (SBU) Representatives from the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) visited Babil Province to gather information on the political and economic situation. The UNAMI team met with various provincial political figures to discuss their thoughts on how the United Nations can better serve South Central Iraq. This is a positive step in the rejoining of U.N. efforts in Iraq. ¶23. (SBU) Key members of the Provincial Council, the Governor's Office, provincial secretariat planning section and heads of planning for various sector agencies participated in a Provincial Development Strategy (PDS) consultation session on December 7th. This session was to find a united vision and adopt a model for writing a Provincial Development Strategy. ¶24. (SBU) PRT Babil learned this week that any hospital project nominated for Economic Support Funds must have written approval from the Ministry of Health. This will require additional planning and support documentation by elements of the Babil Provincial Council in order to go forward with plans for a maternity hospital in Musayib BAGHDAD 00004560 004 OF 005 (North Babil). The PRT Babil is insisting that the PRDC provide a written plan that leads to full equipment, supplies, and staff for this project, prior to actual nomination to the NET. The PC/PRDC representative has informally passed to PRT Babil representatives that the $7.5 million in ESF money is not as important to him as the $112 in 2006 and $165 in 2007 GOI funds that Babil is due to get. The leverage that applied when USG monies were the bulk of discretionary capital budget for the Provincial Council no longer applies. This may lead to lessened influence by PRT Babil in the direction that provincial leaders take in the choosing of future projects. ¶25. (SBU) Team Leader Comment: The Babil Provincial Governor has expressed his concern over the rising unrest in North Babil. He reported an influx of insurgents in that area and has asked Coalition Forces for their assistance in driving out the insurgent forces. He then left the area on extended holiday to Iran and India. -------------- Najaf -------------- ¶26. (SBU) The Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) of the United Nations remains keen to visit political and religious leadership in Najaf. The process is moving along and the PST hosted the Advance Team from the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq from Monday to Thursday at the REO. We provided an in depth briefing on the reconstruction, political and security aspects of the Province. During their visit, the SRSG met with the Governor and Head of the Provincial Council. ¶27. (SBU) The Governor, during the Provincial Security Transition Assessment meeting, raised the need for Coalition support for the training of judges and prosecutors in terrorism cases, as well as the issue of penal facility capacity. Training was essential, as the judicial system could not presently cope effectively with such cases in the Province. We have earmarked ESF of USD 200K to support a judicial training program. ¶28. (SBU) The Governor attended the meeting of the Provincial Council to discuss the status of the various PRDC projects and reconstruction policy overall. The Council Chairman urged him to unify the various bodies and commissions that are all involved in the reconstruction process, as well as for stiffer sanctions against those contractors who have turned in bad execution. The Chairman also called for an increased level of accuracy in the accountancy phase of project completion and offered the help of the Provincial Council in supervising such execution. For his part, the Governor said that one of the Province's operating principles was to separate authorities so that there were checks and balances; nonetheless he underscored the commitment of the Governorate to both careful annual project planning and an overall strategy to ensure excellence. ¶29. (SBU) Team Leader Comment: Provincial enthusiasm over the advent of DFI and ESF remains high. In my meetings, the Governor asked to know what the actual mechanisms for payment will be for the projects. Will the USG now adopt the approach of the MoF and transfer funds directly into the Provincial commercial account, as with DFI? I will be discussing the actual mechanisms, once the projects are approved by the PRDC and the Embassy. End comment. -------------- Dhi Qar -------------- ¶30. (SBU) One major result of the RSU's involvement in the development conference held in Luxor, Egypt was our urging the Dhi Qar government to establish a Treasurer's Office for the province. We view this as a critical step in ensuring the transparent flow of central government funds into the province from Baghdad, and the proper expenditure and accounting of those funds for the future, as Dhi Qar continues to receive substantial ARDP funds in its budget. We believe the provincial government intends to make a formal decision on this before the end of the year. ¶31. (SBU) The Italian Government has finalized plans and obligated 162,000 Euros to construct an 82,000 sq meter Children's Amusement Park and Green Space in the center of the Dhi Qar capital, Al-Nasiriyah. The amusement park will provide a much-needed green space in the center of what is otherwise a very dismal, dusty and colorless capital city. The park will provide a playground for children, complete with a large variety of playground equipment, as well as a cafeteria and a movie theatre. Construction on the park BAGHDAD 00004560 005 OF 005 should begin by late December 2006 and be completed by end of February 2007. The provincial government has approved the project and is integrally involved in the planning and execution of it. -------------- Maysan -------------- ¶32. (SBU) The nascent Maysan PRT team traveled to Basra Air Station last week to have consultations with MND(SE) J-9 (including commander and senior staff members),Basra PRT members, Gulf Region South Army Corps of Engineers, local contractors, the MND(SE) Battle Group Commander and his POLAD. The Maysan local government has been officially disengaged from MNF-I forces in the region for several months, but recently expressed a wish to accelerate contact with donors. The PRT members, Battle Group commander, and POLAD agreed the PRT's establishment is an excellent opportunity to begin re-engagement, and will set up a first meeting the Governor and Provincial Council shortly. -------------- Basrah -------------- ¶33. (SBU) The PRT held a series of meetings with MND SE, with the aim of finding common goals and likely areas of joint cooperation aimed at maintaining momentum after Sinbad. It was agreed that projects designed for sustainable employment generation would be introduced using established governance arrangements with Sector Working Groups as the entry points. Several economy initiatives were also discussed with the aim of enabling small businesses to be readily established, including continuing and expanding the date palm restoration activities, and the rehabilitation of the irrigation and drainage infrastructure. Khalilzad 9