ECONOMIC-REFORM PUBLIC EDUCATION UPDATE

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 000825 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EFIN EPET KCOR KPAO PGOV IZ SUBJECT: ECONOMIC-REFORM PUBLIC EDUCATION UPDATE REF: STATE 37554 Sensitive - not for internet distribution ¶1. From the $2 million recently allocated by the Department (reftel),we have hired two Iraqi media companies to produce television spots (one per company) on fuel-subsidy reform. These spots will briefly explain the reasoning behind the December price increases and tie higher fuel prices to increased public services - i.e. better classrooms, additional hospital beds, more accessible public transportation. (Note: Results of recent International Republican Institute (IRI) focus groups -- conducted in Baghdad, Mosul, and Kut -- show that Iraqis will be most supportive of fuel price increases if they see immediate improvements in other essential public services.) ¶2. The television messages are expected to be complete by March 22. After the joint USG-GOI Public Education Working Group approves the spots, our tentative plan is to start airing them throughout Iraq by the end of March. We are working with Iraqi networks to arrange airtime for the messages, and we are trying to obtain reduced airtime rates by having the GOI negotiate with the networks. KHALILZAD