PST BAGHDAD: PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MEETING WITH THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000851 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA-I/POL E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ SUBJECT: PST BAGHDAD: PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MEETING WITH THE OFFICE OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR Classified By: Joe Gregoire for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) On March 14 Baghdad Provincial Council (PC) Chairman Mueen Hameed and the Chairman of the PC's Security Committee and its committee members met at the office of Iraqi National Security Advisor (NSA) Mowaffuk Al-Rubaie in the International Zone to seek greater cooperation between the PC and the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Defense (MOD),and the Ministry of the Interior (MOI). ¶2. (C) Chairman Mueen told a PST team member that the PC is also seeking greater involvement in setting policy for security issues that affect Baghdad Province. Mueen requested the NSA's office also assist the PC with clarification from the MOD and the MOI regarding what authorities the PC has in molding security policy in Baghdad. ¶3. (C) Chairman Mueen further commented that a catalyst for seeking a meeting with the NSA's office is the fact that several previous security-related requests by the PC to the MOD and MOI have been ignored. Mueen ultimately would like to see the PC involved in all aspects of Iraqi security policy and planning as it pertains to Baghdad Province. ¶4. (C) COMMENT. The meeting between the NSA's office and the PC is significant for several reasons. The meeting demonstrates a substantial degree of PC independence from past reliance on Coalition intermediaries, demonstrates legitimate provincial engagement on security issues with the national government, and shows the national government is now willing to listen to the concerns of the PC; all of which constitutes a positive and encouraging development for decentralized government. END COMMENT. KHALILZAD